The Ways of Mages: Starfire (39 page)

"Oh!
" Russy said standing and stepping closer to the woman and Sam. His tail was flying a mile a minute.
"I sorry! My name is Russy. We friends now? Can we play?Chase? Pleeease."

Sam cuddled closer to the woman. His hiss was enough of an answer for Terana.

The woman shook her head sadly and looked at Russy. "I'm sorry, Russy, I think it takes more than a name to become friends." Russy's tail fell.

Terana blinked and stared at the woman. "You can understand him?" Terana asked breathlessly. "And the cat?"

The woman smiled and nuzzled her cat. "I can." She looked thoughtfully at Terana. "I am assuming that you can also understand them?"

Terana nodded. "Yes. My name is Terana and this, as you know, is Russy." She said patting the wolf's head.

The woman smiled. "My name is Jewel Al'Dap-Holden." She hefted the cat in her hands. "Sam-the-Unwise." Terana grinned and the Sam looked decidedly embarrassed that Russy now knew his full name. Jewel was looking closely at Russy who sat wagging his tail. "He is not a dog," she observed, "he's a wolf." She looked up at Terana questioningly.

Terana smiled. "He is a wolf. My best friend."

"Hai! What about me?" Zeeve said from the shoulder of Liam. The others had arrived.

Terana flushed slightly. "He has been my friend for longer than I've known you, Zeeve." Zeeve stared at her in outrage and Russy looked decidedly smug as he sat by Terana's side. "Jewel, these are my friends. The little guy is Zeeve." Zeeve huffed caustically at being called 'little'. "The shoulder he is sitting on belongs to Liam Seedman. And this is Kadrean Néaina." She said gesturing to the healer mage who had joined them. Each man inclined his head as Terana introduced them. "This is Jewel Al'Dap-Holden."

Kadrean blinked and looked at Jewel wonderingly. Jewel met his gaze "Néaina? I've heard of you from one of your tutors." She said with a smile.

"Oh?" Kadrean raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm." Jewel nodded, smiling. "Breqwin spoke of you quite fondly."

"So you
are
Chana, zan neshelain n'Al'Dap. the women he mentioned in his letters. He says that your healing techniques are a novel to watch." His gaze took in the cat. "And that you have a strong affinity with cats."

Jewel blushed slightly. "He says that
you
have a strong, innate talent yourself." She looked down at the cat in her arms. "And he isn't wrong about the cats."

"Indeed, not." The large, well muscled man behind Jewel said with a smile. His eyes danced as looked at Jewel. "It was the same when she was young at home. I constantly had people come from the town to complain that their cat was missing yet
again
. And then, to add to the grievance, the cats were convinced that I would take care of them. I'm not a cat guy and I think," he paused to look at the cat who was watching him intently, "that they know this and thus always seek me out."

"Aw, you poor man." The dark haired woman cooed teasingly, leaning into him. She patted him on the shoulder. "I think the fluffy things know that deep down, you are a 'cat guy'. It is just a matter of conditioning."

The man groaned. The woman grinned at Terana. "Hi, my name is Jay Dee, and this baby is named Thomas GrimHolden."

"He is my uncle." Jewel added. "The other two men are Captain Willaim and Jingles." Both men nodded. 

After the introductions, Jingles turned to Jewel. "Jewel, that is the fastest I have ever seen that cat move. Shoom!" He laughed moving his hand quickly before his face. The group chuckled at the look of consternation on Sam's face.

Terana looked at Kadrean and asked "What does Chana mean? And the other stuff that you said? She said her name was Jewel."

Jewel answered before Kadrean could. "Chana means Jewel. He called me 'Jewel, the beloved of Al'Dap."

"Oh." Terana said. "I'm sorry." She said looking down.

Jewel touched her shoulder, causing Terana to meet the older woman's gaze. "Don't be. It is the Old Tongue, after all. Believe me when I tell you that it took me a long time to understand it." Jewels eyes were dark with knowledge. "Terana, it is also never a bad thing to ask questions. That is how one learns." Seeing the younger woman's eyes brighten, Jewel stepped back and petted Sam as she waited for more questions.

Seeing that curiosity was welcomed Terana asked "So, what brings you to Razyan's Keep? Do you live here?"

Thomas shook his head. "No. Never been here before." Jay Dee, Willaim, and Jingles said something similar. 

"Sometimes" Jewel replied. "Though, lately I live on the eastern shores of Marlhema." She looked about the hall with eyes filled with secrets and, to Terana's mind, old memories. It fascinated Terana. She wondered what Jewel thought of when her eyes were like that. Jewel continued. "We came to meet someone. Luckily we arrived early. I had been afraid we would be late. I'm guessing that you just arrived as you are not in robes and thought we lived here."

Terana nodded. "Yes, I came to learn what kind of mage I am."

Kadrean nodded. "Speaking of which, her Test of the Stone is tomorrow morning."

