Jhond closed his eyes. "I can't think about this now, Ninian. Let's just concentrate on dealing with the entity first. Remelin's future is a subject for another time."
Ninian couldn't argue with that, and anyway, Jhond's response was an answer in itself.
Amired hadn't returned after seeing Remelin back to his cabin. Ninian got to his feet and said, "I'll go and ask Amired to set course for Leon, shall I?"
"Yes, no point in delaying any further. I need a little time to...to prepare myself for what is to come, and I can easily transport to Garileon Castle from there."
Ninian wished he knew what to say to make Jhond feel better, but there was nothing. Perhaps all that was needed was time. Time for Remelin to forgive herself for actions beyond her control. Time for Jhond to remember the power of the entity was something Remelin couldn't fight, and for Jhond to decide if it was only because she reminded him of Gallia that he'd been attracted to her. Or if perhaps there was something deeper between them.
With a last glance at Jhond, Ninian went up on deck and found the captain talking to his first mate. Aldous saw him first and presumably told Amired because the captain turned around and walked over to Ninian.
"How's he feeling?" Amired asked without preamble.
"Not so good. He doesn't seem to know how to handle this situation. How was she acting? Did you get the impression she was serious about her contrition?"
"Yes, I think she was," Amired said. "She seemed pretty near to tears again when I took her to the cabin, and I think she was quite relieved to be left alone." Ninian frowned his confusion, so Amired added, "To wallow."
"Ah, I see. Well, Jhond has decided his next move and would like you to take us back to Leon."
Amired frowned. "What does he want to go back there for? I expected you'd planned to go on to Timendra."
"We've still not solved the problem with the entity, and he's more determined than ever now to eradicate it, the crystal and all."
"He's not going to use one of his transport spells and go directly there?"
"No, I think he needs time to come to grips with his emotions before he takes on such an important task. A pleasant sail will be just the thing."
"Do I assume we want to keep those two apart?" Amired queried.
"Hmm, not sure about that. They can't avoid each other forever. For the rest of the day, though? For sure. Let's just wait and see what tomorrow brings."
* * * *
Around mid-morning the next day, the weather was fair as Amired brought the
Horologue
into Leon harbor. Leaving Aldous in charge of docking the ship and dealing with the harbor officials, Amired went below deck to check on what Jhond's plans were.
He knocked on the cabin door and entered when Ninian called him in. He found Remelin was already there and still found it odd to see a different image from the one he'd become used to. She was sitting quietly at the small table, but from the expression on the young woman's face, things were not going well. He glanced at Ninian, but found the mage's attention on Jhond, who was standing staring out of the window.
"Have I interrupted something?" Amired asked.
Jhond turned around. "Good morning, Amired," he said in a measured tone. "We have just been discussing our plans for today. We haven't had breakfast yet because we had more important things to think on. Would you care to join us?"
"Had a quick bite earlier, but I wouldn't say no to something tasty," Amired said.
"Good. If you would, Ninian?"
Ninian sighed, but pulled out his Judral stone and quickly provided a varied breakfast that ought to suit everyone's taste. They joined Remelin at the table, and at last, she looked at Amired and gave a slight nod.
"I hope you slept well, Remelin," he commented, as he filled his plate with porridge topped with honey.
"Not really," she replied, glancing at Jhond as she added, "I had a lot on my mind."
Jhond ignored the comment and poured himself a mug of tea. "Ninian and I will be leaving for Garileon Castle after we've eaten. The entity was originally created within those walls, and we intend to remove any remaining links to it."
"How will you do that?" Amired asked.
"Depends on what I find," Jhond replied. "I'll destroy the castle itself if it should prove necessary."
"What?" Remelin was shocked. "But the castle has stood on that site for millennia."
Jhond slowly turned to her. "If the stones themselves were imbued with the spell, there's no other way to ensure its total destruction. Rest assured, I will only do so if there is no other way."
"Wait a minute," Amired said. "You are both going and leaving Remelin here?"
"Yes, she will be safe here in your care for the short time we're ashore." Jhond rose and moved to stand behind Amired's chair. He leaned closer and said quietly, "Remember you can contact me if you need."
