The Voice of Prophecy (Dual Magics Book 2) (27 page)

Just as they were ready to leave the market, Vatar suddenly
stood stock still, his head thrown up like one of Orleus’s hounds scenting the
wind. He pushed through the crowd, back towards the Temple Gate. “Hurry!”

Arcas grabbed his arm. “Vatar, what is it?”

Vatar barely paused. “Zavar. He’s frightened. Something has
happened at the farm.”

Thekila reached for his other arm. “Theklan will know what’s
going on. That’ll be faster than trying to run up the hill.”

Vatar let his breath out and nodded. His urge was to run,
but this would be much faster. And Thekila could reach Theklan more easily than
he could.

Thekila’s eyes flew wide with fear. “I can’t reach Theklan.
It’s like he’s not there.”

Vatar and Arcas both turned to pushing their way through the
crowd. They’d reached the edge of the market square when Vatar realized Thekila
wasn’t with them. He swallowed down panic and turned back to look for her.

Thekila waddled out of the crowd towards them. “It’s no
good, Vatar. I can’t keep up with you, now. Go on ahead. I’ll follow.”

Vatar clutched her arm. “I’m not leaving you alone in the
city.”

“Then take me to the Healers. The Healers’ Entrance is on
the way to the Gate. Boreala is there. She’ll look after me.”

Vatar nodded. He could leave Thekila with Boreala without
worry. In fact, if there was anything wrong up at the farm, the Healers’ Hall might
be the safest place for her. “That’s probably best.”

They walked as fast as Thekila could comfortably go. Vatar
calculated the time it would take to reach the farm. What else could he do?
There was no one else currently at the farm who could hear his Far Speech.
Orleus and Quetza had gone out for a ride. But . . . they were mounted. Maybe
they could get back faster than he could. He reached out with Far Speech.
“Orleus!”

“Yes?”
Orleus didn’t sound pleased with the
interruption.

Another time, Vatar would have sympathized. Not today.
“Get
back as fast as you can. There’s some trouble at the farm.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know, yet. I only know Zavar is frightened and
Thekila can’t bespeak Theklan. You’re mounted and we’re on foot. You may be
able to get there before us.”

“We’re on our way.”

~

The first thing Vatar saw when he and Arcas burst through
what remained of the farm gate was Copper, lying by the gate, bleeding from a
deep wound in her side. Vatar paused to stroke her head while Arcas ran on to
the main house.

“Good girl, Copper. I’ll be back.”

He scanned the courtyard. One of the young dogs lay dead in
the middle of the yard. There was no question he was dead. He had been nearly
cut in two. Tiger lay, whimpering, under the bench, clearly also wounded. There
was no sign of the twins or of Theklan. Clearly something bad had happened. The
cold calm that he had felt in other crises settled over him again. It didn’t
diminish his urgency, only made it possible to think. Whatever had happened out
here, the children might be in the house.

Swallowing down hope, Vatar followed Arcas into the main
house. Silver and the other young dogs swirled around his feet. Arcas had
Elaria and Caslar in his arms. Lancera stood nearby, wringing her hands. Jana
and Arus hugged each other in the corner behind her. Elaria was hysterical,
gripping Caslar so tightly that the boy wailed in pain.

“What happened, Elaria?” Arcas asked while he gently tried
to loosen her grip on their son.

Elaria gulped, choking on her own tears. “They came . . .
they came right through the gate. They—”

Vatar interrupted. “Slow down. Who are they?”

Elaria looked up at him, wild-eyed. “Temple Guards. They
came and they . . . they took the children. I’m sorry . . . I’m sorry, Vatar. I
couldn’t stop them!”

“No one would expect you to, Elaria,” Vatar said gently.
“Just tell me what happened.”

“Zavar and Savara were playing in the courtyard. The guards
grabbed them. Savara screamed. Theklan tried to take her back. They beat him
for it. One of the guards hit him in the head with the butt of his spear. The
dogs attacked the guards, trying to save the children. I’ve never seen anything
like it. They were ferocious. But the guards struck them with their spears.
Then they took the twins and Theklan and left. I got the other dogs in here, to
protect us if they come back.”

