"Until I walked into its prison almost three centuries later and gave it someone else to try and work through."
"You have walked free from its prison, and it cannot," Ninian said, and Remelin smiled her appreciation at the reminder.
"Is it not safer just to leave it trapped?" she queried.
"It's been trapped for centuries and still managed to entice and influence you into its presence," Ninian said thoughtfully. "It's also been a danger to the nuns and, in consequence, the outside world many times in the past, yet it never managed to free itself then either. Are we perhaps worrying too much about it getting free? The real concern could be its influence. Look at the damage it caused during its interference through the nuns. It changed the way people thought and acted. It caused a war!"
She frowned at that, then her face lit up, and she said excitedly to Jhond, "You could use your power to turn the nunnery into a pile of rubble. There'd be no cause for anyone to visit there then."
"I could do that, but there's no surety it's actually trapped inside the walls of the nunnery. It could so easily be inside the mountain itself. It's too dangerous not knowing what else the entity might resort to in the future; no way to be sure some poor innocent still isn't caught in its evil web somehow. No, the safest method is to find a way to destroy it once and for all," Jhond said. Then he glanced at Remelin. "Come, it's been a long trying day and the light is fading, you should get back home."
"Yes, we don't want to be here after dark," Remelin said. "It's not overly comfortable at my place, but at least you'll have a roof over your heads."
"I'm sure we can make do," Ninian said, already planning how to make the little house cozier.
They had reached the courtyard when Jhond said, "I'll destroy the entity and follow you two shortly."
Ninian was taken aback, not having realizing Jhond's intention. "I'd better stay with you then. I'm sure Remi can make her way home alone."
"No, that's not necessary. I can take care of this on my own." Jhond gave Ninian a pointed glance and continued, "Take care of Remelin."
Ninian was unhappy about leaving Jhond alone, but it was the Eynan who dictated his wishes, and though Ninian found it hard to let go of his role as a teacher, it was clear Jhond believed he had long since outgrown his need for one.
Jhond opened the shield to allow them to pass through, with Ninian the last to leave. Ninian felt a twinge of heat as the shield closed quickly enough to catch the edge of his sleeve. He glanced back at Jhond, but Jhond didn't seem to notice, his attention already on what was to come.
"Will he be all right?" Remelin asked, as they walked on.
"Yes," Ninian said firmly. "He's the Eynan." However, Ninian couldn't help feeling a little apprehensive. When Jhond had fought Suvran, Ninian had been there to add his talent to Jhond's. This time, Ninian was afraid Jhond might be a little over-confident, but, as he'd stated to Remelin, Jhond was the Eynan, and that should be enough. He only wished he accepted that without question. He felt a little guilty, but forced himself to dismiss his feelings and concentrate on looking after his charge.
It didn't take long to reach the small cottage, and as they walked inside, Remelin remarked, "I don't have much in the way of food. Can you?" She gave Ninian a cheeky grin.
"You're going to get too used to this," Ninian said.
"So, you'll have to get me one of the Judral stones."
"Easier said than done, but we'll see how you progress." He took out his stone, and in no time, they were sitting down to a light supper.
"I assume you can take care of your sleeping arrangements?" Remelin asked, finishing with a yawn.
"I can. Off to bed with you," Ninian said.
She nodded and headed for the small bedroom. "I wish you a good night."
"Until the morning," Ninian said.
* * * *
Jhond returned to the cellar and stared at the wall Remelin had said she touched to contact the entity, and behind which Jhond believed it was trapped. He still didn't know what it was or who had imprisoned it there, but he was sure whoever it had been didn't have the power of the Eynan. It was claimed he was the most powerful mage who ever existed, and he had to trust in that. He
would
destroy it.
He drew himself up to his full height, feeling every inch of his six feet. He took a deep breath, filling his broad chest, as he gathered all his talent into the center of his being. Closing his eyes, he felt it swirling there, hot and heavy, making him feel slightly nauseous, and he drew it in tighter, until it began to throb with the need for release. He opened his eyes, concentrating on the exact spot he wanted and then, chanting the ancient words of power under his breath, he released all of his power in one thunderous bolt. It struck the wall like a giant arrow of swirling green light, driving deep into the mountain, sending shards of stone clattering all around him.