"Ah, we will let you find your rest. It has been a pleasure meeting you." Jewel replied. "Good night, and good luck tomorrow, Terana." Terana smiled and waved as Kadrean led her down the hall. 

Terana was sitting on the bed in one of the guest suits of Razya
n’
s Keep. A single candle cast light about the comfortable, if large room. The richness made Terana fee
l…
strange. Not necessarily uncomfortable because everything was designed for comfort, but un-belonging. Her room back in Plarn was a third the size and held not an ounce of the opulence of this room. The candle made it seem just slightly smaller.

The bed was huge and made her feel like an ant. Russy did not seem remotely concerned. He lay on his side fully stretched out. He took a good portion of the bed all for himself.  He snored too. And was already dreaming whatever it was that wolves dreamed.

Terana wore a silky white robe that almost made her purr like a cat. Her skin was pleasantly warm from the bath she had taken earlier. It had made her feel human again. She wanted to lay down and sleep, but she was wary of what tomorrow would bring. The Keep Stone worried her. A good portion of her believed the stone would melt like its smaller cousins. She did
n’
t want it to melt but knew of no way to avoid it.

Terana sighed. It was
n’
t just fear of melting wizard treasures that kept her from her rest. It was also her thoughts. While she had been folding her clothes the silver star that she had found on the road before leaving Plarn fell out. She had forgotten it, did
n’
t know how she had managed that feat, but she had. Now it sat on her leg. Its silver warmed in the fire light. Light flickered off the colored shards within the gleaming black stone. Terana stroked the stone. She could feel a pulse from within. It puzzled her, but did
n’
t scare her. It was familiar  somehow.  It lulled her into laying down, the star resting on her stomach.

Suddenly there was a flash, not of light, but of something. A touch of coolness caressed her before the candle flickered ou
t…
or her eyes finally closed. She was sure which it was...

He was a young boy. Well looking in his youth. Sharp familiar lines of his face were softened by childhood. She knew hi
m…
from somewhere. He had pale skin, slightly golden by the sun. His hair was saved from being prematurely white by a light cream blond. His eyes were an intense, brilliant blue. His body was lean and healthily fed. It was obvious he was athletic. His breathing was heavy and sweat sheened his skin and darkened his hair. She thought he may have been running, but the black bladed sword with a bronze hilt in his hand told the truth.

Standing before him was a man with long dark hair and dressed similar to the boy, wearing only calf length pants. His skin was a darker bronze and littered with white scars. He was also sweat sheened, although his breath was lighter. There was a bronze hilted black sword in his hand as well. There were light crimson scratches over both of them. The fact appalled her. The boy had to be seven or eight years old. He should be playing or helping with chores not being taught sword craft.  But it was obvious he was
n’
t appalled at all. His eyes were shining with the thrill of the fight.

The man was nodding in satisfaction
.“
Well done, prince. You do have a gift with swords and not just the esteem of a man protecting a royal ass
.
”

“
I made him teach me
.”
The boy replied. Where Terana would have been upset at the implied insult, he was calm.

“
Hmm
.”
The man nodded again. Terana watched him sure there was something else he was pleased about and not just the bo
y’
s skill. It was like the boy had past another tes
t…
one Terana was unaware of
.“
Let us see what you are like with tactics. A Winged Dagger knows much about tactics and has the patience to employ them. Com
e…
we shall play a game
.
”

The boy was curious. It was obvious. And so he followed the man into a small cabin. He copied the man in cleaning and putting away the swords and washing his face and the small wounds he had just received. The man led him to a table. On it was a board of light and dark wooden squares. There were carved figures. Many were short and stood before taller figures who were carved differently. Like the board, half the pieces were of light wood. Mirrored across from them were darker pieces.

“
Chess
.”
The man said
.“
Sit
.”
The boy sat
.“
Do you know this game
?”
The boy shook his head. The man nodded
.“
I imagine you were spending your days hunting and learning basic sword craft
.”
The man went about describing the pieces to the boy, how each moved. He told the boy the object of the game. Then they started to play. The man won in three turns
.“
Again, prince. This time put your mind into the game
.”
And they played again. It took longer for the man to win, but he did
.“
Do you know why I am winning
?”
The man asked.

The boy had a furrowed brow as he set the pieces back up. He glanced at the man. Eventually he shook his head.

The man sighed
.“
Because you are letting me. Again
.
”

And again they played. The boy always lost. He was getting frustrated. But he did
n’
t complain. Eventually after eleven games the man stood and retrieved his sword. The boy followed, shoulders slouched in defeat and misery. Terana ached for him. She had
n’
t even been playing and her head hurt.

The man and boy fenced. Terana winced at first, because it did
n’
t seem that the man was being careful with that sharp blade he had. But the boy was quick and moved almost like he was dancing. He managed to nick the man several times. The man nicked him back, but that did
n’
t dim the bo
y’
s joy at having succeeded.

