Abuud: the One-Eyed God (41 page)

"His memory is going," frowned Tanya. "As a child I wondered how he could be such a brilliant man and still mumble all day long about forgetting things. I grew up with him like that, so I guess I tended to just ignore it. After being away from him for a while though, it becomes more apparent that he really is losing his memory. He has forgotten things that we used to joke about. I could not imagine him forgetting those things either, so I can understand your concern. But that is all it is. He is just going senile."

Prince Midge flew into the campsite and settled quietly on Garth's shoulder.

"It is almost easy to accept that explanation," frowned Kalina, "except I do not think it is senility. I am not saying that you are trying to deceive me. I think you are in the dark as much as we are, but I think the cause is more sinister than senility."

"Sinister?" echoed Tanya. "Who would ever think of harming Master Khatama?"

"I could think of thousands of people who would love to see him dead," interjected Garth. "The problem is, I cannot think of a single person who could accomplish the deed."

Tanya glared suspiciously at Garth. "You are confusing Uncle Boris with someone else," declared Tanya. "He has no enemies."

"He taught you all the stories of Alex and Jenneva," argued Kalina. "Didn't he?"

"Yes, but they were common stories," responded Tanya. "That doesn't mean he knew you personally."

"Is he forgetting his magic as well as his memories?" inquired Kalina.

"His magic?" Tanya echoed hesitantly. "I don't know what you mean."

"Tanya, do not take me for a fool," frowned Kalina. "I have seen you work. You are a master mage. You studied under a master mage. I always wondered whom you had studied under, but once I saw Master Khatama, I knew immediately. Your master was Boris Khatama. Is he loosing his ability with magic?"

"Why am I being interrogated?" demanded Tanya.

"Because we want to help Boris before it is too late," Kalina said assuringly. "Tanya, I was taught by Master Egam. Does that knowledge help you find a weakness in my magic?"

"Not really," replied Tanya. "It may give me an edge if I knew the limits of what Master Egam would teach you, but one is also able to learn independently."

"Then why do you refuse to confirm that Master Khatama is your teacher?" Kalina persisted. "There can be no way for anyone to know the limits of your teaching, is there?"

"I don't see as it is the business of anyone else," retorted Tanya.

"We are wasting our time," frowned Garth. "We know who Boris is, and we know he still has some sense of magic left. The question is, what is causing his memory loss?"

"Just who do you think Master Khatama is?" demanded Tanya. "And what gives you the right to determine that something is wrong with him? He is an old man. Old men go senile. Why can't you accept that? Why do you have to see something sinister in everyone's actions?"

"She truly doesn't know," Garth declared with surprise. "Enlighten her, Prince Midge."

"Master Khatama is the Mage," chirped Prince Midge.

"I know you think he is a mage," sighed Tanya, "but that does not tell me who you think he is."

"You did not listen well," smiled Kalina. "Prince Midge did not say that Master Khatama was a mage. He said that Master Khatama is THE Mage."

"I don't understand," responded Tanya as her brow creased with confusion. "Who is the Mage?"

"He is older than the Universes," answered Prince Midge. "Maybe older than time itself. He is the promoter of good and the vanquisher of Alutar, the demon."

"He was known as Master Egam when I studied under him," added Kalina. "I did not learn of his true identity until we learned of the Ancient Prophecy. It was the Mage himself who told us of what was to come."

Tanya sat and stared at Kalina with her mouth open. She knew this had to be some kind of a joke. Next, she glanced at the perpetually jovial fairy. Prince Midge's face was as serious as she had ever seen it. When she glanced at Garth, his stern face simply nodded.

"How is that possible?" Tanya finally asked. "If Uncle Boris was really Master Egam, he would never forget you. He told me stories of both of you constantly. I always thought that he had known you personally, but when we arrived at the gates, he did not know you. I am sure from the look on his face that he had never seen either of you before."

"The question is," stated Garth, "how does a person who is basically eternal ever forget his past?"

"That is it!" exclaimed Kalina. "I cannot believe I was so blind. It was right before me all the time."

"What is it?" queried Garth.