Jhond bent over, taking a deep breath to fill his lungs again. His gaze landed on a few of the chunks of rock near his feet, shot through now with streaks of green. He lifted his eyes to the ruined wall and let his senses confirm what he expected; there was nothing left there now but simple rock. He smiled with confident satisfaction.
* * * *
Jhond returned to the cottage to find Remelin already retired to bed and Ninian sitting on one of the two cots he had created. He could, of course, have spelled two very comfortable beds for them to use, but the cottage wouldn't accommodate them. Ninian sighed with relief to see him back safe.
"All went well?"
"Just as I expected," Jhond said. "The cellar is somewhat covered in rubble, but the entity is no more."
"Did you gain any impression of what it was?"
"No." He shrugged. "I was more concerned with its destruction, so I concentrated on that. I sent a powerful bolt of my energy at the wall and blasted it to pieces, destroying the entity within."
Ninian was a little taken aback at the casual manner in which Jhond spoke. As if he'd never doubted he could deal with the problem...but then why should he? The Eynan was all-powerful after all. Ninian knew it intellectually, but was still having trouble with the fact of it as he remembered the innocent young man who hadn't even known he was a mage.
* * * *
Dawn was only just breaking as Jhond awoke with a start. He felt surprisingly befuddled, confused as to why he'd woken when he was still obviously tired. He glanced around, surprised to see the front door closing. He sat up, noticing Ninian was still asleep in his cot, though his covers were pushed down and twisted about his body. Jhond frowned because Ninian was usually a sound sleeper. He shrugged and turned his attention to the only other person in the dwelling. Could Remelin have gone outside? But why?
He shook his head, trying to clear his muddled thinking. What was wrong with him? He cast out, searching for Remelin, but she was not in the house. Consternation filled him, and he knew he had to track her down, and now.
"Ninian, wake up," he called, as he strode toward the door, flinging it open. There was no sign of the young female mage, so he cast his talent farther and sensed her halfway up the path to the nunnery.
"What's wrong?" Ninian asked, sounding as perplexed as Jhond had felt on waking.
"Remi. She's not here; she's headed back to the shrine."
"What? But why?"
"Good question. Let's follow and investigate."
"Let's get there first," Ninian suggested, and Jhond smiled. It didn't take more than a few seconds for Jhond to connect his pendant to his ring, and by that time, Ninian was holding his arm. Jhond visualized the cellar, the place he expected was somehow drawing Remelin back, and when he opened his eyes, he and Ninian was standing at the center of it.
Ninian glanced around at the rubble. Then suddenly he asked, "Can you feel it?"
Jhond frowned, his stomach roiling with shock. "Yes, I can indeed." How could it be? "I don't understand."
Ninian said sharply, "Time for that later. We have to deal with what's happening now."
Jhond shook himself, frustrated and angry. "Of course."
"It must still be here somehow."
"Somewhere."
"That probably explains why it can still affect Remelin. Whatever this is, it's stronger than we first thought."
"Than we were
allowed
to believe," Jhond added with a touch of ire.
"What...
who
is this?" Ninian looked at Jhond, who met his stare steadily.
He didn't speak, but was aware Ninian knew him well enough to know how his mind worked, what he would want without speaking the words aloud. Ninian made no gestures, but the look in his eyes told Jhond all he needed to know.
They heard footsteps descending into the cellar. Remelin had arrived.
When she entered and saw them waiting for her, she appeared shocked, but she quickly brushed it--and them--aside as she tried to clamber over the chunks of stone littering the floor.
"Remi," Ninian said, repeating her name when she ignored him. "Remi!"
In the center of the rubble, she paused and bent down, a hand brushing a large block, and a visible shudder went through her frame. Abruptly, she was yanked from contact with the stone and let out a gasp.
"I'm sorry, Remi," Jhond said, kneeling at her side.
