by asking, “Kellyn, is it truewhat they say about you?”
“Well, that depends on what they are saying,”she replied.
“They say you can instantly heal any injuryor illness,” he said.
“Well, not exactly. I can heal, but my powersare limited. For instance, I cannot turn back time and make anyoneyounger, nor can I help anyone who is already dead. Minor injuriesare easy, but major things like growing new limbs or organs take alot out of me. Mental illnesses are beyond me at this stage, whichis baffling. I am also fairly limited in the type of healing I cando. For example, if a person is brain-damaged, I can heal thephysical brain, but I cannot return to the person the memories andabilities that were lost,” she replied.
“That is remarkable,” he said.
“We are also told that you all talk to eachother without speaking, can move objects without touching them, andother impossible feats. How much of these stories are true?” askedthe captain.
“They are probably blown out of allproportion but we can do what you just listed. You must understandthat we are fairly weak compared to those we will be going upagainst. We have only had a year to study and practice, and thesearts take a lifetime to master,” I said.
“How does this all work?” asked Dr.Rannor.
“It is not as mystical as you might think.There is an energy force is woven through the universe which doesnot seem to interact at all with normal matter, at least not in anyway we have been able to detect. Some people are born with anability to tap and use this energy, and that is how we achieve whatwe do. The chanting, wands, and other trappings are used to helpfocus and store the energy, which is where it starts lookingmystical. It seems that each of us is gifted in a different way sothat what we can do with the energy is a little different. We canall do some basic things, such as talk telepathically, but for themost part our powers are sharply divided. For example, Kellyn isthe only one of us who can heal a serious wound, while Andreya is amaster of illusions,” I said.
“You make it sound so simple and normal, yetwe have seen what the sorcerers can do with this energy so we knowthere is great power in it. You say you cannot match them yet, sohow are we going to fight them?” asked Zalith.
“We are hoping that when combined with thepower of the fleet we will stand a chance. In truth we had plannedto stay in hiding for a few more years, but the recent developmentsout here make me a bit concerned. We need to monitor the situation,at least. I fear if the Seven are here then the sector is theirsand there is not much we can do about it. Historically, though, theSeven have not been known to come out to fight if they think themaster wizards are around to fight back, so we are banking on themoverestimating us.”
“Are you saying that their most powerfulleaders are cowards?” asked Zalith.
“Well, I studied the history of the war theyare fighting with the wizards of the other realm, and that is thepattern I have found. They always retreat when the grandmasterwizard or any of the master wizards appear on the scene and send intheir underlings to fight for them, and our combined forces shouldbe able to handle their underlings,” I said.
“That is simply unbelievable: to have allthat power, and then be afraid to stand and fight,” commentedZalith.
While they continued to ask questions of theothers, a thought occurred to me.
“Well, this has been a great visit, but wemust be getting back to the Dragon Claw. Rumor has it I have to getup early for a big event tomorrow,” said the captain.
“I understand, Captain. Too bad you cannotstay for a tour of our little ship. We had to completely gut it andstart over to make it the way we wanted,” I said.
“Perhaps another time,” he said.
After that Kellyn was whisked away byAndreya: something about not seeing the bride before the wedding. Istarted to protest but the captain reminded me never to argue witha bride about her wedding.
Once we got to the bay I stopped them andsaid, “Captain, I have another favor to ask. We would like allseven of us to attend the wedding and reception, but that wouldleave the Nevermore with no one on watch. Would it be possible foryou to send over some trusted officers to stand watch for us?”
Zalith turned, gestured at the new emblem onmy staff and said, “The Dark Knights would be honored to come toyour aid.”
“Then that is settled. We will send them overin the morning,” said the captain.
“Vydor, if you don’t mind, I would like tostay behind and take that tour you offered,” said Dr. Rannor.
“Of course, we can fly you back later if youwish, or you are welcome to stay in our guest quarters,” Isaid.
“Well, if it is no trouble to you, I wouldrather stay until the wedding,” he said.
I was surprised by his request, but it was noproblem, so I granted it.
With that settled, the captain and Zalithboarded the shuttle and left. Zalith’s comment about the DarkKnights and their gift of the emblem had lifted from me a heavyburden I had carried since I had lost the squad. All this time Ithought I had failed, yet had it not played out the way it had Iwould never have met the Black Adders and we would have lost thefight for that planet, which would have spelled the end of theEmpire. The weight that lifted from me was amazing. I had feltstifled all this time by that guilt.
Then I realized that was the weaknessexploited by the dark specter in the gate. Every time I let myanger and depression get the better of me, he grew stronger. When Ihad nothing but love and support around me, he was powerless. Thiswas an amazing breakthrough. I had to share it with Kellyn, but shewas in Andreya’s quarters and out of my reach. I asked Darnath toget a message to her, and after some argument he agreed to try, butmade no promises of getting past Andreya.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Once the shuttle was gone I turned to thegood doctor and asked, “Do you really want a tour, or would youprefer a comfortable place to sit and talk?”
“I think a talk would be good,” he said.
“Then let’s go to the library,” I said andled him to the lift.
We rode up in silence; he seemed nervous. Iwanted to reach out and find out what was wrong, but I resisted. Hedeserved the privacy of his own thoughts. When we finally enteredthe library he looked around and said, “Impressive.”
“Come now, Doctor, the only thing impressiveabout this library is its room to grow,” I said.
“What do you mean? You have more real bookson that one shelf alone than I have seen in my entire life!” washis reply.
I looked around the room and said, “Funny howtwo people can see the exact same thing and get such differentfirst impressions.”
“I think it has to do with what you have tocompare it to. Obviously you have seen a much greater library, andI have not.”
“Yes, I have and most of these books arecopies from it. Come this way. I have a place where we can sit withaccess to refreshments.” I was not sure when I had picked up thehabit, but I rarely read any more without snacks or a drink of somekind.
We entered an area of the library that hadvery few shelves; instead it had big, comfortable reading chairs,end tables and a small food locker. This was my favorite area ofthe library. Its partial seclusion allowed me to become immersed inwhat I was reading.
I got myself a big mug of coffee and asked,“Can I get you anything?”
“No, thank you,” he said.
I settled into my favorite chair, and he satacross from me. “Now then, Doctor, what is on your mind?”