Vatar seethed inside.
Temple Guards. After the High
Council had sworn his family would be safe.

Lancera slapped her hand against the wall. “Thank the Lords
of Creation that Arus had a fever this morning. I kept them inside, out of the
damp air. I told Cestus something like this would happen! He wouldn’t listen to
me.”

Elaria started at the sound of Lancera’s hand striking the
wall.

Arcas tightened his arms around her. “Calm down, Lancera.
Which way did they go?”

Lancera went back to wringing her hands. “They went east.”

Arcas looked at Vatar. “Where could they be going to the
east? There’s nothing that way until you reach Zeda.”

Vatar shook his head, eyes narrowed. “It doesn’t make any sense.”
He looked out toward the road. “Unless they circled back by a different road to
avoid us. They have to have gone to the Temple. It’s the only thing that makes
sense.”

“What can we do?” Arcas asked.

“Get them back. I’ll be able to find Zavar, wherever they’ve
taken him.” He paced across the room. “But we can’t do it alone. We need
allies. Orleus and Quetza are on their way back, but that’s still not enough.”
Vatar forced enough calm to reach out with Far Speech again.
“Father!”

“Yes?”

“I need your help. They’ve taken my children. And
Theklan.”

“Who has?”
Veleus’s concentration was now sharp; all
his focus was on Vatar.

“The Temple Guard.”

Veleus radiated disbelief.
“The Council would never
authorize it.”

Vatar pounded his fist into his hand.
“It
was
the
Temple Guard. Elaria and Lancera both saw them.
Someone
must have
authorized it. It would help to know who.
”

Veleus nodded.
“There are people who often give me
information about what happens in the Palace and the Temple. I’ll have them
start asking questions immediately. We’ll find them for you.”

Vatar shook his head.
“I can find them myself, Father. I
just need to know what I’m going to be up against.”

“I’ll be at the farm as quickly as I can. Try not to
worry, Vatar. They won’t harm the twins. Or Theklan, either.”

Vatar stopped his pacing.
“They’ve taken my children,
Father. And I won’t rest until I have them back.”

Vatar blew out a long breath. Every fiber of his body wanted
to run back down to the Temple and find Zavar and Savara. But that would be foolish.
He needed help and he needed more information. How could he make any kind of a
plan without that? Orleus would be back soon. He’d give Father at least that
much time. But he had to do
something
.

Vatar went back to the bedroom he and Thekila shared. He
fastened the belt with his Dardani long knife around his waist and grabbed his
spear from where it rested in the corner behind the door. The shaft was
ridiculously long on foot. After the incident with the bear, he’d put a new,
longer shaft on it, for use on horseback. That was easy enough to fix. Vatar
headed for his workshop to cut the shaft down. He could always fit a new one
for mounted use later. One quick blow of the axe would be enough. It’d feel
good to strike something, too.

Arcas and Elaria followed him outside. As soon as he set
foot in the courtyard, Tiger whined. Vatar leaned his spear up against the
trunk of the apple tree and then knelt down to check on the dog. Vatar gently
pulled him out and laid him on top of the bench. “We’ll need to bandage his
wounds, but I think he’ll recover.” He looked back toward the gate. “Copper
won’t be so lucky.”

He loosened his knife in its sheath as he walked to the
gate. He knelt down again and gently stroked Copper’s head. “Good girl, Copper.
You did your best.” While he talked soothingly to her, Vatar quietly drew his
Dardani long knife from his belt.

Elaria squeaked in alarm. “What are you going to do?”

Vatar sighed. “She’s very badly wounded, Elaria. I’m going
to end her pain.”

“But she tried to protect Zavar and Savara!” Elaria
protested.

Vatar looked up to meet her eyes. “I know. She doesn’t
deserve to linger in pain. There’s no other way I can help her.”

