The Ways of Mages: Starfire (42 page)

“
And she learns, presumably magic, perhaps even this verse, as we protect he
r…
from the beasty in the courtyard
?”
Liam asked.

“
Perhaps
.”
Razyan said nodding.

Teran
a’
s eyes leapt from one to the next with a growing sense of disgust. A woman just died out in the courtyard. In front of them all and here they were discussing a
riddle?!?

“
The next thing I would like to kno
w
…
”
Kadrean started but stopped in surprise when Terana stood up.

She was trembling and glaring at them with sea gray eyes roiling with emotion
.“
How can you do this? How can you sit here and go about solving riddles like it was an ordinary day?! A woman JUST DIED
!
”

Razyan met her gaze with his own green one. It was as grim and calm as the sky before a storm. The breath before a bad storm
.“
Because that woman was a victim of a war that is beginning again. Because her death is, in a way, a warning. Just as this riddle is. You are its key
.
”

“
I am no key
.”
Terana said shaking her head in denial
.“
I am nothing special
.”
She sank back down to the couch her anger doused by his calm.

Razyan crouched before her. The bird fluttered her wings to keep her balanc
e“
Who are you, Terana? You who come from a town on no maps? Whose drawing sparks a see
r’
s words? Whose presence alone draws the attention of a Cursed? Whose name is in an ancient rhyme
?
”

“
Not all of it is old. Liam just said most of it
.”
Terana pointed out weakly. She was, to her shame, close to tears.

“
There had been more to the original scroll than what I read, but that part had not survived the years. Seers had been asked about it, but all they could say was that the rest would return when it was needed
.”
He locked his gaze with hers
.“
It has returned now, Terana. Starfire
.
”

Terana gulped. She pulled her gaze away from him and looked down at the sketch on her lap. The black sword seemed to threaten her. She wondered why she had drawn it when she could have drawn anything in this room.

“
You bring up interesting questions, Raz Razyan
.”
Liam murmured.

“
And I have another to add to the list
.”
Kadrean remarked, drawing everyon
e’
s attention. His gray eyes were concerned and puzzled
.“
I
t’
s the question that caused me to seek you out in the first place, Razyan. How is it that a mage with enough magic to melt a
kadelle
registers to the Keep Stone as having barely enough to wear the red
?
”

Razyan blinked a couple times
.“
Why do you ask
?
”

“
That is Teran
a’
s story
.
”

“
I do
n’
t know.
I’
ve never heard of it before
.”
His puzzled expression came to her again
.“
I wonde
r
…
”
He murmured after a long moment. He reached for one of her hands and in her numbed state she saw no reason to deny him. He turned it over and she felt something smooth, cool, and hard fall onto her palm. She gasped and looked down. He had moved his hand away and on her palm was a small little stone. A stone that looked like someone had dribbled some milk on a spot of honey and then solidified it. A
kadelle
. Past experience braced her to expect a flash of light and a melted stone.

Past experience could have taken a hike.

The stone remained as it was. In fact, it barely glowed. She heard the shocked exclamations from Liam and Kadrean. They were both shaking their heads in denial. She could only stare.

“
Razyan, it melted before.
Twice
.”
Kadrean told Razyan. Liam nodded in support of Kadrea
n’
s remark.

Razyan looked even more puzzle
d…
and intrigued
.“
I believe you, Kadrean
.”
He replied absently
.“
I thin
k…
I never thought it could happe
n…
bu
t
…
”
he whispered to himself, his eyes turning inward. Terana stared at the small stone in her hand. It barely glowe
d…
what had she done when she tried to keep the Keep Stone from melting? It was surreal to see the faintly glowing stone. She almost did
n’
t hear what Razyan said next. When she did a chill touched her heart
.“
She needs to try the Keep Stone again
.
”

Something in Terana snapped. It was too much. Her emotions had been like a hapless leaf caught in raging rapids all morning. Earlier she had been worrying about destroying the Keep Stone. Then there had been the sting of guilt for being deceitful in hiding whatever it was that lurked inside her from the Keep Stone. Then she had been thrown into the terror of the courtyard. The horror of watching her would be killer kill itself by heedlessly smashing itself to death. What had she done to cause such hatred? Would she ever forget the sound of flesh against unyielding wall? Then helplessness had sunk its teeth into her while watching others try to save a woman who she knew to be already dead. Numbness had been a cottony blanket around her, keeping her from falling into a shameful, useless, fit of hysterics. That honestly? She wanted to fall into despite its uselessness. Disgust over the casual conversation of a See
r’
s riddle and unease over the dimly glowing stone in her hand.

