The Ways of Mages: Starfire (12 page)

Hearing her name changed that.

Terana crept closer to the door to listen.

“
What happened, Chris? She used to come to us whenever something or someone was bothering her
.”
Her mother asked in a tone of hopelessness.

Her fathe
r’
s chuckle had a tad of bitterness to it
.“
Perhaps she grew weary of telling us about our neighbors. Perhaps she even thought
we
were tired of hearing it. You know how Terana strives to not be a burden.

“
I know. She does her best, but no one else accepts her! Oh! It makes me so ma
d
…
”
her mothe
r’
s voice dropped from its rising crescendo back to a normal volume
.“
I feel like we have failed he
r…
and her mothe
r’
s trust in us
.
”

Teran
a’
s breath stopped. Her mothe
r’s…
? Her mother was
n’
t Sharon?

“
What do you mean, Sharon? We raised Terana as the poor woman asked us to
.
”

Terana felt like the floor had been yanked from under her.
I’
m adopte
d…I’m…
They took care of m
e…
onl
y…
only because they wer
e…
were asked too?
Blood roared in her ears. Her fathe
r…
Mr. Carpente
r…
Was right about her not wanting to be a burden. And here, she had been one all her life. Granted, children were burdens, but she was one her par
e…
caretakers felt
obligated
to take on. A moan found itself strangled in her throat.

“
We have been trying, Chri
s”
Sharon continued
.“
But do you see our blood children treated the way she is? Lila and her fellow hens wo
n’
t leave Terana alone! If they do
n’
t stop or are
n’
t careful, someone is going to slip and tell Terana that she is
n’
t truly ours
!
”

A stabbing sensation pierced Terana's heart as Sharon said those words. She squeezed her eyes shut. A low moan escaped he
r…
She did
n’
t want to hear anymore.

Physically sick, Terana snatched her dinner and slipped out the door again and fled.

***

Gently Chris soothed his distraught wife
.“
Tomorrow, we will demand that Lila stop her nonsense. Her and the rest
.
”

Sharo
n’
s near black eyes studied his face hopelessly
.“
How
?”
She asked
.“
We have
n’
t been able to get them to stop for nineteen years
!
”

“
W
e’
re creative, are
n’
t we
?”
Chris asked smiling
.“
W
e’
ll find a way. We will show them that Terana is
our
daughter in everything but blood. That we love her as our own
.
”

Sharo
n’
s eyes became determined
.“
Oh yes. I wo
n’
t give them a choice. I have had enough of what they allow their brats to do to my poor daughter
.
”

***

Terana ran, blinded by tears, through the fields. Heedless if she trampled the crops or not. She felt as if the knife that had run her heart through earlier was now carving a hole there. Everything made a sort of sick sense now. The people who had taunted her all her life knew that she was a leech. She wasn’t one of them. How they must have enjoyed her ignorance. Now she knew why her parents had looked so worn, they were worrying about the day when someone had either a fit of cruelty or pity told her. Told her that she was a burden. Her family, that she had thought had loved her, had lied to her all her life.

Each thought was another knife carving that ugly hole.

The only person who loved her, who hadn’t lied was Jeremy. Maybe he didn’t know that she wasn’t his sister…Terana stopped dead at the edge of the forest as a memory flickered before her mind’s eye.

“
Zeeve knows you to be a good man, but not her brother
.”
Zeeve had remarked.

Jeremy had paused for a moment as if puzzled by what Zeeve had meant
.
“
She just shows different traits
.”
He had finally said.

Zeeve nodded thoughtfully
.“
Really? Zeeve find that hard to believe in a small, out of way town. Zeeve thinks she has different blood
.
”

“
What is that supposed to mean
?”
Jeremy asked in a snapping voice. As if h
e…
as if he did
n’
t want Terana to notice what the moleci had been implying. Did
n’
t want her to know the trut
h
…

Zeeve looked him directly in the eye and shrugged.
“
Zeeve do
n’
t know. What does it mean
?
”

With a pained gasp, Terana dropped to her knees. Her arms hugging her tightly, as if to close the gaping hole in her chest. To stop the knives. Oh! She was so blind! They knew. They had
all
known! Even Zeeve kne
w
…

A wail of hurt fought its way out of her throat. She rocked back and forth. Back and forth. Twilight passed into deeper night. When Terana realized this, she straightened. She forced herself to stand and seek the shelter of the forest room. She crawled in and dressed into her man’s clothes. As she did this, she planned. 

