A World Apart (40 page)

He finally went back inside, cleaned up in the bathroom and crawled into bed.  He sank into the comfort of a mattress and pillows, enjoying the feel after a couple of days sleeping on the ground, and was soon asleep.

...

Jake woke early, feeling surprising refreshed.  He had slept deeply, dreamless.  He got up, stretched and went over to the terrace.  As he stood at the rail, taking in the early morning air, he saw that the sky was just starting to lighten in the east.  He stood there for a while, then went in to dress for the day.

He came back out and sat down in one of the chairs, putting his feet up on the rail.  He closed his eyes and just drifted for a bit.

"So, you are up already."  Dominic's voice said quietly, intruding on his thoughts.  Jake opened his eyes and saw Dominic leaning against the rail of the terrace of his own room, looking out over the Keep.  "Since we are ready to go, rather than wait for the soldier, let's go see if we can find the barracks."

They left their rooms and headed back the way they had come last night.  The Keep was quiet at this time; they only encountered the occasional servant.  While Jake was slightly turned around, Dominic seemed to know where he was going.  Before long, they had made their way back to the landing that overlooked the domed area.

There was more activity here, with people and soldiers moving about along the floor level.  They went down the stairs and over to where they had left the horses.  Dominic called a nearby soldier over and asked where the barracks were.  The soldier offered to show them and led them through a nearby tall and wide passageway into another large natural cave.

The area was lighted with the same glowing balls of light as the main cavern.  Around this cave, however, there were no landings, only twenty long, low stone buildings that were built along the walls.  There were groups of soldiers forming up in front of several of the buildings, clearly starting their day.  There were a couple of openings high on the cliff wall that let fresh air in, but no opening on the ground level to the courtyard.

What took Jake by surprise was a large opening near the back wall which led to a large grass-covered field, just visible in the early morning light.  The soldier led them through the opening and to one of several medium-sized wooden buildings that were built next to it.  Jake saw Deepwood standing on the porch of the building, speaking with a couple of his officers.  They stopped a short distance away, waiting for him to finish.

Once he sent his officers away, Deepwood turned and approached them, dismissing the soldier.  "Good morning.  I hope that you had a restful night."  He said politely.

"We did, thank you."  Dominic replied urbanely.  "I trust that we are able to come and go without an escort?"

"Of course.  Tomaris has welcomed you as guests."  Deepwood stated plainly.

"This is unexpected."  Dominic said, gesturing out towards the large open field.  The field stretched for several hundred yards and was at least one hundred yards wide, bordered on two sides by the cliff walls of the mountain.  There seemed to be nothing but sky on the other two sides, even though there were large stacks of stones spread along the edge.

"It is our training area."  Deepwood said.  "The mountain shelters it and there is a sheer cliff on the other side.  The stones are for any enemy stupid enough to try to scale the three hundred feet exposed."

He pointed to a large wooden building across the field.  "We also stable the horses here.  If you need your horses, simply speak with the stable master."

He took them inside the building and down a hall where Jake smelled bread and other food being cooked.  They entered a mess hall with soldiers sitting and eating.  They sat down at a table and food was brought out for them.  They finished breakfast quickly, Jake eating in silence while Deepwood and Dominic talked about their training requirements.

After breakfast, they went out back outside and Deepwood took them over to a small training circle, surrounded by short posts and rope.  "I hope that this will meet your needs?"  He asked Dominic.

"This is fine, Moshanna."  Dominic said.

Deepwood left and went into another building.  After several minutes, he came back out with a couple of training swords and headgear.  Dominic tested the practice swords, apparently satisfied, but dismissed the headgear.  "I try not to bash him in the head too much."  He said with a shrug.

"Do you mind if I observe, Dominic?"  Deepwood asked.

"Of course not."  Dominic replied.  He unbelted his sword and turned to Jake.  "Let's see what you remember since you have had several days off."