And now they wanted her to try the Keep Stone again?

The scary thing within was not destroying the
kadelle
in her hand, but what if the Keep Stone did something? What if the Stone was destroyed? What a stupid fear compared to the truth of the battered dead woman in the courtyar
d…
Another helping of shame was added to her pile of teetering emotions.

Terana needed to get away. Fresh air sounded real good. It would help her get her roiling emotions under control again. Maybe make her feel like herself again. Her hand closed automatically on the
kadelle
as she stood up.

“
Terana
?”
Liam asked her. Concern colored his voice. She could see similar expressions of concern in Kadrea
n’
s and Razya
n’
s gazes.

“
I need to get outside
.”
She whispered.

Razyan nodded in understanding
.“
There is a balcony door there
.”
He pointed to some glass doors  further down the wall that the couch was up against. Terana made a b-line for them. They resisted opening at first, but their resistance stood no chance against her determination. They opened with a small squeak.

Late morning air streamed around her, twirling her hair in a playful toss. Terana closed her eyes and breathed deep. Early summer air smelling of life filled her lungs, dimming the memory of Olidiy
a’
s demise. It was
n’
t gone, it would never
be
gone. But it was pushed into a box in a dusty corner of her mind. At least for the moment.

The balcony was a private one looking out over the main falls that flowed under the dinning hal
l’
s balcony. On her first night, last night, at Razya
n’
s Keep, before being shown to her guest rooms, Kadrean had taken her out on that great balcony. It stretched along the entire wall. It was breathtaking. The roar of the waterfall droned on and on. Looking out, one could see the broken edge of the world that vast quantity of water fell over. The constant mist had been silvery blue at the time.

This balcony was not that one, being small and private. But it still had a great view of the falls. It was a side view. She was aware of the others still in the room talking. Terana walked to the carved stone railing. The carvings were worn almost smooth, but she could still make out the coiling shapes o
f…
lizards? Climbing up the balustrades.

Curious, Terana crouched down running her fingers over the climbing figures. She made a sound of interest. The figures were not lizards. Not exactly. They were dragons with their wings tucked near their bodies. They must have looked life-like when they were carved, but now only the deeper cuts survived. Each carving was somewhat different, so each dragon was an individual.

Terana studied the dragons for a time before returning her attention to the vista. Birds wheeled in the air. Some perched on rock protrusions near the turbulent water fearlessly.
They must be taking showers.
Terana smiled at the thought. Behind her she could faintly hear the men. Their voices were quiet, like they did not want to intrude on her retreat.

Time passed as the sun rose higher. Mist clouds rose to meet their cousins in the higher sky. The clouds drifted, casting shadow patches over the mountains and water. Teran
a’
s mind focused on the scenery, happy to think of simple things, such as sensations. They were pleasant. There were no riddles of war. No reminders of magic other than that of natur
e’
s beauty. Observing required no effort. Not like struggling to unravel tangled emotions and riddles.

The balcony doors creaked and she heard clicking sounds.  A fuzzy head bumped up under her arm. Even though she had heard Russy, she still jumped at his touch. Startled, Terana looked down into Russ
y’
s amber eyes
.
“
Hungry
?
”
He asked.

A moment later Kadrean came through the door carrying a tray laden with sandwiches. Zeeve sat on his shoulder. There were some chairs in one corner of the balcony. Kadrean sat in one and placed the tray on the small table. Terana joined him. Russy laid down at her feet.

“
I
t’
s a beautiful day
.”
Kadrean remarked as he passed her a sandwich.

“
It is
.”
She stared at her sandwich then looked up at Kadrea
n“I’
m sorry
.
”

Kadrean looked startled
.“
For what
?
”

“
For running away
.”
She replied softly.

“
Terana, there is nothing to forgive. Today has not been kind to you. Or to any of us. Do
n’
t let it bother you
.”
He put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

Terana smiled at him. He really was a healer. Gathering her courage, she aske
d“
So, when am I to face the Keep Stone again
?
”

“
Tonight
.
”

“
Why so late
?”
Terana asked.

Zeeve glanced up from his nearly gone second sandwich. He wiped his mouth off on his green sleeve
.“
I would like to know why too: since I only came in at the end of the conversation
.
”

“
Razyan has a hypothesis as to why Terana seems to be magicless. He does
n’
t want a crowd around when Terana tries the Stone again
.
”

“
Wait, Terana seems magicless?
!”
Zeeve asked, flabbergasted.

Terana nodded and uncurled the fingers holding the
kadelle.
One could
n’
t tell it was glowing in the sunlight. Zeeve stared with his jaw on the ground. Figuratively
.“
I did somethin
g…I’
m not sure what
.”
She explained.

