Powers of the Six (49 page)

Alec dove to the other side of the wall, gripping it hard, while he watched Nolan appear on the field.

A few soldiers who had been working there left their task and sprinted toward the gates of Faylinn to join their fellow soldiers.

Nolan stood alone: behind him, a backdrop full of corpses, above him, a whole host of black mists. The creatures circled overhead, increasing their urgency, flinging down on Nolan, and, just as quickly, flinging away. They seemed worried, as much as a faceless vapor could be.

Greer’s massive presence appeared behind Alec’s back. “Master Alec. Whatever happens, hold on as tightly as you can.” He then encompassed Alec with his body, placing one hand on either side of him, gripping the edge of the wall with his massive hands and bracing his feet as if he were about to push a very solid stone.

Nolan raised his arms as if reaching for the heavens. Then his arms fell outstretched to the side, palms up, his face to the sky.

“Hang on!” Greer commanded.

Alec grabbed the wall just as Nolan’s light exploded, like a star dropping to earth. The force hit them like a hammer blow.

Screams filtered through the force of the wind, though Alec could no longer see. The light blinded him even with his eyes closed. He gripped the wall, and another wave, even more violent than the last, hammered, yanking Alec’s hands free.

He slammed into Greer, the blustering wind pushing him against the Guardian’s chest. Greer protected them both from being thrown from the wall.

The third blast hit, and Alec held on to Greer, hoping the Guardian was strong enough to hold them both. Then just as suddenly, the wind stopped. Alec dropped to his knees, as did Greer. He opened his eyes and could see nothing at all.

“It is done,” Greer said.

Slowly, images began to surface in Alec’s vision—blotched shapes still white with light. Alec groped and found Greer’s large arm. “Greer, I can’t see.”

The Guardian touched Alec’s face and healing energy pulsed into his eyes. His vision opened to a sun brighter than he’d ever seen and a sky as blue as the sea. Alec gawked. It was stunning.

Alec staggered to his feet. The word “chaos” wouldn’t be enough to describe the scene: Healers ran frantically, healing eyesight and broken bones, stones were missing from places in the castle, and worse yet, the neatly stacked corpses were now blown in grotesque piles against the foot of the wall. Even the forest appeared to have taken damage; trees were bent or half pulled from their roots. Never had Alec seen something this devastating. Yet even with such a disaster, Alec felt free.

He laughed. “Greer, I can’t believe it.”

The Guardian didn’t answer. Instead, his eyes fixed on the field.

Smiling, Alec followed his gaze, and the happiness left him instantly. The figure of a man lay crumpled, a charred ring of earth surrounding him.

Alec’s throat clenched.
Please Brim
, he prayed,
please, don’t make me lose him twice in one day.
He summoned his Shay and ran as fast as Speed could carry him.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

FAMILIAR WHITE MISTS filled Nolan’s vision, stretching out farther than he remembered. He turned, searching. No grass this time. No sunset. No sky. And no light-filled Greer. Just a sea of white splayed out before him.

He held up his hands; they were small, with normal fingers. His eyes traveled down his naked body, and he was thin. Unchanged. The “old” Nolan. He released a long breath, relief flooding through him. It had all been a dream.

In the distance, a light broke the mists, and pain shot through Nolan’s skull. He blinked until his eyes adjusted, and then he staggered toward it, his feet swishing through the swirling clouds. As he got closer, the light took shape, forming into a man.

He froze. This man had no face, and the power emanating from him took Nolan’s breath away.

Nolan dropped to his hands and knees, choking in gasps.

“Don’t be afraid, my child,” Brim said. “You have done well.”

A memory of exploding light surfaced in his mind, the vision of lying in blackened grass.
I must be … dead.

Brim chuckled. “No. You are still alive and well.”

Slowly, Nolan looked up. A feeling of peace passed over him. The faceless figure solidified, transforming into a man in the middle of his years—dark hair, dark eyes. He reminded Nolan of Emery.

