Authors: Lisanne Norman
* * *
Brynne had spent less time at the Retreat recently, and when he was told to report to Ghyakulla's Shrine in the temple, he was surprised to find Guardian Dhaika there with Father Lijou.
"I've been telling Guardian Dhaika about your coin," said Lijou. "Would you mind showing it to him?"
"Sure," said Brynne, fishing inside his robe for it. The coin now hung from a silver chain round his neck. He held it out for the Guardian to see.
Being careful not to touch it, Dhaika examined the spiral-decorated face. "I've seen enough," he said.
"Well?" Lijou asked of him as Brynne let the coin drop against his robe.
"I've come to teach you to dream-walk," said Dhaika. "Father Lijou is going to help me."
Puzzled, Brynne sensed an undercurrent of animosity between the two males. "I'm not so sure I want to," he said hesitantly. "The whole business with Derwent has kind of freaked me out."
Dhaika stirred, drawing Brynne's gaze to him. Without even trying, he could sense the glow of self-righteousness from him.
"He's not ready. I told you that, Lijou, whether or not the God wants him."
"Dhaika," said Lijou warningly. "The choice is yours, of course, Brynne. I told you dream-walking isn't without its dangers, but Derwent is not one of them. I dealt with that as you know. However, you have a personal invitation to visit the realms. That in itself confers a protection."
So Dhaika didn't want him to go, and Lijou did, but wasn't putting pressure on him. His mind was suddenly made up. "What do I do?" he asked.
* * *
Vartra had been right, he did recognize the route, though the colored light that took him there was different. Two ancient gnarled fruit trees formed an archway over a wooden door. In the center of it was carved the triple spiral with the crystal set in its heart. He reached out to touch one of the trees, taking himself a pace closer to the entrance. Beneath his fingers, the bark felt as rough as any tree he'd ever touched. Turning his attention to the door, he tried to remember what Dhaika had said about opening it.
"Place your hand on the carving and the door will open," he'd said.
Brynne took the chain on which he wore the coin off, comparing the two images. He wasn't quite ready to go in yet, despite the fact that the being on the other side of the door had rescued him from Derwent's schemes. He was curious, though, and almost without realizing it, his hand went out to touch the carving. The door swung open.
"Oh, what the hell," he muttered, stepping through. "How bad can it be after Derwent?"
He found himself on a path among the trees. On his left, a small stream tumbled over a stony bed, gurgling and chuckling as it headed farther into the forest. Sunlight flickered through the leaf canopy overhead. The scent of summer blossoms was in the air, and around him he could hear the gentle buzzing of pollen-gathering insects.
Slipping the chain back over his head, he began to walk, finding the path sloped slightly downward, meandering its way through the trees till he came at last to a small clearing. In it he saw a figure he recognized from the night before. Clad in the same gray tunic, Vartra sat on a fallen tree trunk.
"Now you know how to get here on your own," Vartra said. "Though you came through my doorway, this is part of Ghyakulla's realm. She's allowed me to meet you here."
"Why?" Brynne asked, stopping in front of him. Vartra looked so real, not like something in a vision at all. He could see every detail, almost count the hairs on his pelt had he the time and inclination.
"It is real. You are here, it's just a different reality from the one you normally inhabit. Sit with me."
Brynne moved past him to perch on the log. "Why did you want to see me again? Couldn't you have said what you wanted that night?"
"You wouldn't have taken it in then. It was something of a shock to you to come face to face with Derwent like you did."
"You're telling me," he said with an involuntary shudder. "Where is he now?"
"Oh, he's carrying on with his journey," said Vartra. "Enough of him. What I need to say is important, so listen well."
* * *
Brynne rubbed his eyes, finding the light in the shrine very dim in comparison to the sunlight in the clearing.
"Well come back," said Lijou quietly.
He looked around, saw Lijou, and knew Dhaika had left.
"He's returned to the Retreat," said Lijou. "He'd done what was needed. I watched over you."
"It's real," he blurted out, clambering to his feet. "He's real!"
"Yes, He is. Rather a shock to realize that, isn't it? I had a feeling Vartra would be there. Ghyakulla rarely has any physical contact with us. The fact She used Her realm for your meeting shows that Vartra speaks for Her. What did He have to say to you?"