“
Razyan thinks you somehow locked your magic away. I do
n’
t know how you could have done that, though. Or why
.”
Kadrean continued thoughtfully.

“
I do
n’
t know, but I was scared that the Keep Stone woul
d…
something would happen to it
.”
Kadrean gave her a puzzled look, but left it alone.

They finished lunch. Kadrean and Zeeve left her alone. Russy stayed. Terana sat and watched the water and mist. Eventually her hands became restless. She went inside briefly to fetch her bag. Back on the balcony she began to sketch the vista before her.

Evening came early because of the clouds that blew in. Her drawing hand ached from the hours of creativity. She was happy with the result of her work.

“
You have talent
.”
Razyan said, sitting next to her.

She gifted him with a smile
.“
Thank you
.”
She said. She saw that the
milbre
still perched on his shoulder. The bird had black eyes and was now preening its feathers. It noticed her watching it an
d…
sang.
There was no other word to describe is voicing. Other birds were said to sing, but really? Those were just pretty whistles.
This
was a complex song that left Terana speechless. Razyan noticed her expression. He smiled.

“
Chaya says hello, and that she is sorry for this morning
.”
He said

“
She is a
milbre
, right
?”
Terana asked.

“
Yes, how do yo
u…?”
he began to ask.

Terana moved her gaze to his beautiful green one
.“
My mot
h…
the woman who took care of me was a school teacher. She encouraged Jeremy and I to read. I liked reading fairy tales.
Milbres
are in a lot of them
.”
She explained.

“
Ah yes. They are
.”
Absently he gently stroked Chay
a’
s neck feathers. Chaya cooed again. Razyan studied Teran
a’
s artwork for a moment before glancing up at the artist
.“
Are you ready
?”
He asked her. She didn't ask 'for what'. She knew. She felt her stomach fall, but she nodded anyway.

***

In a different part of the Keep, in the tower in the remotest part, stood Jewel looking out the window. She had chosen this tower centuries ago. Chosen it after the Marlheman dragons initiated the spell that she anchored for them. After they disappeared and just as the school for mages was beginning. She chose the tower because it was so remote. That way she could keep it and not inconvenience the school. Yes, the school did use the lower levels as storage.And yes, young mages did try to see what the upper levels were like, but ancient wards kept them safely out.

The tower was large enough for Jewel's companions to be comfortable after their long journey. It was not a drafty tower and what dust may have been there was made scarce by a few spoken words and a little magic. Seeing that everything had been how she had left it made her smile. The inside of the tower did not change unless she wanted it to. It was a point of stability in an ever changing world.

Now that it was night, Jewel stood in her living room alone. With a sigh, Jewel left the window and walked toward her bedroom door. As she walked she wondered how they were going to tell who they were look
ing for. Was it the man by the lake? Was it the Child of Light? Were they male or female? How would Jewel and her companions know?

This string of thoughts cycled through her mind as she entered her bedroom. It took her a second to realize that there was someone already there. Sitting in the chair by the banked fire was the Nirami's Child. The Child
watched her enter. She raised an eyebrow at it and closed the doors. "You're far from home."

"Yes. Hello Aunty."

"Do you do this often?" Jewel asked as she began to change into sleeping clothes.

The Child shrugged.  "Yes and no. I only go to the places that interest me."

"Oh?"

"Yes. And I visit the important people."

Jewel sat on her bed with a foot dangling toward the floor. "Important people? Does Arité know that you take these jaunts?"

The child gave her one of its exasperated looks. "No. Mommy does not need to know everything. You have a question you want to ask."

Brows raised Jewel asked "am I one of those 'important' people'
?
”

"You are Aunty." The child said simply. A faint smile played about her lips as she looked toward the rosy coal
s. She looked back at the child and met its fathomless eyes. "Ask."

Jewel sighed. "How will we know who we are looking for? Is it the man from the lake or is it someone else?"

"Aunty..." The child said smiling. "You will see, aunty. You will
know."

"
That is not helping. Give me a hint, here."

The child rolled its eyes. "Your
hint
will be like nothing you have ever seen or felt. It will thrill."

"That is not any better." Jewel said frustrated. "Give me a name or a gender. Something!" But the child didn't. Instead it faded away into a cluster of star-silver and black ribbons that streaked out the window and were lost to the night. Jewel stared after them before glaring at the fire place. How Arité could deal with such a unhelpful, half-sentient magic Jewel didn't  know. She laid down in her bed and wondered at this hint that would 'thrill' her. She hoped she wouldn't miss it
by falling asleep.