“Does this make you feel more comfortable?” Brim asked.

Nolan nodded feebly, though his heart still thundered. It did help, a little.

Brim sat, and the mist parted from him, grass taking its place. “I will keep our time brief; your loved ones are waiting for you to awaken. Let me start by saying: I am proud of you. Alcandor has been causing trouble for quite some time. I appreciate you putting him back in his place.”

Nolan leaned back on his feet, his knees tucked under him. He was thankful the mists swirled, covering him to his waist. The overwhelming fear had passed, and Brim’s soothing voice caressed him. Nolan sighed. “What should we do with him?”

“With Alcandor?” Brim asked. “I haven’t yet decided. Leave him where he is. He should cause no trouble … for now.”

For now
? Nolan didn’t like the sound of that.

Brim brushed non-existent lint from his spotless, white tunic. “I did not come to discuss Alcandor, my son. I have another job for you.”

Nolan blinked. “Another job? For me?”

“Take the stones out into Adamah. Tell the people of their abilities. The people most likely won’t listen, but do your best. The Nass appear only from those who have not taken the light. So until they see the truth and take it, the Nass will never truly go away. You’ve damaged the Nass for now, but they will return.”

If they won’t listen, why bother? It sounds like a hopeless cause.

“Difficult. But not hopeless,” Brim said, answering Nolan’s thoughts. “But you will do well.”

“Why me?” Nolan asked. “Surely someone else—”

“Only you hold all the powers.”

Nolan’s jaw clenched. “What am I? A Guardian? A man?”

Brim smiled. “Yes. And yes. You are both.”

“But how? Why no one else?”

Brim steadied his gaze. “You will find out eventually. But for now, do not worry about such things. Focus on your task. Be my Emissary.”

Brim stood and stretched. His disguise began to fade, light taking over his human facade. “Oh. There is one more thing, child. Stay with the stones. For as powerful as you are, you are equally as weak. You can no longer gain strength from the sun; your Guardian abilities block it from your Shays. The only way to restore your strength is from the stones’ light. Without them, you will die.”

Cold fingers jolted his chest.
I will … die?

The white mists darkened, and Brim vanished into them. Then the landscaped darkened to black.

“Go get Emery,” a voice said. “He’s waking.”

The darkness lifted as light filtered through Nolan’s eyelids. He imagined himself tucked in a feather bed in Alec’s house while Bonty fixed a stew and baked fresh bread. The Guardians weren’t real. His powers weren’t real. His conversation with Brim, of course, wasn’t real. Nolan brought his hand to his face—an unfamiliar face—and reality returned.

He was changed. Changed like no other person. His new life began when he’d awakened naked on the throne room floor, his clothes torn away by the transformation of his body. Nolan Trividar was no more.

The light inside Nolan lingered, though it was faint, not like the outpouring in the darkness when he’d destroyed the Nass. He opened his eyes and focused on a figure sitting on the edge of his bed. She looked at him, wonderment in her emotions.

“Your eyes are still the same,” Megan said. “I couldn’t believe it at first, but now you’re awake …” Her small hands slid across the blanket and held his.

Nolan appeared to be in a sick room, not Alec’s house. Drying racks strung with herbs covered the far wall. Bottles of different sizes and shapes, holding a variety of colored liquids, lined a shelf. A silk banner hung next to it, adorned with the Healing symbol of the Rol’dan.

The door creaked open, and Emery entered, wearing a deep blue doublet, blue breeches, and a blue cloak, made with some sort of thick, expensive fabric. Several emotions flickered through him: affection … concern … compassion. Emery’s gaze dipped to their joined hands, and his emotions revealed shock at first, then resignation.

Nolan quickly withdrew his Empathy … and his hand.

Emery smiled. “It’s good to see you awake, friend.”

“How long?”

“Five days,” Emery said. “At first we weren’t sure if you’d live, but you’ve steadily improved. We would’ve used the stones, but Greer didn’t want us to risk it, seeing as you’re half Guardian and all.”