The morning flew by as Jake threw himself into the training.  Before he knew it, Jake was following an older female servant to Tomaris' study.  He rubbed his sore arms and hands as he climbed the stairs and followed the servant into the room.  The round room was lined with wooden shelves filled with scrolls and books, except for a small stone fireplace set into the wall.  There was a small table in the middle with a couple of chairs and a large window that opened out towards the courtyard.  Tomaris was sitting at the table when Jake entered.

"Thank you, Learthe."  He said to the servant.  "Please have some food brought up for Jake."  With a slight bow, the woman left.

"How was your morning training, Jake?"  Tomaris asked, looking meaningfully at Jake's arms.

"Normal, by Dominic's standards."  Jake replied with a short laugh.

"Well, you will find that the training here not as physically challenging as that."  Tomaris said with a smile.  He gestured to the other chair.  "Please sit.  I'm an old man and find it easier to talk while sitting.  While we wait for your food, perhaps we can discuss what happened again when you first used the power."

Jake and Tomaris discussed the fight in the woods, going over it several times.  While they were talking, Learthe returned with a plate of food, along with a pitcher of water and two cups.  Tomaris had Jake eat while he sat there quietly, apparently mulling over what he heard.

When Jake was finished and the plate cleared away, Tomaris stood and came over to Jake.  "I would like to touch your forehead for a moment, Jake."  He said, then laid his hand on Jake, closing his eyes.

To Jake, his hand almost felt like it was made of dry paper, except that it was very warm.  A tingling sensation spread out from his forehead to the rest of his body.  They were like that, motionless, for several minutes.  Finally, the tingling faded and Tomaris opened his eyes and sat back down.

"I felt what Jonas described, the change in you."  Tomaris said.  "That happened when you accessed the power for the first time.  We just need to find out how you called it up."  He shifted slightly.  "I want to close your eyes, Jake, and think back to right before the power woke.  Describe again what happened."

Jake complied, recalling the face of the half-man appearing as it had when they fought.  He mentioned his anger and fear of what would happen to Cherise if he failed.

"Strong emotions can often be a trigger."  Tomaris said.  His voice took on a soothing and reassuring tone.  "Recall the sensations just as the power came forth.  Try to duplicate those in your mind.  Act as if they are occurring again."

Jake recalled that burning sensation that started in his chest.  He tried to imagine it happening again, striving to will it to happen.

"Just relax, Jake."  Tomaris said, voice soft and almost hypnotic.  "Let it come as it will."

Jake tried to follow those instructions.  He took a deep breath, slowly releasing it, letting his body relax.  He sat there quietly, focused on recreating what happened.  He recalled Cherise and her battered face, the certain knowledge that if he fell, she would suffer a worse fate.  As he drifted along those thoughts, he re-felt the anger of that night and was startled to feel a slight tingling spread across his body.

"Open your eyes, Jake."  Tomaris said, a hint of satisfaction in his voice.  "You have taken the first step."

Jake opened his eyes and saw a faint glimmering of blue surrounding him.

...

Later that evening, in the foothills to the southwest, the demon call Rigil waited impatiently for Martis' men to return from their mission.  He had sent them ahead on horses to scout out this Numaria for any signs of the boy, while the wagon came after.

It had been the second day after the boy left Sanduas when they found out about it.  Martis had come back to inform him that the boy and Dominic had left to the north.  While Rigil rode in the wagon's secret compartment, Martis had driven his team hard, verifying that their quarry had spent the night at the waystation.

It took them another day heading north to realize that they were following a false trail.  There had not been sightings of the boy or Dominic at any points north of the waystation.  That had to mean they went off cross-country.  The question had been to where.  After looking at the map, Rigil was certain that they were headed to the Keep of Tomaris.  There was no other place that could provide the protection they needed but there.

Rigil was strangely hesitant to pursue them there.  There had long been whispers that this Tomaris was more powerful than any of the clerics that opposed them.  The demon lord he served had sent some of his brothers and followers to determine who Tomaris was, if he was indeed powerful, and kill him if they had an opportunity.  None had returned from that mission.

