"What's that supposed to do?”
"Makes us see the truth about ourselves," Kareste said. In the light I could see tendrils attaching themselves to the soldiers, the one between him and Slevoic swelling into a thick, pulsing cord. The Magus was feeding again.
"Oh, yeah. Groskin said something about tiiat." Slevoic drew on his cheroot again, his blue eyes and open face mild and inoffensive. "I already know the truth about me, puke. And I like it. I like it a lot.”
"Now if it were the Faena and he was using his rune to touch us," Kareste said. His smile faded as his face became intent. "I want him alive, if possible. If not, keep his body whole.”
"Yes, Magus," Slevoic said, licking his lips. He dropped his cheroot and fire whooshed up, engulfing him.
Steam rose from where he stood as the flames met the frost on the ground and I could feel the terror of the park at the threat of a firefight.
"It's not just the truth about yourself, Vicious," I said, still holding the rune high. "But the truth." I nodded at the cord, now as big as my forearm. "What do you think that is?” The burning man jerked his head around and down, staring. "What the poxy hell?”
"He's feeding off you," I said. "He likes them young and tender, seasoned with talent.” Slevoic hit at the cord; it grew larger. "No." He reached out both hands and pulled. "Stop it!" He grabbed his sword, raising it, but Kareste flicked his fingers and Slevoic's eyes rolled back as he collapsed, more steam billowing up as the ground hissed and popped under him. The soldiers cried out again, breaking and running. They reached the trees only to slump to the ground, drained.
Kareste turned to me. "Now you, apprentice." His voice was the winter storms in the Upper Reaches.
I didn't wait for him to finish, but leapt—and slammed into a wall of ice.
Kareste smiled as I bounced back. "No Faena or Enchanters. No swords, spheres or dragons. No rules, no 'thou shalt not's."
I tried to go around, and met another wall on the side.
"I've underestimated you three—no, four times," Kareste said, producing a dragon talon. He tossed it into the steam around Slevoic.
I stretched out a hand to the other side, and touched ice. The same behind, and beneath was frozen solid, cutting me off from the earth.
Kareste pushed the tip of the death staff farther into the ground, and Pru's screaming mouth moved as he gouged power. "But I believe I now have your full measure." The steam started to coalesce, freezing as it formed.
Reaching up and discovering more ice, I considered a moment, then brought my staff before me, centering. As I found balance, I heard the wind ask a question. Faena-like, I asked one in return. The wind shifted as it carried my query out to sea.
"You've three aspects, apprentice," Kareste said. "Well, now so do I. Water." He flicked his fingers again and a snow flurry appeared. "Earth." He shoved the staff down, and the earth shrieked. "And fire."
He indicated Slevoic. "Talent-wise we're matched. But I've more. More knowledge, more experience, and this.” The iced steam became denser and wings spread as the vapor shaped into a dragon.
"Hadn't you wondered why you never saw the dragon or sprite's ghosts, even though you had parts of their bodies?" Kareste asked. "They are mine, just as you once were, and will be again." He gestured, and the haunt started in my direction, the ice shimmering with echoes of green, purple, pink, its eyes as black as the death staff's. As it floated closer, it opened its mouth, showing the abyss. "Yield or be consumed, and I'll have you anyway.”
The wind blew back with not only the sea's response, but the wells, fountains, brooks, streams, waterfalls and rivers that ran through and filled the land, all murmuring, singing, babbling, laughing, crashing and thundering, as now they asked. Yes, I softly exhaled, and they rushed in, until I was full to overflowing. I raised my head to the sky and Kareste started to frown.
"What—" He broke off at the sound of hoofbeats coming closer and he shot a side glance to the edge of the clearing. "It appears we have company." The dragon haunt hesitated.
A moment later, the Fyrst and Wyln, Jeffen, and the rest of the troop mingled with castle guards rode into the clearing, Javes, Groskin and Laurel loping alongside, and followed by Basel, Honor Ash, and the other haunts. There was the flap of wings and Dragoness Moraina, Suiden, and Harbormaster Lin landed, along with hundreds of butterflies that exploded into the trees.
Kareste brought up his hand, aiming it at me. "That's far enough. Any closer, and he—well, I'm sure you know the rest.”
"Rabbit!" Suiden roared.
"No," Moraina said, extending her wing to stop him. Her sapphire eyes moved between Kareste and the dragon haunt. "Let the young human prove his mastery."