"What? Wh--" Remelin frowned, looking up at Jhond and Ninian, then glancing around at her surroundings, her eyes widening as she did so.
"Are you back with us, Remi?" Ninian stood behind Jhond, gazing down at her.
"Back with you? I don't understand. What's going on?"
"You know where you are?" Jhond asked.
"Of course." Her brows knit in confusion. "But I don't remember coming here. What did you do?" She stared at Jhond as she rolled up onto her knees.
"Just now? I broke your link with the entity I thought I had destroyed a few hours ago."
"My link with... Are you saying I came here deliberately, on my own?" She looked horrified and suddenly very young and frightened.
Jhond reached out and pulled her to her feet, holding her close, abruptly aware of how relieved he felt that she was all right. "You woke me as you left the cottage. I sensed something was very wrong and brought Ninian here to be ready when you arrived."
"I don't know how you knew I was coming to the cellar. Lords, I wasn't even aware of what I was doing." She paused. "Wait, you said you thought you'd destroyed it? You failed? You couldn't?"
Still unsure why he had failed, he admitted, "I believed I had, but it fooled me somehow. Although I destroyed its prison, it's still here."
She looked confused, but nodded. "Still, thank you for saving me from that thing."
Jhond shrugged. "It's what Ninian was brought here for."
Ninian shook his head. "I now believe it's why I was meant to bring you here, Jhond," he corrected.
Jhond looked at Ninian, wondering if that was true, frustrated that the broken crystal had been so unclear when he linked with it. "I don't understand how this thing influences Remi, especially in her home. It shouldn't be able to get beyond my shield. And we're still left with our original problem," Jhond said. He knelt to retrieve one of the shards of stone, fingering the green striations caused by his power.
"Clearly, we need to find another way to destroy it," Ninian said.
Instantly, the floor of the cellar rippled and bucked as if there was an earthquake, and a dull roaring sound filled the space. Remelin cried out, and Jhond reached out for her, but was knocked off his feet when Ninian fell against him. As suddenly as it had started, the shaking stopped.
Jhond wished he knew what his next move should be. It had survived his powerful attack, though the thought occurred that perhaps the destruction of the trap had absorbed most of his power. However, the very fact that the entity got through his shield and affected Remelin's behavior proved it was secure in its skills, which was of great concern for the Eynan.
Deciding discussing the issue in the cellar was out of the question, Jhond even wondered how safe it would be to talk about plans in front of Remelin. He glanced at the young woman to find her staring at him with big trusting eyes. She clearly believed he had the answer to everything. He wished he shared her confidence. He managed to give her a smile and hoped she was fooled by it. He turned to Ninian to find the mage was regarding him intently.
"I think it's time we returned to the cottage," Jhond said calmly.
"Yes," Ninian agreed. "I still need my sleep."
"But what about--" Remelin began.
"Time to think about that later," Jhond interrupted, taking Remelin's arm and making for the steps. She must have understood they wanted to leave without further discussion because she said nothing more. He thought about using his pendant and ring, but decided not to give the entity any more information about them than it already had. It might know they travelled with the help of magic, but it had no idea the method used.
Jhond sent out feelers to test his shield, but found nothing wrong. It still encompassed the entire nunnery and upheld its strength. The only answer therefore was that the entity had moved within the mountain.
They were moving so quickly down the mountain that Remelin stumbled, and Jhond was angry they were running away from the accursed thing. He took a deep breath to steady himself and quietly asked Remelin if she was all right.
She stared at him. "Can we speak
now
then?"
"No," he said. "Just wished to ensure you hadn't hurt yourself."
Pursing her lips, she said, "Let's get somewhere where we can talk." She began walking again, surging ahead.
Ninian took hold of Jhond's elbow and gave it a squeeze.
"Hellas!" Jhond grumbled, consciously keeping his voice low.
"Come on," Ninian said. Smiling, he added, "She might lock us out."
* * * *
Once back in the cottage, the last thing any of them wanted was to return to their beds. Ninian quickly removed his spell, and the two cots he and Jhond had been using disappeared.