"The Mage became Egam because he lost his memory," explained Kalina. "Remember the elves telling us the story. A thousand years ago, he fought with Alutar for days before finally imprisoning him. While he succeeded, it cost the Mage dearly. It resulted in a partial loss of memory."

"If that was a thousand years ago," interrupted Tanya, "then it has no bearing on this problem. Surely you are not that old. You would be one of his most recent memories."

"That was the first time he fought Alutar," responded Kalina. "Just before the Collapse, Alutar was loose once again. Egam went to contain him. He must have battled with Alutar a second time and lost more of his memory."

"Then there is little we can do to help him," frowned Garth. "It may be centuries before his memory comes back, if ever."

"That is not true," interjected Prince Midge. "I was with the Mage just before the Collapse. It was he who restored our orchard. I traveled with him to confront the demon, Alutar. The Mage was just about to initiate the battle when the Collapse occurred. There was no battle this time. The Collapse sealed Alutar in his own Universe. He is imprisoned once again, but there was no battle."

"Then we are right back where we started," frowned Kalina. "What can be wrong with him?"

"Not that it matters now," Tanya said softly, "but Master Khatama was my teacher. I am sorry for keeping this from you, but he was adamant about not revealing his abilities. I guess that is why I hide mine."

"You need not apologize for honoring your master," smiled Kalina. "Our master, I mean."

Tanya smiled at Kalina. "But if he is not going senile, and he did not fight Alutar," asked Tanya, "what is causing his memory loss? He is losing his memory and at an alarming rate. There are things I remember from my childhood that he no longer remembers. Yet just before I joined up with you he remembered them well."

"I wish he would have accepted the offer to mind probe me," Kalina shook her head.

"Is that what you did to make him angry?" inquired Tanya. "He feels very strongly that such a use of magic is an abomination. I am surprised that he did not strike out at you."

"So am I," agreed Kalina. "He felt that way and taught the same morals when he was Egam. I did it to make him angry. I was hoping that he would retaliate with a mind probe of his own. When he didn't, I invited him to."

"Why would you wish such a thing?" asked Tanya. "He could severely cripple you."

"It was a risk I was willing to take," answered Kalina. "I thought that once he began probing my mind that he would discover himself. I think of him often, and I have many fond memories of him. Surely he would have found those."

Tanya rose and sat next to Kalina. She hugged Kalina and said, "You must love him as I do. I wish I had your courage."

"You have courage aplenty," smiled Kalina.

"One question if I may ask?" Garth said to Tanya.

Tanya nodded and Garth asked, "Why did you tell us that story about your uncle dying and his wagon burning when you joined us?"

"It is what I knew as the truth at the time," Tanya replied. "I have had visions ever since I was a child. The story I told you was one of those visions, and I believed it to be true. When Arik and Tedi saw Uncle Boris in Tagaret, I knew my remembrance could not be the truth, but I still tried to cover it up. I have come to suspect that Uncle Boris magically induced the vision to reappear after I left him. He wanted everyone to believe he was dead. I do not know why."

"He must suspect that someone knows his identity and is out to eliminate him," suggested Garth. "It is the same thing that Kalina and I did when we were hunted."

"When you joined us," Kalina asked Tanya, "you seemed to know the other Children already. How was that possible?"

"We stopped in Lorgo and met Tedi and Arik," answered Tanya. "We did actually travel as merchants. Lorgo was one of our usual stops. Niki and Fredrik we met shortly before they joined you. It was an accidental meeting. They were hungry travelers and we fed them. It was nothing more than that."

"Short meetings, but sufficiently long enough to place tracking spells on the necklace and the cloak," Kalina nodded. "Master Khatama still remembers the Ancient Prophecy. Or at least he did when you joined us."

"You asked before if he still remembers magic," stated Tanya. "He does not use magic enough for me to answer that question, but I have thoughts about it. Magic is a skill. Once you learn it well enough, it becomes second nature to you. You do not have to think of the spell to cast it. It is almost as natural as walking. Surely going senile does not cause one to forget how to walk."

"Very logical," smiled Kalina. "That means that he would remember spells that are so familiar to him that he need not think about them. Other spells, which are rarely used, may not fit that mold. Worse, your mental catalog of spells might disappear."