She didn’t belong here in Plarn. She couldn’t remain in Plarn. She had to leave.

Tears still raced down her cheeks as she thought this. She didn’t want to be a leech anymore, but she didn’t know where she could go…It didn’t matter. She had to leave.

And they won’t know or care if I do leave…
Terana stilled in the process of retying her boots.
And they will think that I am an ungrateful get.
She couldn’t leave without saying ‘thank you’ for taking care of her. Terana’s bleeding heart quailed at facing any of them again. She wouldn’t be able to say anything; she would be too busy crying. She was too busy crying as it was.

Terana finished tying her boot. Kneeling before her doeskin bag, she drew out her sketchbook and a piece of charcoal. The sound of ripping paper sounded too loud as she tore out a piece. Flipping the book closed again she scrawled her note. Finished with that she threw the book and charcoal back into her bag and drew out a carved paperweight.

   Her fath…Mr. Carpenter… was a skilled carpenter and woodcarver. When he had a spare moment, Mr. Carpenter would take a scrap of hard wood, typically maple, and carve Terana something. He knew that she loved nature and myth. So, over the years, he had gifted her with ucora, wolves, eagles, lvessa; all in various positions. One of his latest creations was the dragon. Out of all of them, she considered it her favorite.

She wondered now what he had meant by those gifts. Were they just to make her believe the lie longer? Was he jus
t…
did he just make them because he thought that a gift was expected of him? Shuddering at the thought, Terana studied the paperweight in her hand. It was the dragon. With her finger she traced its spiraling ascent forever trapped in the wood. Its wings spread to catch the wind of flight.

She had put this one and the eagle one in her bag to draw. She had
n’
t thought that she would leave one to weigh down her last note. But now it seemed like a good idea, so they would know that the note had truly come from her. They all knew that she loved these two carvings the best. Perhaps they would know that she had left it to show that she loved the
m…
But which one should she leave; the spiral ascending dragon or the eagle landing on a branch? Which would say the most about how much she loved them? The one she loved the most.

She traced the dragon one last time, kissed its head, then set it down upon the note
.“
Guard it till they find it
.”
She whispered to it. She retreated then; pushing her bag before her as she crawled out the entrance.

Beneath its dragon guardian the note waited. Waited for someone to find it. Waited with its message.

I know now that you were obligated to care for me. I thank you for all that you have done for me. Know that I love you, enough to remove this burden from you.

Terana

Later in the night, Terana slowed her trek. Above her own soft tread, Teran
a’
s keen ears heard something padding toward her. She paused, peering through the shadows. She felt something peering back. Terana felt that she knew who it was.

“
Russy
?”
She asked quietly.

There was a short bark followed by soft rustlings in the underbrush. Like red smoke, Russy materialized before her 

Terana crouched to embrace him
.“
Hello, buddy
.”
She hugged his scruffy neck. His thick fur felt good against her face. She inhaled his musty sent and felt at home. Here was someone who did
n’
t care that she was
n’
t kin by blood. He loved her. Russy moaned and pulled away from her. He cocked he head at her; his eyes seemed to be asking her a question
.“I’
m leaving
.”
She informed him. He snorted
.“
I am
.”
Terana said with conviction
.“
I am leaving and I wo
n’
t come back for some time.  If ever
.
”
 
The wolf came up to her again and rubbed his head against her chin. It was as if a candle was lit. She did
n’
t have to be alone in her self exile. Plus, Russy could help her survive
.“
Hey boy, do you want to come with me
?”
She asked him hopefully. Terana feared to be alone. Maybe now she would
n’
t be. Russ
y’
s amber eyes gleamed with silver moonlight as he studied her.

After a few tense heartbeats he yipped and wagged his tail. A grin took residence on her lips. She would
n’
t be alone after all. As he bounded ahead of her a sudden pang of guilt eclipsed her joy. She was taking him from his pack. His family; where he
belonged
.  What if he did
n’
t understand that she was truly leaving Plarn
?“
Russy
.”
She called to him. He glanced over his shoulder
.“
Do you understand that I am leaving Plarn? The valley? Everything? That means your family too
.”
She did
n’
t want him to leave her, but she did
n’
t want him to feel like she had tricked him. She knew how that knife felt.  Russy gave her
a‘
of-course-I-know-sill
y’
look
.“
Just making sure
.”
She called to his back.  