"I thought he already had," Javes said.
"So he did, over earth, wind and fire," Moraina replied.
Wyln and Laurel both snapped their heads to stare at Moraina, while Lin's mouth rounded into an "Oh.”
"Sod mastery!" Jeff tried to ride past Laurel, but the Faena caught his horse's reins. "There's a wicked ghost coming at him.”
"My poet son," Moraina rumbled. "What has been done to you?”
"Sirs," Groskin said at the same time. "Over there." He nodded at the rebel soldiers.
Javes turned his head to look. "Oh, I say.”
Also looking, Suiden signaled and, despite (or because of) being ordered by a dragon, several troopers started edging around the line of trees to where the rebels lay on the ground.
"What is that?" the Fyrst asked as he stood in his stirrups looking over at Slevoic, still burning. His brows drew together at the scorched trees. "Who dared use fire on my trees—”
"It's enough nattering to drive one mad!" Kareste raised his hand higher and the snow eddied faster around him. "One more word and I swear I'll call a blizzard down on all of you—"
He broke off at the sudden warm wind gusting over us, smelling of rain and sea. He looked up to see dark clouds rapidly filling the sky, and fat drops started to come down, quietly thudding into the frozen cover. The ones falling on Slevoic hissed as they hit the flames and the dragon haunt wavered.
"There seems to have been a weather change," Lin said, holding her hand out to the rain.
Ignoring the faerie, Kareste yanked the death staff out of the ground and gestured at the sky. The snow spinning around him spiraled up and for a brief moment the rain became frozen flakes, and the ice dragon solidified. But the wind blew again and it was once more a gentle summer's storm. The drops fell faster and faster, until they were a steady soft drumming, and the rime on the trees began to melt. They stirred, awakening.
"Can an air talent do this?" the Fyrst asked, also holding out his hand.
"No, Your Grace," Laurel said, his ears pressed forward as he watched me. "Bring the storm, yes, but not control what falls from it. Only a water mage can."
"Earth, wind, fire, and water" Wyln said.
I pushed at the wall in front of me, feeling it give, then shatter, and stepped out into the rain. Hearing the ice breaking, Kareste jerked his head down—and gaped. "What the—" His eyes frantically searched the clearing; then he spun around, looking behind him.
"Where did Rabbit go?" Groskin rumbled, other troopers crying out with him. They too searched the glade.
The warm rain came down harder and little rivulets started to run under the pine needle cover, carrying away the last of the frost. There was a tinkling crash as the rest of the box of ice collapsed. The ice dragon's haunt began to dim as the flames around the Vicious flickered, then went out.
"I think that's Slevoic," Javes said, his good eye squinting through the rain.
"Who is now a feast for the Magus," Wyln said.
"A pox on Slevoic." Jeff tried to yank the reins from Laurel. "Where's Rabbit?” Ryson joined Groskin as the black panther raised his head, trying to scent.
Kareste gestured again and the snowstorm around him expanded, the dragon haunt becoming solid once again. But the wind blew, the warm rain poured down, and the snowstorm shrank as the flakes melted. A raindrop fell on Kareste, darkening his hair, and he started.
"No!"
More drops fell on him.
"I'm the master mage!"
Kareste stared about the clearing, his eyes coming to rest on Moraina. He bared his teeth and waved Pru Oak's body; the dragon haunt started in the dragoness' direction. "Show yourself, apprentice, or I will let the ghost loose on his dam.”
"Uh, isn't there something we can do to help?" Falkin asked, shifting in his saddle.
There was a cracking sound, like the breaking of a bone, and the dragon talon flew through the air to land at Moraina's feet. She picked it up, gently closing her claw over it. The dragon haunt paused, then turned to Kareste. Its empty eyes started to fill.
Kareste took a step back, his own eyes widening. He then lifted Pru Oak's body to slam it back into the earth, but it was wrenched from his hand and flung, landing beyond the clearing's edge. There was another crack, this time the breaking of a branch, and a sprite haunt with oak leaves in her hair appeared at the clearing edge. The trees rustled, shifting.
"Stay back," the Fyrst said to them. 'Two Trees'son is proving his mettle.”
Soaked to the skin, Kareste scanned the clearing, his eyes skimming over Slevoic, but they snapped back, as I formed out of the rain next to the Vicious.
"You." He raised his hands, his fingers crooked.
