“When I had made my way into Cetus, it quickly became apparent that Vinokourov was working to help Alvaro finally discover the power of permanent mind alteration.”
“After years of trial and error through which scores of men died or went insane during their experimentations, he had discovered what he believed was the answer. I had to see with my own eyes if the rumors were true. Getting into Cetus uninvited had become much more difficult, but as you have witnessed, I was able to gain access.”
“Luck, it appeared, was on my side, for I inadvertently stumbled into the room in which you were staying. After questioning you at length, I realized the effects of this power were not permanent. I found myself disappointed in the simplicity of the resolution, and yet I had to be sure I was correct.
Ogilvy gave a halfhearted smile across the table.
“Then, it was simply a matter of waiting until you were alone which, unfortunately, took quite some time. When the opportunity finally presented itself, I tested my hypothesis. The result sits across from me at this very moment.”
The image dimmed and the orb contracted. It was a moment before anyone in the room spoke.
“Akil convinced me… I decided to return to Alvaro,” Ogilvy said and grimaced, as if he’d swallowed a mouthful of sour milk. “I cannot recall much of what happened over the past eleven years. It’s all blurry, vague. When I returned to Alvero, Akil made it so I would not remember anything about our escape.”
“So you became a spy for Akil?” Margaret said, fascinated.
“In a manner of speaking,” a new voice said from across the hall.
The group turned, startled. Akil stood beside the door, having made his way inside without a sound. He wore a stern expression on his face.
“I had no other choice but to return David to Alvaro,” said Akil moving toward the others. “Had Alvaro caught wind of his escape or the knowledge that his mind-altering incantation was reversible, everything that David sacrificed would have been for nothing. He and his family would be hunted down like dogs.”
Tears began to roll down Tabitha’s cheeks as Akil reached a hand to her shoulder.
“Why are you here now?” Margaret asked, looking at Ogilvy.
“My incantation failed,” said Akil. “David saw Margaret and James at council headquarters and had a memory recall, which broke my incantation and thrust him back into his previous mind.
“So he just left Alvaro?” asked James.
“I… I needed to know my family was all right,” Ogilvy said, looking at his wife who refused to make eye contact.
“I intercepted David before Alvaro was able to contain him. Had he been able to track you here, he would have led Alvaro to this place as well.”
“What happens now?” asked James.
“Now, I’m afraid, there is no hiding the fact that Alvaro’s mind-altering incantation is not permanent. He will surely set Vinokourov upon the task of continuing his work. As for David, his mind contains information Alvaro will be desperate to hide at any cost. The choice of what he wants to do with that information, I leave to him. As for you both,” Akil said looking at James and Margaret, “you must distance yourself from David and his family immediately. Anyone in close contact with David will find themselves in grave danger.”
“I could not recall anything that happened immediately after our escape from Cetus,” Ogilvy said, looking at Akil. “Not one thing until I saw James and Margaret walking toward council headquarters. Then, like a flash, my past life came back to me. And now, as I stand here, something else has come back, and it frightens me more than anything I could have imagined.”
— 26 -
James, Kilani, Luno, William, and Roger sailed to the Severed Heart without incident. They anchored in the northern cove, which faced the same direction as North Harbor and was similar geographically, with beach on the southern portion and cliffs to the west. A thin row of trees ran along the narrow strip of land separating the northern and southern beaches. The row to shore was fast and effortless with James’s newfound skills. Not having to worry about finding a water source, (again thanks to James’s newfound abilities) they made camp on the beach.
When they made landfall, Luno immediately began putting his crew to work. After camp was set up to his specifications, which included moving the shelter three times, he decided to break the group into search parties. This time, he kept a man behind to look over camp and the Queen Mary.
Kilani and Roger would follow the northern coast while James and Luno would follow the southern. When they reached the western shore, they would turn and head back toward camp, following the same line only slightly to the north or south depending upon their respective groups. Kilani and Roger were off at a maddening pace long before Luno had finished relaying instructions to William on what he should do in the event something were to happen while they were away.
“If you are attacked, be it man or beast or other force we’ve yet to encounter,” Luno said, turning William’s calm expression fearful, “you should first attempt to defend the camp. Always leave an escape route. If your defense fails, retreat to the boat. Do not under any circumstances raise anchor, do you understand?”
“Oui, Capitan,” said William looking not in the least bit pleased.
“Very well,” he said cheerfully, “we’re off.”
James leaned forward in preparation to take off at a run, but Luno simply sauntered down the beach.
“Let us, as an old and extremely wise wizard once said, pursue that flighty temptress adventure,” Luno said, picking up a piece of driftwood and inspecting it closely for a moment. He began practicing using it as a walking stick.
“We’re not running?” James asked.
“We have much to discuss, my boy, and I find it most difficult to talk while I’m trying to dodge trees and rocks that are rushing at me. Not to mention, it feels good just to walk along and take in our surroundings rather than pass through them so fast we cannot enjoy their beauty. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Aye,” James said, looking at him suspiciously.
“First things first, my boy. Teach me that primer incantation.”
James smiled. “Tertiri ze Manukto. To perform an incantation in this place, you must first ask permission to do so. Even if you know the incantation, it will be of little use without first asking permission.”
So they continued along at a snail’s pace compared to Kilani and Roger, who’d reached the northern tip of the cove before James and Luno had even reached the stream that ran from the higher elevation down into the cove. James spent most of the beginning part of their walk explaining useful incantations to Luno. They also discussed the language itself, which was completely different than anything either of them had encountered. As James had discovered during his experience with the stone spire, each native word had one and only one meaning and no single word shared the root of another. Both Luno and James agreed this system was highly complicated and extremely difficult to learn.
When they finally did reach the stream, both of them looked at it with surprise. James scooped up the water with his hands and said a word in the native tongue.
“It’s drinkable,” he said, looking up at Luno.
“Perhaps that incantation isn’t necessary after all,” Luno chortled. “We should relocate camp up here.”
He bent and drank from the stream. James could see the tracks Kilani and Roger had left in the soil along the edge. His thoughts strayed to her. What if she were injured? He didn’t like being separated from her in an unfamiliar place. He tried to reassure himself. As he’d learned many times over, Kilani was more than capable of taking care of herself. He cared for her. The more time he spent with her, the stronger that feeling became. Despite her relationship with Luno, he believed she was starting to feel the same.
Luno had dunked entire head into the stream and James couldn’t help but smile as his hair danced on the surface like clouds in a breeze. He finally resurfaced, flipping his hair back and rubbing his bearded face with his
