His mind shied away from the dark thoughts now trying to push their way to the fore of his consciousness, thoughts of suffering and loss yet to be endured. He did not feel ready to face them though he knew, in the end, he must.
They packed their meager supplies then set out across the rolling countryside. The sun had nearly reached its zenith by the time they found the road. As the horses clopped along its uneven surface, their unshod hooves kicked up puffs of red-brown dust that floated away in lazy wisps on a light breeze.
They encountered no other people that day. To Ashinji, it felt like they alone inhabited the world, save for the sheep dozing in clusters by the roadside, or standing in bleating groups beneath the precious shade of solitary trees.
That night, they took shelter in the ruin of a stone tower. The tiny fire Magnes built served mainly to chase away the shadows, for the night was warm and they had no fresh food that needed cooking. Ashinji fell asleep to the sound of the horses cropping the thick, sun-scorched grass beyond the tumbled stones of the tower’s fallen upper stories.
The days passed in a somnolent blur, falling away behind them like barely remembered dreams. They continued to have the road to themselves. Only the occasional herder or crofter seen in the distance reminded them that people did make this desolate area their home.
After the fifth day, the land began to change, the rolling hills giving way to flat, cultivated fields.
“We’ve crossed into Veii,” Magnes informed them. “Amsara’s southern neighbor. My father sold Jelena to Veii’s duke. If she hadn’t had the courage to defy my father and run away…”
“She would have escaped somehow and found her way north to me, even so,” Ashinji said. “We were destined for each other.”
A flash of pain twitched across Magnes’ face. “You and Jelena will soon be together again, Ashi.” He would not look at Ashinji as he spoke.
At sunset on the eighth day, Veii Castle hove into view like a big black ship on the horizon. The three travelers stayed well to the west of the fortress, skirting several hamlets and taking a wider detour around a large village. Gran remained ready with a glamour to disguise herself and Ashinji should they chance upon any people, but it never became necessary. They always managed to avoid any close encounters.
Twelve days after fleeing Darguinia in the mobile infirmary of the Eskleipans, the three fugitives crossed into Amsara. A stone tablet marked the border, nothing more. To Ashinji, the landscape appeared much as it had through most of Veii, but he could see by the subtle lift of Magnes’ shoulders and the renewed spark in his eyes, his friend knew the look and feel of home.
They traveled for one more day and part of another before the road at last split into two branches-one heading north, the second angling to the northwest.
Magnes, who had been riding in the lead, raised his hand to signal a halt. He slid off his mount and Ashinji followed suit. “This is where we must part company, my friend,” he said. He pointed to the northward path, then fixed his gaze upon Ashinji’s face. “Amsara lies that way…” His voice faltered and he looked away.
“Come, my friend,” Ashinji said quietly. “Let’s walk a little.” He looked back at Gran.
Magnes ambled a few paces up the northward path, Ashinji a step behind, then stopped and turned to face his elven friend. He made no attempt to hide his feelings. Ashinji met Magnes’ naked yearning with compassion as his only offering, but then an idea sprang into his mind.
“Magnes, you know we elves can communicate with each other, mind to mind,” he said. Magnes nodded. “I’m not sure if it will work between an elf and a human, but I want to try it with you. If I’m successful, our minds will be joined for a time. It’s an extremely intimate experience, usually shared only between two people who are very close.”
Magnes swallowed hard. “Are…are you sure you want to do this now, Ashi?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” He laid a hand on Magnes’ shoulder. “We may never have another chance. We are friends… no, we are much more than friends. We are brothers.”
“If you’re sure, then I would be honored,” Magnes replied. “What do I have to do?”
“Sit down first, then relax. I’ll do the rest.”
Ashinji wasn’t at all certain it could be done, but he had to try.
He had no experience or schooling to guide him, only gut instinct, determination, and the intense desire to help his friend. Perhaps he shouldn’t, but nevertheless, he still felt partly responsible for Magnes’ emotional torment.
The two young men sat down in the grass beside the path. Ashinji held out his hands to Magnes and smiled.
“Rest your palms on mine, and close your eyes,” he directed.
Ashinji let his consciousness flow outward, seeking the barrier separating his own mind from Magnes’. When he found it, it dissolved before him like a veil of smoke and left Magnes’ mind exposed and vulnerable. Ashinji searched for and discovered what he needed to change but before he gave his friend the gift of forgetfulness, he would give him the joy of a true bonding.
Ashinji let drop the barriers shielding his own mind and allowed his consciousness to flow like water into the pool of Magnes’ being. He immediately sought to dampen his friend’s shock at first contact, instinctively sending the energy of his Talent coursing along Magnes’ nerves-soothing, reassuring, wrapping the other man’s mind in a calm, loving embrace. He held Magnes thus, and rejoiced as the other’s fear turn to wonder. He recalled the first time he and Jelena had shared the mind link. Her reaction had been much the same.
Ashinji held steady within the link and allowed Magnes to roam where he willed. He concealed only that part of his mind which held all the private experiences he had shared with Jelena. When Magnes had seen all he could, Ashinji, in turn, traveled through the myriad rooms and corridors of his friend’s mind, leaving unexplored only those darkest corners he sensed the other man guarding, albeit unconsciously. Ashinji had no wish to be privy to Magnes’ most sensitive secrets.
When he was done, Ashinji sent forth a ghost of himself onto the landscape of Magnes’ mind, to serve as a distraction while he performed the task that would set his friend free. He felt no hesitation or doubt; somehow, he just seemed to know what to do.
Quickly, he returned to the source of pain and cauterized the wound, sealing the raw edges and spreading a soothing balm of forgetfulness over the entire area. He then withdrew and broke the link.
Magnes’ head jerked up and his eyes snapped open. He stared at Ashinji for many heartbeats. Finally, he spoke. “Gods!”
Ashinji smiled.
“All elves do this, this mind thing?” Magnes stuttered.
“Yes, we all can do it, but as I’ve said, we almost always reserve the mind link for those we feel closest to. As you saw, it leaves one completely exposed.”
“Ashi, I…I don’t know what to say,” Magnes whispered.
“You don’t have to say anything. You are my friend and I’d gladly share the link with you again, now that I know it’s possible.” Ashinji rose to his feet.
After a moment’s hesitation, Magnes followed suit. He glanced over his shoulder toward the north then up at the sky. “If I hurry, I should make it home by sundown,” he said. He turned to look at Ashinji; the pain and longing had vanished from his eyes.
Ashinji breathed a sigh of relief. Up until that moment, he had not been sure if his attempt at psychic surgery