At some unspoken signal, the man stopped the bout
.“
Again, well done. Now, let us go back to the game
.”
The boy wilted a little, but followed. They went through the same ceremony of cleaning and washing. Soon they were back at the little table with the game
.“
Before we begin
.”
The man said
.“
Tell me, how is chess similar to sword craft
?”
Terana gaped at him, but he did
n’
t see. The boy thought about it for a second.

“
The obvious answer would be they are related to war craft, but I think you mean something else
.
”

“
I do
.
”

The boy studied the board for a long time. The man did
n’
t seem to get impatient. He just simply waited. He seemed very good at waiting.  Terana studied the board too, admired the carving done on the pieces. It was almost as good as her adoptive fathe
r’
s work. Thinking about that hurt, but not as badly as it used to. Probably because she was asleep. She knew she was asleep, which was kind of weird. Terana grew bored and glanced about the cabin. It was small, but neat. It was a single room with a small stove, a fire place with a kettle. Before the fireplace was a green faded chair that looked very comfortable. Near it was a table with a smoking pipe. There were various sharp weapons lining the wall near the door. There was a bed near the stove. Rolled up near the fire place was what looked like a sleeping pallet.  The chess table and stools were near the armory.  A stool sat next to the fire place. There were dried herbs hanging from the rafters.   

“
It is similar to fencing
,”
The boy finally answere
d“
because you take advantage of what your opponent does that leaves them open. You cripple them before they can react or move to defend. And if they are more wary you make them think what you want them to think. They see one thing as you prepare to cripple them another way. A way they do
n’
t expect
.”
His answer sent a chill down Teran
a’
s spine.

The man slowly smiled
.“
Very good.  Now we play
.
”

They playe
d…
for a long time. And the boy won after setting up many feint attacks to make the man play toward them. By the time the man realized what was going on it was a little too late. He laughed
.“
Well done. Le
t’
s eat, yo
u’
ve earned it..
.
”

The world awoke with the rising of the sun. And so did all her trepidation that this day could not possibly end well. Kadrean led her back down the main hall to that archway where she had previous seen the stone.  Where before it had been dark and limed with star silver it was now amber. In the sunlight it glowed warmly like a mountain ca
t’
s eye.

And she was being led toward it.

There was a line and at its front was a young girl no more than nine. She was one of those girls who looked cute with long glossy tresses of mink hair. She approached the stone on its pedestal and placed her hand upon one of the crystals many facets. A subtle hum droned along Teran
a’
s senses, a faint pressure at the base of her neck. A woman stood beside the crystal scribbling on a clipboard. Once in a while she would glance at the crystal then would continue scribbling. Terana cocked her head in puzzlement.

“
Kadrean, what is she doing
?”
She whispered to him as he led her to the line.

“
That is the Reader of the Keep Stone. The crystal investigates a mage's gift. On a facet near the woman it shows the strength and nature to her.

“
And it's like a
kadelle
?
”

“
In a way, except much better
.
”

In a way
, he said,
in a way
. Nothing really to it excep
t…
what if it was like the
kadelle
in more ways then one? What if it melted too? If Kadrea
n’
s and Zeev
e’
s reactions were anything to go by, she would be stared at more than ever before.  Not to mention she would be destroying the Keep Stone. She doubted there would be many of
those
lying around. Terana sighed as her fears tripled. She made to turn to Kadrean and request that she just go someplace else. But he had left her in line to go and talk to some fellows at the far end of the hall. And Zeeve was off somewhere, probably harassing the cooks. Oh wai
t…
she grimaced internally. He was with Russy in her suit
e…
which meant the room would be a mess when she got bac
k…
or one of them was severely wounded. She should have thought of that before she had agreed on letting him keep Russy company.
That just goes to show how truly out of it I am
. She sighed to herself.

She looked back at the Stone. It was getting closer to her; it seemed to stalk her like a mountain cat. It loomed like one even. She closed her eyes. Now she was letting her imagination run away from her.

There were three more people left between her and the looming Stone. She had to find a way of suppressing her power. She could almost laugh. It would be impossible to suppress something that she just learned she had, right? But she had to try. She could not have the Keep Stone melting on her. She desperately searched for the well of power that was supposed to be there. Tw
o…
on
e…
then there wa
s
…

“
Place your hand on the Stone
.”
Terana eyed the woman for a second then took the necessary step forward. She swallowed; this was it, the moment of truth. She tentatively placed her palm against the cool surface. More strongly then before she felt the drone of the crystal. Invisible tentacles stretched along her flesh to the well of power. She bent her will against it. It slowed. She pushed back more. It stopped at the thresholds of her power and fingered it.
 “
Alright, thank you
.”
The woman muttered to her in a voice that sai
d‘
waste of tim
e’
. But Terana could care less what the woma
n’
s tone said. The Stone remained whole. She should be thanking Terana, but whatever.