"So if he got into a situation that required magic," Tanya continued the thought, "he would either cast it without thought, or he would be unable to think of what spell to use for that situation."

"If his memory loss goes that far," nodded Kalina. "That is very worrisome. Egam normally avoided conflict. If he is forced into a defensive situation after he loses that catalog of spells, I doubt he will have the knowledge to cast a defensive spell."

"Perhaps it is best if I separate from your company and return to his side," suggested Tanya. "I would be able to protect him then."

"If that is necessary," smiled Kalina, "we would certainly understand. I would appreciate you looking after him."

"He sent you away for a reason," interjected Garth. "I do not have a clue as to why, but it is doubtful that he would welcome you back. Do not feel that his rejection is a loss of love towards you. It only means that we are missing your purpose for being with us. He must have had a good reason to part company with you."

"It could be just to protect me from what he fears," posed Tanya.

"I don't think so," Kalina shook her head. "Surely he knows your skill and your power. You need less protection than he does. He must have had a purpose in mind. I wonder if he still recalls it."

"Use of the mind probe is tempting," frowned Tanya. "I know that will yield us nothing because he will not permit it, but it sure sounds like a good idea."

"Maybe I should talk to him," suggested Prince Midge. "Perhaps he will remember me."

"You could try, Prince Midge," Garth said, "but you have a task to perform for the Bringer."

"For the Bringer?" chirped the fairy prince. "What can I do for him?"

"We need you to find him," answered Garth. "He is either on the Island of Storms or between it and us. It is a long journey across the water, and it may involve some pretty nasty storms. That is why I wanted to be sure your wing was healed."

"Neither water nor storms will deter me," declared the fairy proudly. "I shall leave at once. Which direction is this island?"

"Due south," Garth pointed. "Tell the Bringer that we are all assembled here and ready to move on his word if he requires assistance."

"Your message will be delivered," saluted Prince Midge as he leaped into the air and disappeared through the palm trees.

"Why don't we just fly to the island?" asked Tanya. "I am worried about the boys."

"I am also worried," admitted Garth. "I aim to protect Arik with my life, yet I cannot overshadow him. He is the heir, and I must learn to defer to him. Besides, flying will immediately alert our enemies. I do not wish to summon the Black Devils to Arik."

"That makes sense," agreed Tanya. "Still I wish we could be with them."

"Prince Midge will find them," assured Garth. "If the boys are in trouble, we will respond, be there Black Devils in the area or not. I just do not want to alert them unless it is necessary."

***

Lotfi's eight martyrs preceded him along the trail on the Island of Storms. Suddenly four cannibals, smeared with blue dye, appeared ahead on the trail. For a brief tense moment, each group halted and stared at the other in disbelief.

"Kill them," Lotfi ordered softly.

Bows snapped into the hands of the martyrs. Swiftly arrows were nocked while the savages charged. Eight arrows sped down the trail and the cannibals tumbled to the ground. The martyrs raced forward and decapitated the four savages in lieu of checking for survivors.

"Morons," spat Lotfi. "You would think they would have at least tried to hurl their spears. Move the bodies off the trail. I do not wish to walk in their filth."

The martyrs hurled the bodies into the jungle. The heads followed after.

"Are the tracks of the infidels still readable?" asked Lotfi.

"They are plain and easy to read," answered one of the martyrs. "They have made no attempts to hide the evidence of their passing."

"More morons," Lotfi shook his head. "Let us kill them swiftly. We need to get that statue and get off this infernal island before it erupts."

The martyrs moved ahead at a trot, prepared to kill anything or anyone that dared to show itself.

***

Klarg's whistle was loud enough to draw the attention of all of his men. Hagik and Calastano pushed their way through the crowd to where Klarg was standing alongside his horse.

"What is it?" asked Hagik. "Did you pick up their trail?"

"I did indeed," grinned Klarg. "Tork is a tricky one, but it is impossible to completely hide your trail. The best he can do is slow us down some."

"They get farther away each time he succeeds in slowing us down," Calastano pointed out. "He could be in Ongchi by now."