“
Courage is not the absence of fear, but the acknowledgment of it
.
”
–
Fieressen of the Persharan Dragons

Pershara- Sigon Pass

Kairevasigh sat bundled in some spare blankets before the fire. She gazed at the people about her. The old men, Robert and Bendon had asked that she come with them. Too tired to put up a struggle Kairevasigh had agreed. Besides, she could
n’
t shake the feeling of safety she felt. They took her to a stone disk carved with symbols. Bendon had tinkered with it. Kairevasigh had felt a touch of pressure on her neck. Then the disk glowed and the three of them touched it. The pressure spiked. When Kairevasigh opened her eyes again it was to be surrounded by more people: a woman with blonde hair and gentle eyes, a tall, thin man, a big man with the eyes of a soldier, and a youth about her age.

She had given Robert the sword, a move considered foolhardy back home. But she was
n’
t home and she avoided using it. The woman had taken her under her wing, insisting that Kairevasigh rest and eat. The woman introduced herself as Kindra.

That had been several nights ago when the moon had been full. Kairevasigh felt that she had finally come home. Which was strange, because she had never been farther. But she felt safe and with a family of sorts. Kindra was especially kind. The only person who really unsettled her was Tep, though he did
n’
t say all that much. But he did watch her a lot when he thought she had
n’
t noticed.

The group was moving south through what they called the Sigon Pass. They were on their way to Bendo
n’
s daughter near the capital of Pershara.  Tommy, the tall man, said that they were making good time considering the fact that they were on foot and it was late winter.  They had stopped for the night.

Thus Kairevasigh found herself bundled by the fire. She watched the group about her. Toliver was telling Tep about some King Cole and how maps had been drawn on pears after the potato disaster. Tep was listening with a raised eyebrow. Tommy was juggling rocks for Kindr
a’
s enjoyment. Bendon and Robert were talking about travel plans. By the sound of it, it was an old argument. Robert mentioned the transporter symbols. Bendon said it would be too close to Altana and she would feel the magic use.

“
Why do
n’
t you just dampen your use of power
?”
Kairevasigh gathered the nerve to ask.

“
The pressure is a natural occurrence
.”
Bendon replied.

“
True, but if you channel power into the void created when you use magic, the pressure is reduced if not completely nulled
.”
She replied with what Kaizir had always told her
.“
It just takes focus
.
”

Both men turned to stare at her like she had said something astonishing
.“
Fascinating
.”
Robert said
.“
Where did you learn that
?
”

She looked into the fire
.“
A friend from home taught me
.”
A fact mostly true. They did come from the same landmass, just a vastly different time.

“
Where are you from
?”
Kindra asked.

Kairevasigh met Kindr
a’
s gaze. The vast bluegrass plains of home swam before her vision. Ansool, the beautiful winged leopards, flew in their prides, stalking plain deer. In the distance were black eagles. Her home farm appeared, her father and mother going about their simple lives. Her brothers helping and going off to apprenticeships. A feeling of homesickness lodged itself in her throat. She had lied to her parents about going to the seamstresses school in Maloressi. Instead, she had gone to the great library: the Ulai
sé
kan. She had lied, which was against her nature, to apprentice there. Her whole entrance into the apprenticeship had been a lie except for her desire to learn. Only boys could become scholars. She had thanked the spirits and the night that she was flat chested still. Kairevasigh had cut her hair and shortened her name to Kairev. She had even gone so far as to write a letter of introduction from her illiterate father, not that she needed it. It had been four years since the start of her apprenticeship that she had seen her family. Who knew how much time had passed since she had gone back in time. Was she even close to her own time?

Kindra gasped, breaking the pictures of home. Kairevasigh blinked. Kindra was gulping air, her hand to her chest. Kindra stared at her. Tommy rose to Kindr
a’
s aid, his eyes flickering between the two women.
I made eye contac
t…
she sa
w…
Kairevasigh moaned softly, burying her head in her hands.

“
What was that? What did you do
?”
Kindra asked crouching before Kairevasigh.

“
I’
m sorry. It was an accident
.”
Kairevasigh apologized
.“
I did
n’
t mean t
o
…
”
She ducked her head again.
Telecy
was a tricky magic. It connected minds, but it could also trick the mind with illusion. The more powerful
telecers
were said to also control another, stealing that last refuge. Kairevasigh had
n’
t taken control of Kindr
a’
s mind, but she had connected with it. A fine tether was between them now.

“
What happened
?”
Bendon asked.