Amired nodded, understanding what Jhond hadn't enunciated, that the Eynan could be back in his presence in an instant if the need arose.
Conversation ended and the only sound in the cabin was that of eating and drinking, but Amired couldn't dismiss the uneasy undercurrents he felt.
* * * *
Shortly after breakfast finished, Amired took Remelin on deck, suggesting some fresh air would make her feel better. Amired glanced over his shoulder at Jhond as he closed the door behind them, and Jhond understood Amired would keep a close watch on her.
"I still remember the day we came across the
Horologue
in the harbor and you decided it was the ship we should hire. It seemed very arbitrary at the time," Jhond said, "but it has to be one of the best decisions you made."
Ninian smiled. "It was indeed. And not arbitrary at all because my talent led me to Amired that day. I might not have been fully aware of it at the time, thinking it was the ship's name which drew me, but really it was the ship's captain." He paused a second before adding, "Wouldn't mind a breath of fresh air myself before we have to face that dusty castle." He lifted an eyebrow, and Jhond had to smile.
"Fair enough. Let's go."
The ship might be docked in the harbor, but there was still a pleasant breeze blowing when they arrived on deck. Amired was leaning against the main mast, and it sounded as if he was describing the different sails to Remelin, who was standing close by, a hand protecting her eyes as she stared up into the shrouds. There were very few crewmembers to be seen, except for Aldous on the upper deck talking to Warkist. Jhond assumed a few crew might have shore leave and the others must be below decks. Ninian wandered over to talk to Amired, and Jhond stood by the rail just watching Remelin.
Jhond found it difficult to tear his gaze from the young woman, drawn to her even though she no longer reminded him of his lost love. And didn't that positive reaction give him pause for thought? To know he hadn't been wholly tricked and that his feelings about her had contained at least some truth? Yes, and yet he also couldn't help but feel there was still something about her that wasn't quite right. He shrugged and forced himself to glance over at Ninian and Amired instead of watching Remelin, only to find his eyes tracking in her direction again. What was it that made him uncertain? He had cast out the net of his talent and had found nothing amiss.
Then why this--
"Jhond, did you not hear me calling?" Ninian said, a hand on his elbow making Jhond start. "You seemed a long way away."
"Merely daydreaming. You wanted me?"
"Just wondered if you're ready to proceed with your plan?"
"Yes, of course." As he spoke, he saw Amired escorting Remelin below decks. Perhaps it was for the best that Ninian had interrupted his errant thoughts. Now was not the time for distractions.
Jhond and Ninian abruptly appeared amidst all that was left of Garileon Castle: jumbled stones and decaying wood, all of it coated in a layer of snow, which was picked up and swirled around in the fitful breeze before falling back to start the process all over again. In some sections, rough vegetation, stiffened by frost and ice, grew wildly, some of it hiding collapsed areas of the ancient castle.
Ninian let go of Jhond's arm and stepped away, turning full circle. "Not much left of this place, even if it has stood here for millennia." He turned to face Jhond to find his eyes were closed. Ninian freed his own senses to search for anything out of the ordinary and almost at once he felt it.
"Is that it?" he asked Jhond.
Jhond opened his eyes. "Depends what you refer to. I can sense the remnants of two powerful spells here."
"Two?" Ninian closed his eyes and concentrated, letting his talent dig deeper. "Ah, yes, I have it, the second one. It's not as strong as the first, but it is more widespread...and older."
"Yes, that one is a spell of protection for the Thail family and is no threat to anyone now the family is no longer in residence. The other one, which is more easily read...that's from the spell used to create the entity."
"Yes, I can feel it more strongly the longer I'm here." Ninian shivered. "It's still remarkably effective. Perhaps it knows the Eynan is here?" he wondered.
"I'm not sure that's even possible," Jhond replied. "However, it is very pervasive, even after all this time. That long dead Thail Doyen was a powerful mage."
"Can you disperse it?"