“Maybe I can. Let me see what I can do for her, Vatar,” said
a voice from the other side of the smashed gate. Boreala came through the gate,
followed by Thekila. “I’ll do what I can for her. If I can’t help her, I’ll
ease her passing.”

Vatar nodded. As he stood up, Orleus and Quetza rode up,
leaping from their lathered horses. Seeker and Arrow threw themselves to the
ground, panting. Orleus took in the dead and wounded dogs.

“What happened here?” he asked.

“The Temple Guard took Zavar and Savara,” Vatar answered. He
pulled Thekila into his arms. “And Theklan. Theklan is probably unconscious.
The dogs tried to protect them.”

Quetza’s brows drew down. “What are we going to do about
it?”

One side of Vatar’s mouth quirked up at the instant support.
“Get them back. Father is trying to get some information for me. In the
meantime, I’m going to find them.” He strode back to take up his spear. “Then
I’m going to cut this spear down to a manageable length for close work.”

Vatar drew in a deep breath and let it out, to assist his
focus. He found Zavar easily and saw the boy’s head turn as he sensed his father.
Vatar expanded his Far Sight to see where Zavar was. It was a luxuriously
furnished room. There was a large window behind Zavar. Vatar shifted his view
to look out the window. He saw a panoramic view of the city. Vatar had seen
something like that vista twice before. It was the view of Caere from the
Fasallon Palace. But the Palace was huge. Vatar expanded his view again to see
what else was in the room. There were several men in the uniform of the Temple
Guards and one woman. Gerusa! Vatar shifted to Far Speech. It was a long shot,
but he thought his son would be able to hear him.

“Zavar?”
he asked gently.

“Papa?”
Zavar’s mental voice sounded desperate,
panicky.

“Yes.”

“Are you coming to get us?”
The little boy’s mental
voice quavered.

Vatar tried to radiate calm.
“Just as soon as I can. Are
you and Savara all right?”

“I am. Savara bit the man who grabbed her. He hit her and
now she won’t wake up.”

Vatar’s jaw clenched.
“He’ll pay for that when I catch
him.”

“I’m scared, Papa.”
Zavar’s mental voice was almost a
wail.

Vatar forced himself to greater calm.
“Of course you are.
Is Theklan with you?”

The little boy shook his head.
“No. They took him away
before they put us in the boat.”

The lockup of the Temple Guard, then. Well, that would be on
the way.
“I’ll be there soon. If anything happens, call to me with your
mind.”

“Yes, Papa.”

Vatar looked up at the clatter of hooves. Father rode up on
one of the fast messenger horses kept just outside the gate.

“They’re in the Palace,” Vatar said. “Gerusa has them.
Theklan is in the lockups. We’ll collect him on the way.”

“Mother!” Orleus spat.

“How do you know?” Father asked.

“I just bespoke Zavar. And one of those . . . .” Words
temporarily failed him. “One of them hit Savara. She’s unconscious.”

“Give us a minute to get armed. Then we’ll go with you,”
Orleus said as he and Quetza ran toward the guest house.

Vatar marched off to cut down his spear. If he was going to
be fighting inside the Palace, he’d want a much shorter shaft.

Father followed him. “I understand your desperation, Vatar.
But I’d advise you to wait just a little longer. Let me get you some help.”

Vatar swung the axe once and three feet of spear shaft flew
away. “I’ll tear the Palace apart stone by stone if I have to, but I will get
my children back.”

Father shook his head. “Son, you can’t do that.”

Thekila stepped up to Vatar’s side. “Maybe he can’t. But I
can.” Behind her in the smithy, Vatar’s anvil rose steadily to hover five feet
above the ground.

Father blinked and swallowed hard before turning his eyes to
Thekila.