Nolan propped himself on the bed, and the cover fell away. Chiseled muscles covered his chest, his arms, his stomach. He traced the lines of hard muscles with his large fingertips and then held up his hands. No wonder Megan’s had felt so small.

Megan followed his inspection. Her eyes flicked up to his and her face went scarlet. Heat rose to Nolan’s face as well.

Nolan turned away, avoiding her gaze. He ran a hand down his smooth jaw. No half-grown stubble. His arms and chest had no hair, either. He flipped the cover back, wondering about his legs.

Megan gasped, and Nolan quickly repositioned the blanket, heat rising to his face, yet again.

Nolan cleared his throat. “I don’t suppose I can find some clothes?”

Emery pushed down a smile and pointed to garments carefully folded on a chair. “I had the palace seamstress make these for you. I told her not to create anything elaborate.” He held out his own arms with disgust. “However, I can’t make any promises. I told her the same for me.”

“You look very regal.”

Emery laughed. “Regal? Yes, I suppose.”

Nolan moved to get up and then hesitated. Megan and Emery turned around.

Rising to his feet, the world swirled. He grabbed the wall until the dizziness passed. He slid on the breeches. They were a perfect fit, the fabric soft and warm. Nolan wondered how the seamstress sized them so well, but he decided he didn’t want to know.

A full-length mirror stood near Nolan’s bed. He stared at the stranger, the one with the strong brow and chin. He touched his hair; it was softer than it used to be, and shinier too. The color was almost metallic, more Guardian-like. And his familiar eyes appeared threatening and strange.

He lowered his head and stared at the floor. Even his feet looked different. A wave of mourning hit him for the old Nolan, the weak Nolan, the uncoordinated Nolan. As much as he’d always hated his awkward self, at least he’d known who he was.

Nolan cleared his throat. “So where are the stones now?”

“We separated them,” Emery said. “The Rol’dan go in shifts to take the light.”

“And Alcandor?”

“Still in the dungeon,” Emery said. “Although, it’s difficult to find soldiers willing to guard him. They aren’t convinced his mind control is gone.”

Emery glanced over his shoulder and noticed Nolan was dressed. Both he and Megan turned around.

“And his Healing?” Nolan asked.

Megan smiled, though bitterness tainted her emotions. “I took it from him myself.”

Nolan studied her, which made her blush.

Emery cleared his throat. “Should you be out of bed so soon?”

“Isn’t five days enough?” Nolan walked toward the door and turned to speak again. But before a word left his mouth, a sharp and sudden pain erupted in his head, followed by vibrations so hard he could feel the outline of his skull. He staggered, grabbing his scalp. When his vision cleared, he searched for his assailant: the now-broken doorframe.

Nolan caught Emery in what was left of an amused grin. Nolan closed his eyes and flared Healing. When the throbbing ceased, he looked down at his friends. He couldn’t believe how short they seemed. And, of course, the doorframe as well.

“Are you okay?” Megan asked.

“I’m fine. Just have to watch doorways.”

Emery chuckled. “Yes, otherwise you’ll end up back in bed.”

Nolan ducked through the door and emerged on the field where Kael had died. A large group of Rol’dan practiced with swords. Kael stood in front of them, quite alive. He yelled orders with his typical general flare. But even though he was working them into exhaustion, the emotional atmosphere of the group leaned toward joy.

“Soldiers, attention!” Kael yelled in the distance. The whole group stopped in recognition of their king.

Emery casually waved.

“Where’s Alec?” Nolan asked.

“He went to Galva, to tell the others what happened.” Emery inhaled and released it slowly. “He’s angry with you, Nolan. He thinks you threw your life away.”

Nolan frowned. “I didn’t throw my life away.”

“Give him some distance. I’m sure he’ll come around.”

“I suppose he still hasn’t let anyone heal him?” Nolan asked Megan.