Kindra turned to him
.“
I am not sure, but I sa
w
…
”
She looked quizzically at Kairevasigh
.“
her home
?”
Kairevasigh nodded, her face still hidden
.“
It was like no place I have ever seen. Vast plains of grasses as tall as Tommy. Maybe taller
.”
She amended eying Tommy
.“
And all of it was the color of blue spruce. Winged leopards and a sprawling estate surrounded by smaller farms. Also saw a vast underground library
.
”

“
I’
ve never heard of a place like that in Pershara
.”
Tommy said.

“
Grass
t’
aint blue.
T’
is green
.”
Tep asserted.

“
So this
is
Pershara
.”
Kairevasigh whispered, the last of her doubts erased. In a louder voice she answered Tep, raising her head to look in his general direction. She had to keep in practice of avoiding eyes, those doorways to the mind
.“
That may be true here in
Pershara
. But Sheyestiva is not
in
Pershara. Or anywhere near it. Sheyestiva is part of what you would know as Arathin.

***

Silence met Kairevasig
h’
s announcement. Kindra, Robert, and Bendon stared at her in shock. Tep and Toliver both looked very confused. As for himself, Tommy was uncertain. A feeling he did not like. Arathin was a fairytale land of strange magic and diverse peoples. Arathin was said to have been lost more than two thousand years ago. The only thing that remained was the language that was only used for magic and old scholarly work
.
“

“
You do
n’
t believe me
.”
Kairevasig
h’
s voice was soft.

“
It
is
hard to believe. Arathin is little more than a folktale. And you say you are from it
.”
Tommy replied in a kind voice.

Kairevasigh smiled. Humo
r’
s light flickered faintly in her eye
.“
That may be so for you. But you have traces of Arathin, at least. There are
no
traces of Pershara back home. Maybe the only
hint
is some exceedingly vague reference in old myth
.”
Her gaze landed on Rober
t’
s sword
.“
Yes, you definitely have more memory of Arathin then we have of Pershara. How else would you have a Sheyestivan sword
?”
At their blank looks she continued
.“
Are all your swords black with brass hilts
?
”

“
That would be a no. Only blackguard and bad things have black blades
.”
Toliver pronounced. Robert crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at the sergeant. The portly sergeant flushed
.“
You bein the
e’
ception,
o’
course
.
“

“
Then that one is one of a kind here
?”
Kairevasigh pushed.

“
Yes
.”
Robert conceded.

“
Well it is
n’
t unique back home. All Sheyestivan swords are black with a brass hilt. The only one that does not follow that rule is the empero
r’
s. That one, the Nitcassa, is all black
.
”

“
But how is that possible? Arathin was a thousand years a myth by the time I got the sword. And that was about a thousand years ago, give or take a century
.”
Robert mused. He smiled at Kairevasig
h’
s shocked eyes
.“
I am older then I look. The point being, how did this get there
?”
He said placing his hand on the swor
d’
s hilt.

“
And how did our friend get here
?”
Tommy added.

“
If you find it hard to believe where I am from, you definitely wo
n’
t believe me when I tell you how. Kairevasigh stated.

“
Say it anyway
.”
The mother dragon said
.“
We have seen some strange things in our days
.”
She said glancing at Bendon and Robert.

“
Alright. I was an apprentice at the Ulai
sé
kan, the Imperial Library of Sheyestiva. One of my tests was to find and study an object from a particular room deep in the bowels of the library. The Room of Mysteries was my assignment. I found it and my torch went out. I was left in the dark. But I realized that there was a faint light coming from four pillars. They were carved in old Arathin. Something about a cataclysmic war. It terrified me
.”
Kairevasigh paused noticing the shocked expressions on the others, sans Toliver and Tep, faces
.“
What
?
”

“
It sounds familiar, but keep going
.”
Kindra replied.

With a raised eyebrow, she did
.“
I thought I saw images moving in the Kales Amei
.
”

“
Sorry, the what
?”
Bendon interrupted.

“
Kales Amie
?
”

“
That. What is that
?
”

“
I
t’
s timeless glass. No one knows how to make it now, but anything carved in it can never be changed, erased, or broken. You do not have such a thing here
?
”

“
No, but I remember reading about it a long time ago. Please, continue
.
”

Nodding Kairevasigh did
.“
U
m…
right. I saw movement in the glass. I touched it. Suddenly a white light bloomed and an intense pressure landed on my neck. I woke up on green grass with people around me and a black edged, silver-blue cored sword under my nose. The man who held it, I learned later, was the Nirami Kaizir. In Sheyestiva, he is a mythical leader who is said to have lived three thousand years before my birth
.
”

“
You time traveled
.”
Robert breathed.