Vatar shut his eyes. He put an arm around her. He
appreciated her offer, but there was no way he was going to let her be part of
this. He had to risk himself for his children. Orleus was a trained soldier and
knew what he was getting into. Quetza . . . well, Quetza was able to take care
of herself. As she was now, Thekila wouldn’t even be able to run away to avoid
danger to herself and their child.  “Thekila—”

Thekila lifted her chin defiantly. “I can lift
more
than Quetza or any other Valson, Vatar. I’ve had to. It’s how I could make my
eagle avatar work, even before I had the help of the Spirit of the Eagle. You
may need my Powers when you get to the Palace.”

Vatar shook his head. “Thekila, you can’t come this time.
Not—”

She placed her hand on his chest. “I know. I can’t keep up
with you, now. But there’s still a way for you to be able to use my Powers if
you need them. Now is the time, Vatar. We’re more than half bound as it is.
Let’s complete it. If we bind ourselves, you’ll be able to use my Powers as
well as your own.”

Vatar was momentarily speechless. “Thekila . . .” He shook
his head and swallowed hard before going on. He couldn’t let her do it, of
course. It was far too dangerous for her, but it meant the world that she’d
offer. “I couldn’t begin to control that. And, what if—”

Thekila smiled. “I doubt control is going to be an issue.
But it doesn’t matter, because I’ll be with you. Here,” she touched his head.
“And here,” she put her hand over his heart. “I can help you control it, if you
need me to. And you are not losing your mind. Even the voice told you that.”

Vatar snorted. “As if I should believe the voice that drove
me to think I was crazy in the first place! Thekila, I can’t risk it. If I am
losing my mind—”

Thekila took a painful grip on his arms. “Then we’ll go
insane together and go live in the wilderness where we can’t hurt anyone.”

That forced a bark of laughter from him.

Thekila looked into his eyes. “Vatar, it’s the only way I
can help.”

That stopped his protests. He understood that feeling too
well. Vatar drew a deep breath and nodded.

Thekila released his arms and looked around. “We need
someone to hold our oaths, but Quetza’s—”

Father stepped forward. “Just tell me what to do.”

“What do
we
do?” Vatar asked.

Thekila took a half step back and turned to face Vatar.
“Stand facing me and take my hands. Veleus, your hands go above and below ours,
to hold the oaths. It’s not necessary that we say anything.”

Vatar squeezed her hands. “Yes. But how do I
do
it?”

“Just will it. It’s very much like what we do when we join
our minds to . . .” Thekila blushed.

Vatar smiled despite his worry. “
That
I know how to
do.”

Thekila returned his smile. “All right, this is just more
complete and it will be permanent. We truly hold nothing back; we open
ourselves completely to each other. Veleus, you contain the energy that passes
between us.”

Vatar nodded. So did Father. Vatar and Thekila looked into
each other’s eyes and began to join their minds. This time, they left no
barriers and no way to close the doors and back out again. Vatar was used to
doing this on a more limited scale, but this surprised him. He was disoriented
for a moment as he seemed to see the courtyard from two different perspectives.
Then he adjusted to the new sensation.

Thekila smiled. “That’s it. We’re bound now.”

In spite of the urgency of the kidnapping, Vatar smiled,
too. “I can feel you. I could find you like I could point to the sun on a
cloudy day.”

He caught her elbow as Thekila stumbled slightly blinking.
He knew it was the same doubled perspective that had thrown off her balance.

“Yes,” Thekila answered, looking into his eyes.

Vatar didn’t pull his eyes away from Thekila’s until Orleus
and Quetza came back from the guest house. Quetza had Orleus’s old sword—the
one Vatar had replaced last winter—hanging from her belt.

Vatar looked around at his friends and nodded. He cast a
quick glance at the lathered horse Father had ridden up here. “Arcas, help me
saddle four fresh horses. You need to stay here with Elaria and Caslar. And
Thekila. We can’t leave the farm undefended, just in case. Not until we know
what’s behind this. The rest of us will ride down to the Gate and then storm
the Palace if we have to, but I will get my children and Theklan back.”

Arcas moved toward the pasture. “I’ll get the horses. And
good luck.”

“We need some kind of plan, Vatar,” Father said.