Brynne's eyes glazed over slightly. "We need to keep faith with those we trust. It didn't seem to make much sense. He said that circumstances will make us want to doubt them, but we mustn't."
"So much of what we sense is taken on faith," said the priest quietly. "Including our belief in each other."
"What does it mean?" asked Brynne.
"Exactly what He said it did. We must trust those we do trust. We're facing a time of trial when our beliefs will be stretched to the utmost, Brynne. Dhaika refused to listen to me when I said we needed you trained as quickly as possible. He couldn't believe that Vartra had told me this. Now the God has taken it into his own hands to make sure you get the training you need. Trust. Dhaika refused to trust me, and the Gods."
"What's about to happen, Father Lijou? Is what I've been experiencing part of it?"
Lijou roused himself and got to his feet. "It may well be," he said briskly. "Vartra gave us our own coin and told us to ready ourselves, Brynne, so we are. All the visions you've had form part of the picture, but where the danger will come from, we don't yet know. That's why we need you trained. Tallinu was perhaps the best of our visionaries, but he's no longer with us. You show great promise. Let's hope we find the answers we need through you."
He felt his heart sink. "So I'm going to keep on having these dreams and visions?"
"I hope so," Lijou said, putting his hand briefly on Brynne's shoulder. "Now, don't worry, you'll get used to it. Tallinu did. It's your calling."
Brynne grunted. He wasn't so sure he wanted to get used to it. It was damned upsetting and inconvenient to keep waking up in a cold sweat because of some vivid dream in which he actually was the person rather than an observer. And no matter what Father Lijou said, there was the fear he'd meet Derwent again.
Lijou's hand closed comfortingly on his shoulder. "The link between you and Derwent is severed, Brynne. You'll not meet him when you're dream-walking, I guarantee that. From the first I've made sure there were those close to you who could help and protect you, and I have personally monitored your training. Do you think I would let any harm come to you?"
"I suppose you're right," he admitted. "What you're saying is not that different from what Derwent saw as my future."
"As a guider of souls?"
"Something like that," he said vaguely. "It certainly had to do with walking realms and dreaming."
"It's coming up for second meal now. Why don't you get something to eat and take some time off to rest? You and Jurrel can return to the Retreat tomorrow. No need for you to head back today. You'll absorb what you've learned better if you rest for a while immediately afterward. Sleeping is even better."
"I am tired," he admitted, letting the priest turn him toward the doorway. "And hungry."
"Using one's Talent tends to make you hungry," agreed Lijou.
* * *
Day 19
"She's causing havoc among the older males, Konis," said Sorli. "Six days ago Mayoi warned her if she broke curfew again, we'd appoint a chaperone. Granted she hasn't done that, but she's gotten herself a reputation among the students for being very available, shall we say. Ashok Chazoun is refusing to have anything to do with her, and wants the betrothal called off. Frankly, I don't blame him."
Konis continued to look out over the Guild grounds. "What does his father say?"
"He's prepared to keep the contract if you exercise some control over Kitra. The life-bonding can take place as planned once she's been medically examined to prove she's not pregnant. After the ceremony, they want her sent to their Clan estate until she's provided them with an heir."
"Unacceptable," he growled.
"You can't blame them, Konis. They want to be sure their Clan's heir is Ashok's cub," said Sorli gently. "Why didn't you keep her at home until she was bonded? Or appoint a chaperone? She might not have gotten so out of hand if you had."
"If I had, she'd have run away, Sorli," he said, turning to face him. "Forcing her into this bonding has caused enough of a breach between me and my family."
"I'm sorry we had to send her home, but you see my problem. She's disrupting the whole Guild. Keep her on the estate till she's safely bonding."
"She's fourteen, Sorli. She's losing her youth to this family. It'll be a year at least till she can return here, you know that, and that's only if they allow her to return. At her age she has only the legal rights her family allow her, and that will be the Chazouns."
"You arranged the match with them. If you had your doubts, you should have chosen someone else."
"When I arranged this match, it was on the understanding the bonding would be in name only. Now they want an heir immediately! That's not acceptable as far as I'm concerned."