I dropped my staff to snatch up Slevoic's sword from where it lay next to him. Lifting it double-handed above my head, I brought it down, severing the cord between the Vicious and the Magus. Kareste jerked and howled in astonished rage as whatever he worked up fizzled out in his hand. He grabbed at me, but I moved to the other side and brought the sword down once more, severing the threads to the rebel troopers. He jerked and howled again.
"All by himself, Kareste," Moraina rumbled. "Without Faena, Enchanters, dragons or spheres.” Thrusting the sword into the ground, I stepped in front of Kareste, raising my own hand.
"Does Rabbit know not to kill with his talent?" Wyln asked.
"He should," Laurel said.
My fist caught Kareste under his chin, and I could hear his teeth click as his mouth was slammed shut. He flew backwards, his eyes rolling up into his head as he landed on the ground. I walked over, yanked him up by his robe, and hit him again for good measure. Then once more, because he was there.
"That's enough, Two Trees'son," the Fyrst said. "Leave some for the Faena.”
I dropped Kareste and he fell back with a splat. The ice dragon and Pru Oak floated over, staring down at the Magus in the mud oozing up between the pine needle cover. The unicorn, leopard and other haunts joined us, surrounding him.
There was a soft groan as Slevoic started to come to and Basel, shifting into his man form, quickly floated over so that when Slevoic's eyes fluttered open, he was staring into the haunt's face. Slevoic gave a muffled shriek and scooted back. He rolled to his feet, staggering, his terror-filled gaze taking in not only Basel, but Suiden and Moraina too, both focused very hard on him. He made a quick gesture and he was once again outlined in fire. "Stay back, or I'll burn the whole freaking place down.”
"That's a poor threat," Wyln remarked, holding his hand out to the rain.
I sighed and, picking up my staff, faced Slevoic. "The trees weren't torched during the last war, Vicious, because the Royal Army found out that wood doesn't burn well when it's soaking wet. It's astonishing what a little water magic can do."
"Do we have to let Rabbit fight this one?" Suiden asked.
"No," Moraina replied, eyeing Slevoic's hauberk.
"Good," Suiden rumbled. He started towards the Vicious.
This time Slevoic's shriek was piercing loud, and he took off running into the trees. I started after him.
"I wouldn't," Wyln said. "They are not very happy right now.” I came to a sudden halt as all the tales I'd heard of angry forests rose up and I stared into the rain-misted dark beyond the clearing, vaguely glad that I wasn't Slevoic. Behind me, however, was an explosion of hooves against wet ground, and Ryson sped by, riding hard after the Vicious.
Sheep-biting— "Ryson, no! Bloody hell, stop! That's an order!"
I ran to the tree line and stopped; however, Basel flew past me after him, followed by Honor and several other haunts, all swallowed by the forest. I stared into the murk but couldn't see anything.
"Come away, Rabbit," Wyln said. "There's nothing you can do." He rode over to where I stood and, turning his horse, placed it between me and the trees. "Even I wouldn't go after them. Not now, and definitely not with my fire aspect." He started moving me back into the middle of the clearing. As he did, there was a long, drawn-out scream. Then silence.
"Pox rot it," Jeff whispered.
"Your soldier was brave, if stupid," the Fyrst said. "We will hold a memorial—"
He broke off as the shadows moved and, a few moments later, Ryson emerged, Basel and Honor on either side of him. I glanced away from the awful gladness on Basel's face, only to collide with the dragon skin hauberk lying across Ryson's saddle front. As he got closer I could see streaks as the blood on it was washed away by the rain.
"The trees gave this to me," Ryson said. "For his dam, they said." He swallowed, the sound loud above the rain. "I would've gotten the staff, but Basel and the lady ash tree sprite didn't seem to think it was a good idea.”
"We will retrieve it later," the Fyrst said. "After they calm down a bit.”
I looked over to where Pru Oak's and the Dragon Gwyyn's ghosts hovered by Kareste, still prone on the ground, and saw how Laurel cautiously approached them, his ears flat against his skull. The ice dragon haunt turned his head towards Ryson.
"Uh, maybe you ought to give honored Moraina the skin, Ryson," I said, stepping a little closer to Wyln.
The Enchanter glanced down at me and then slid a smug look at Suiden.
As Ryson hurried to the dragoness, Jeff brought one of the rebels' horses for me. "Are you all right?”