Vatar nodded. “My plan is first to go to the lockup and get Theklan
out. If, as we suspect, he was knocked unconscious, we may have to take him to
the Healers from there. Then I’m going across to the Palace. That’s where my
children are. Whatever we do, it will have to be there. If your contacts have
information for us when we get there, well and good. We can make better plans.
Otherwise, I’ll storm the Palace floor by floor if I have to.”

“We could appeal to the High Council,” Father said. “Let
them deal with it.”

Orleus snorted.

Vatar shook his head. “You can go to them if you like. But
I’m not sure I trust them any longer. They failed to keep their word to me.
Even if I did trust them, I don’t intend to kick my heels waiting for them to
debate before they take action. Zavar is frightened and Savara is still unconscious.
I mean to get to them as quickly as I can. Anyone who wants to stop me had
better be prepared to fight.” He cast an apologetic look at Thekila and Quetza.
“And I don’t much care about the Tenets right now either. I’ll use any weapon
or tool I have.”

The four of them galloped down the muddy road to the Temple
Gate, where they were forced to leave their horses. The guards eyed their
swords and Vatar’s spear uncertainly. No one but the Guard normally carried
weapons inside the city. Father gave them an off-hand wave and the guards
stepped back and allowed them to pass.

They wouldn’t have gone any faster mounted than on foot
through the narrow streets of Caere and the crowded market squares. Their first
stop was the Temple Guard post and lockup.

Father stepped out in front. “Let me handle this, Vatar.”

Vatar nodded. Father’s authority was better than a sword—or
spear—in this case, at least.

Father pulled himself up to his full height and strode
toward the corporal at the front desk. His attitude and voice radiated
authority. “A red-haired boy was brought here earlier. Where is he?”

The corporal looked up and gulped, clearly recognizing a
member of the High Council. He stood to attention. “He’s in the cells, sir.”

Father arched one eyebrow. “Well, bring him out here to me.”

The corporal shuffled uncomfortably. “Sergeant Tarus wants
him held for resisting—”

Father held up one hand and leaned forward just slightly.
His voice dropped to a deceptively silky tone. “Corporal, do you think that as
a High Councilor I outrank Sergeant Tarus?”

The corporal gulped again. “Y-Yes, sir. R-Right away,
s-sir.”

In moments, Theklan emerged, pushed through the door
separating the guard offices from the lockup. One eye was swollen shut and
blackening. He stumbled as if his head hadn’t quite cleared from the blow and
he was hunched slightly to one side, protecting the place where a kick had
probably broken a rib. He looked up blearily and recognized Vatar. “Vatar, I
tried. I just couldn’t . . .”

Vatar stepped forward to help support the youth. “Hush. You
did very well—better than I could have expected of you. How badly are you
hurt?”

Theklan made an effort to stand straight, unable to suppress
a gasp and a wince. “It’s okay. Just some bruises.”

Vatar smiled slightly. He’d tried to pass off injuries at
Theklan’s age, too. “We’ll take you to the Healers before we go on.”

Theklan looked up, eyes wide. “No!” He swallowed. “I’d
rather go with you . . . wherever you’re going.”

“You’d be safe at the Healers’ Hall,” Vatar said.

Orleus stepped up to Theklan’s other side. “Let him come at
least as far as the Palace, Vatar. I have friends who can look after him if we
need to leave him—just for a little while. And there are Healers over there who
can dress his honorable wounds.”

They started towards the pier, a little slower, now, out of
consideration for Theklan, but not much. Hurrying down one of the labyrinthine
corridors, they passed Cestus.

Cestus stared at them. “What’s going on?”

Orleus, bringing up the rear with Theklan paused. “Mother
had the Temple Guard take Vatar’s children from the farm. We’re going to get
them back.”

“What about Jana and Arus . . . and Lancera?” Cestus asked.

Vatar came back to them. “Lancera had your children inside.
They weren’t touched. Lancera’s a bit agitated, naturally, but otherwise
they’re fine. Theklan here tried to stop the Guard by himself. “

Orleus cast a glance at Theklan. “Could we leave him with
you for a bit? I’m sure he’d feel safe with you.”