"I'm not sure. Depends how deeply...it...is...entrenched." The last word was uttered harshly, and Jhond took a deep breath and let it out with a sigh, not needing to explain to Ninian that he'd been trying to disperse the spell even as he spoke, and had failed. "Let me merge with you and try again. If we fail to withdraw it from the stones and disperse it, I will have to try stronger measures." Jhond was prepared to completely remove the castle from existence if that's what it took.
Ninian nodded, concentrating as he allowed Jhond to tap into his talent and merge their power. He had done this a few times now and each time he felt awed by the immense power he sensed swirling inside Jhond, wondering how his comparatively small power could aid the Eynan. However, he'd also experienced the result of their joining and knew there was something about the way Jhond used his power that Ninian didn't really understand. It felt odd to admit that considering he had been the one to discover Jhond's talent and then train him to become the Eynan. However, the result was that whatever the Eynan asked for, Ninian would happily provide.
Ninian heard as Jhond murmured the ancient words of magic, and even as he pronounced the last word, their joined power surged out over the ruins of the castle, covering everything in a faint green glow. It faded almost immediately, and Ninian reached out, letting his senses free to search. The ancient protection spell had gone, but there was still that sense of evil that permeated the entity. It had lessened somewhat, but it still existed.
"Not enough," Jhond said heavily. He glanced at Ninian. "Stand close. I will have to utterly destroy the ruins--turn it into nothing more than dust on the wind--and then I can annihilate the remnants of the spell."
Ninian did as he was bid, knowing the only safe place while Jhond performed his spell was right by his side.
Jhond was very still, hardly even breathing. His eyes were tightly closed, and though his lips were moving, no sound emerged. The hairs on Ninian's body stood on end, and his skin tightened even as his bones ached. No spell had ever affected him like this. He wanted to close his eyes, but he needed to see what Jhond was doing. Slowly, Jhond raised his arms over his head, fingers pointing at the sky far above. Ninian watched for some sign of the power Jhond was going to generate to destroy the building surrounding them, but he saw nothing. He felt it, though, as the ground shook beneath his feet and the very air whooshed away from him until he felt he couldn't draw breath. Even though what he saw was remarkable, he came to regret keeping his eyes open when they were filled with grit and detritus as the ruined castle vanished in a cloud of white light.
When he was next aware of his existence, it was to find he was kneeling, with his head cradled between his arms, elbows supporting him, as he gasped attempting to pull air into starving lungs. He felt hands on his shoulders and knew Jhond was pulling him up. He glanced at where he guessed Jhond must be, but when he opened eyes he didn't remember closing, all he could see was a shimmering white glare. He felt fingers touch his forehead and guessed Jhond was casting a spell to help him regain his normal sight, and sure enough, the glare faded. He could see Jhond's worried gaze staring at him, a clear blue sky behind him.
Jhond opened his mouth, and Ninian knew he had spoken, but Ninian couldn't hear. He shook his head and touched an ear, and Jhond grimaced, touching Ninian again so he could hear Jhond speak. "I'm sorry. I should've created more protection for you. I admit my spell proved more powerful than even I thought." He shrugged and raised an eyebrow.
Ninian had to laugh. "I forgive you. I assume the spell worked?"
"Better than I hoped. If you feel up to it, take a look."
"I feel fine now," he said. Ninian looked and there was no sign at all of Garileon Castle. Not even an iota of dust remained. It was simply as if it had never been. And best of all, Ninian couldn't sense any spell of any kind. Not even Jhond's powerful dispersion spell.
"Remarkable." He glanced at Jhond. "You know, you're beginning to scare me," Ninian said without thinking and was taken aback by the expression of hurt on Jhond's face. Quickly he added, "Ignore me, my friend. I didn't mean anything by that stupid remark. Except perhaps that those who should fear you don't have any idea just how afraid they should really be."
Jhond still looked unhappy as he said, "The truth is I sometimes scare myself because I still don't really know what I'm capable of."
"I promise you won't have to face this alone. I'll always be by your side until the day you send me away."
"You might come to regret saying that," Jhond said with a smile. "You might be stuck with me until you're old and grey."