“Come closer if you long for death,” called Lee.
The men halted their approach.
“There is no need for this,” shouted Lanmore, from a few yards away. “My master wishes you returned to him unharmed. You and your son.”
“If I return to your master, it will be to end his life,” roared Lee.
Lanmore laughed. “Even your dear wife knew that was impossible. Why do you think she helped you escape?”
Jacob shot Lee an accusing glance.
“And for that she paid with her life,” Lee replied, with hatred spewing from his lips. “My wife lay dead because of your master’s evil. Do you think I will simply return with you? You’re a bigger fool than I thought.”
“Do you really think the Reborn King would allow such a noble lady to die?” he asked. “She could not escape his grasp so easily. No, Lord Nal'Thain. Your wife still lives.”
“You lie!” he shouted. “I saw her die. I held her in my arms.”
“I'm sure you did. But the king is powerful. Those whom he wishes to live will live.” He took a step forward, and sheathed his sword. “He knew she would help you escape, and he knew she would try to take her own life to ensure that she could not betray you. Ask yourself this. How did you escape so easily? How did you walk straight through the front gate? He knew you would try to find your son. Should we have tried to capture him, he would have resisted, and the King does not want his blood. Return with me now and you can be with your family again.”
“When I run, you follow,” Lee whispered to Jacob.
“But mother-” he protested.
“Your mother is dead,” he snapped. “And you will not follow her.”
Lee burst into a dead run southeast. Jacob was on his heels. He passed the soldiers just as they realized he was there. They gave chase, but Lee and Jacob were too fast and soon they disappeared into the darkness.
The soldiers returned to Captain Lanmore, scraped, bruised, and out of breath. He ordered them to return to the garrison. He paused and stared into the shadows of the forest. He felt a presence just behind him. Its raw power nearly sent him falling to his knees, but he dare not turn around.
“Such a pity.” said a voice. It was almost a whisper, yet it carried a power that made the sound seem to take physical form.
“Forgive me, Master,” he said. Fear pierced his heart. “They escaped. My men weren't fast enough.”
“If I wanted them captured I would have sent the Vrykol.” It sounded amused. “But it matters not. I already have foreseen the fate of Lee Starfinder.”
The presence vanished. Lanmore fell to the ground and wept.
Chapter 28
Gewey stared over the bow of the ship. Aaliyah had continued with his training, but as they drew closer to their destination, he noticed that she would frequently lose focus. After a week she had taken to sleeping on deck. Gewey had offered to give her the room, but she told him that she preferred to sleep under the stars, and enjoy the scent of ocean air.
He had tried on several occasions to speak with her, hoping to lift her spirits, but she would withdraw even further. By the time the ship rounded the Tarvansia Peninsula, Aaliyah informed him that he would be spending his remaining time studying with Drasalisia, the navigator. Gewey tried to object but she would not be swayed, and seemed relieved when the navigator reluctantly agreed.
From the onset of the lessons, he realized that Drasalisia intended to be a strict task-master. The first day, he joined her at the bow of the ship. She looked at him sideways, then handed him a small cup of water. She had him sit cross-legged on the deck, a few feet behind her.
“You can join me when you learn control,” she said. She held out her hand and a small droplet of water floated from the cup and hovered a few inches in the air. Then it rolled on the cups edge and slid back in. “When you can do this, you are ready to continue.” She stood up and stared down at Gewey for a moment, then with a huff, returned to the bow.
Gewey closed his eyes and allowed the flow of the air to surround the tiny cup, but quickly found that he could not lift the water. Again and again, the cup spilled over. Each time he returned with more water the navigator shot him a disapproving glance. After three hours, he leaped to his feet and let out a frustrated scream.
“What good is this?” he shouted. “How does this help me?”
The navigator strode over and picked up the cup. “Hold this in your palm.”
He obeyed, unenthusiastically. Another tiny droplet of water floated out and drifted toward the navigator.
“Not everything needs brute force,” she said. The droplet flew forward at blinding speed, and struck the cup, shattering it. Water and glass fell to the deck. Gewey stared in amazement. “Such a thing could be quite useful, wouldn't you say?” She returned to her duties and glanced over her shoulder. “You will need another cup.”
Gewey nearly broke into a run, excited by what he had seen. For six straight hours he continued to try, but was still unable to do it. The sun was setting and the navigator was being relieved. She walked over to Gewey and sat next to him.
“Show me what you are doing,” she said, in her typical, emotionless way. She took Gewey’s hand and brought her spirit close to his.
Gewey tried once again, and once again failed. He forced the water over the side. The moment it touched the deck he felt the navigator seize the flow and return it to the cup.
“You must understand the way this power works,” she explained. “Power of the earth, air and water are not different. At least, not in essence. They are pieces of the same world. You try to dig and lift the water with air, as a shovel to earth. Or you throw it, as a bale of hay into a wagon.” She reached out and touched the flow of the water, surrounding a tiny drop, pressing it in. “You transition it from one to the other. It is as one hand touching the other. The air stirred almost imperceptibly, and blended with the droplet. In unison, it rose, carried on a tiny cushion of air. “Do you see?” The droplet fell gently back into the cup.
“I understand.” His words were a gasp.
“Good,” she said, with a hint of satisfaction. “Return tomorrow and try again. You have done enough today.”
In spite of his desire to continue, he knew it was useless to argue. The rest of the evening he spent with the crew, learning the ship and listening to their tales. Aaliyah joined him for dinner, but stayed in her cabin for the rest of the evening, until she went on deck to sleep.
This time Gewey was determined to find out what troubled her and brought his blanket and pillow and lay down beside her.
“I know you think you can help me,” said Aaliyah. “But there is really nothing you can do.”
“If I can't help, would you at least tell me what is troubling you?”
She sighed, and closed her eyes. “I am trying to still my heart. Soon I must see Nehrutu again.”
Gewey raised an eyebrow and smiled. “I would think you'd be happy about that.”
“I am uncertain how I feel,” she replied. “I will be pleased to see him, but uncertain as to what to say. Through your communication with Kaylia, he will be aware of your decision…and my failure.”
Gewey chuckled. “That should make him happy.”
She looked over at Gewey. “If Kaylia left you in pursuit of another, would you be happy when she returned?”
“If it meant we would be together, I might,” he replied. “You left him out of a sense of duty, not because you stopped loving him. I’m sure he understands that.”
“He does. But I cannot help but wonder how I would feel if the situation were reversed. Would I be so willing to return to the one that spurned me?” She smiled. “I am acting as a child. But matters of the heart make children of us all. Even the most wise.”
“Have you reached out with your spirit?” he asked. “I'm sure it will ease your mind if you do.”