Cestus’s eyes narrowed. He chewed his lip for a moment
before nodding to himself. “I have a better idea.” He looked up and down the
corridor, then gestured to a passing Fasallon. “Go tell Kareus to sound the
signal.”

“Now?” the young man asked.

“Right now.” Cestus moved to support Theklan’s other side.
“Let’s go.”

As they crossed the gardens, the great bell started ringing
from the Temple. The tolling had an unusual rhythm.

Quetza paused and looked toward the tower. “What’s that?”

Father looked toward the bell tower, too and his brows drew
together. “I don’t know. That bell is used to send signals, but I’m not
familiar with that code.”

“You wouldn’t be, Father.” Cestus gestured to where the
empty boat was just pushing off from the pier.  “You’ll need me with you,
now.”

They reached the pier. But the oarsmen sat out of reach with
the oars shipped.

Father gestured for them to come to the dock, without
result. “What—?”

Cestus stepped forward to the end of the pier. At his
gesture the rowers brought the boat back to the pier. “Take us across. Then
wait away from the wharf. Don’t take anyone else unless I say so.”

They climbed into the boat and the oarsmen pushed off,
rowing for the Palace. Vatar concentrated on the calming exercises, a little
surprised that his preternatural calm withstood being surrounded by so much
wave-filled water. That had only happened to him once before.

Father looked across to the next bench. “Cestus, what’s
going on?”

“Nothing dangerous, Father. We’re merely providing an
example of how much the Talented Fasallon depend on those of us with less
Talent—or no Talent. We’re no longer willing to give the High Council control
over every aspect of our lives.” Into the stunned silence that followed this
announcement, Cestus added, “It seems you were right, Father. Vatar is not the
Fasallon who is not a Fasallon. I am.”

There was silence for a moment after this declaration.
Father seemed to be struggling to find his voice.

Orleus found his first. He reached around Theklan to thump
Cestus on the back. “Good for you!”

“Yes.” Vatar never took his eyes from the wharf, willing the
boat to get there faster. “High time those restrictions were lifted.”

Father blinked and his mouth gaped open and closed twice
before he spoke. “What, exactly, do you have planned?”

Cestus shifted slightly. “Today. Only that a few of the
services the Talented Fasallon and the High Council have become accustomed to
will be unavailable for a time. This is merely to get their attention. I hope
that will be enough and they can be persuaded to loosen their grip on us so
that nothing else will be needed. Fortunately, it can also do double service by
immobilizing some of the opposition you might otherwise have to deal with. Most
of the Palace Guard are with us.”

Father relaxed slightly. “I see. You know I’m with you in
that. But . . . what do you plan if this doesn’t work as you hope?”

Just then, the boat bumped against the pier. Vatar jumped
out. “Time for that later.”

As they hurried up the steps, they passed Miceus heading
down. He stopped and blinked when the boat pushed off without him. He turned to
look at the others. “C-Cestus, I was on m-my way over f-for our cl-class.”

Cestus shook his head. “I’m afraid there won’t be any class
this afternoon, Miceus.” He hurried on to catch up to Vatar.

Miceus’s brows knit. “Why?”

Orleus still supporting Theklan, paused to answer. “Mother
has kidnapped Vatar’s children. We’re going to take them back.”

Miceus’s mouth hung open. Then he turned and walked along
with Orleus. “I c-can help.”

“No offense, Miceus,” Orleus said. “But we may have to fight
some of the Palace or Temple Guard in Mother’s pay. We’ve all got at least some
training. Well, except Father. I’m not sure it’d be the best place for you.”

Miceus kept on. “I m-may not be m-much g-good in a fight,
but I w-want to d-do what I c-can.”

When they reached the entrance hall, Dinus looked up from
the Palace Guard he was talking with. When he saw Veleus, he looked away. “I’m
sorry, High Councilor, but—”