"What do you intend to do?"
"Resign," he said grimly, heading for the door. "This has gone beyond what is reasonable."
* * *
Rhyasha flung herself across the door to Kitra's room. "Don't you even think of touching her," she said. "You've no one but yourself to blame, Konis. You said she needed to get more experience!"
"Dammit, Rhyasha, stop being so melodramatic! I'm not going to touch her!" he said tersely. "What do you take me for?"
"What are you going to do?" she asked, relaxing a little and letting her arms drop to her sides.
"Talk to her. You can come with me if you don't believe me."
"You be kind to her now," she warned. "She's been told by the Guild what the Chazouns expect of her and she's taken it very badly. She's still in shock. So am I."
Kitra sat hunched up in a chair near the bed. She looked up as they came in, but said nothing.
Konis sat down on the bed as close to her as possible. "Kitra, I've canceled the Betrothal. It's not going to happen," he said. "I'm not agreeing to their demands. It's over, kitling."
She looked up at him, the short pelt on her face streaked by dried tears. "You canceled it?"
He nodded. "There's to be no bonding. If you want Dzaka, you have him. I'll even take you to the temple now and sign the life-bonding contract between you."
She stared at him, unable to take in what he said.
"Did you hear me, kitling?" he asked gently, reaching out to take her hand. "I said I'd take you to the temple to..."
"It's too late," she said. "It's over between us. He wouldn't have me anyway."
"Of course he'd have you," said Rhyasha, almost as stunned by what her life-mate had said as Kitra was.
She shook her head. "I asked him. He said I was too young, would still be even in a year. And I don't want him any more," she said with finality.
Rhyasha shot a fulminating glance at Konis.
See what you've done? It's too late to undo it now!
"Think it over, Kitra," said Konis, squeezing her hand gently. "I'll talk to him if you want. Take a chance, do it now. Today. Just in case the new Clan Lord decides to make another contract for you."
"What new Clan Lord?" demanded Rhyasha sharply.
He looked up at her. "I resigned. You were right. They can't be allowed to blackmail me like this. You and Kitra aren't worth sacrificing for them."
Rhyasha sat down beside him. "You resigned?"
"What was I supposed to do? Agree to the Chazouns' outrageous demands? I had no other choice, Rhyasha."
"You resigned because of me?" said Kitra in a small voice.
He turned back to his daughter. "I had to, kitling. I should never have agreed to the Council's demands in the first place. Now, please think this over. I'll talk to Dzaka..."
"No! I told you, it's too late," she said, wrenching her hand away from his and running from the room.
Konis started to get up but his wife held him back. "Let her go. She needs to cope with this her own way," she said. "You really resigned?"
"I sent letters to all the Council members. I've named Rhaid as my successor. She's unlikely to support Kitra's early bonding, but having made such a mess of it up till now, I wanted to be sure that Kitra got the chance to life-bond to Dzaka."
"It might well be too late, Konis. She's distraught because he didn't stand up for her. You should have put Dzaka forward as her husband and damned the Council."
"I couldn't, Rhyasha. He's gene-altered. There's no way he'd have been an acceptable life-mate for her."
"Are you sure this is what you want? You could call their bluff and face them at the Council meeting, rather than go the whole way and resign. I'd be there to support you."
"Thank you," he said, touched. "But I've done it now, and I don't regret it. Have you ever heard anything like those demands? It was supposed to be a bonding in name only till she was eighteen!"
"I know. It makes me just as angry," she said, leaning against him. "I'm proud of you, Konis."
"I'm not," he sighed. "I hope Kitra won't do anything silly. I think I'll alert Ni'Zulhu and ask him to keep an eye on her," he said.
* * *
"Already done, Master Konis," said Ni'Zulhu from the military base by the gatehouse into the estates. "We were alerted by Mnesu, her bodyguard, when he saw her leaving. She's on her way to the Valsgarth estate."
"Thank you," he said. "Let me know where she goes, please."
"My bet is she'll head for Ruth's," said the security chief. "She's been there a few times— most of the younglings visit Ruth in times of trouble. If she's gone off in a state, she'll be wanting to talk to someone right now," he offered.
"Let me know anyway."
"Will do, Master Konis."