However much he was concerned about facing this Tomaris, he knew that his lord would never allow him to survive failure.  So, he pressed Martis and his men to continue, not allowing them to stop.

He shook off those thoughts and hissed over his shoulder.  "If those fools do not return shortly, you will pay the price, Martis."

"I know they will return, Master."  Martis said rapidly, his nervous voice carrying his fear.  "Please give them..."  His voice cut off.

Rigil spun to see what had stopped Martis.  Across the clearing, Martis was frozen, partway to his feet, a hand reaching beseechingly towards Rigil, locked in some stasis.  Rigil reached for his power, but was already too late as everything exploded in light and he was taken.

"...more time!"  Martis came to halt as he faced an empty clearing.  He felt an icy cold stab of terror.  One moment the demon was there, the next it was gone.

C
HAPTER
T
WENTY-
T
HREE

A few days after Jake was able to call up his power, Tomaris informed Dominic and Jake that he was sending a messenger to Jonas to let him know that they had arrived safely and of Jake's success; if they had any letters, they could send it with his messenger.

Jake had borrowed parchment and pen to write to Madalin and Hailyn and reassure them that he was fine.  He was debating writing Keria, sitting at the small desk in his room, when Dominic came in.

"Do you have your messages ready?"  Dominic asked, a sealed parchment in his hand.  "I was instructed to give them to Moshanna tonight, so the messenger can leave at first light."

"I have the letters to Madalin and Hailyn ready."  Jake said, pointing at the two letters.  He hesitated a moment, then tapped the blank page.  "I was thinking of sending one to Keria."

"Have you decided that you never want see Sanduas again, boy?"  Dominic asked sarcastically, a slight smile playing along his lips.  "I thought you had better sense than that.  The king told you to stay away from her.  Here is a little advice: when a father tells you to stay away from his daughter, the last thing you want is for him to find a love letter.  You might as well just walk up and slap him across the face."  He shook his head.  "Not something you want to do to anyone, but especially not to a king.  They are used to getting their way.  I don't think you would enjoy the dungeons in Sanduas."

"Well, that's why I haven't written it."  Jake said, blushing furiously.

"Jonas will make sure the princess knows you are still alive."  Dominic replied, reaching over to take the other letters.  He went to the door, turning his head back as he opened it.  "I suggest that you focus on training, boy.  The sooner you master this power, the sooner we can return to the city."

A few days later as he stood in Tomaris' study, Jake was feeling pretty confident in his ability to call up his magic.  Now when he focused on it, it came almost instantly.  He still did not quite believe that he could do this, taking in the blue aura around him, marveling at the energizing feeling it produced.  Tomaris did not have him do anything with it, simply hold it and try to draw more.

"As you become more familiar with your power and use it more often, you will find that the amount you can use will increase."  Tomaris said as he slowly walked around Jake, looking closely at his aura.  "However, you will eventually reach a point where you can use so much and no more."

"Why is that?"  Jake asked, somewhat absently, focusing on trying to increase what he was holding.

"Because we are mortal, child."  Tomaris replied.  His face took on a faraway look.  "Man is a being of both the physical and spiritual realms.  It is the spiritual component, the part of you that will live on after your body dies, which enables you to use this power.  Always remember that it originates in the spiritual realm, not from this world."

"Then why can't I do this on Earth?"  Jake asked, perplexed.  His aura pulsed as he drew more in.  "Men live there as well."

"True, but you don't have to face the demons like the people of this world."  Tomaris replied.  "The power that the clerics wield is a gift to the people to defend against powerful spiritual beings in the physical world.  If the demons invaded your world, it is likely that the Creator would share His Light there as well."

"I see."  Jake said, returning to watching his glowing form.  As he took in the shimmering blue light, it prompted a question he had been wondering about.

"So how is this magic different from the clerics?"  Jake asked.  "If it all comes from the same source, shouldn't we do the same things?"