there were so many that I finally stopped counting them. If he survives, Tristan will not only commandK’Shari, but I expect he will awaken fully trained in your ways, as well-even though he might not immediately realize that part of it. I doubt that he will need any more of your instruction.”
Aeolus shook his head. “Can it be true?” he asked. “That what took me a lifetime to learn can be gained in a matter of moments?”
Wigg nodded. “Our knowledge about the craft has been greatly enhanced while you were away. It would be no exaggeration to say that-”
Suddenly the three men heard Shailiha gasp. They turned to see that she was looking at Tristan.
The prince was sitting up on the side of the bed. Trying to clear his mind, he shook his head back and forth. Then he ran his fingers through his hair, pushing it back from his forehead. As the others went to him, he stood.
Shailiha embraced him and looked into his eyes. “Are you all right?” she asked.
Tristan smiled at her. “Yes,” he answered. “I’m not sure that I’ve ever been better.” He looked at Aeolus. “You know what I mean, don’t you?”
Aeolus smiled at him. “I do,” he answered.
As Tristan’s head cleared, he realized that something wonderful had happened to him. His senses were keener, and he could tell simply by standing there that his balance and his coordination had markedly improved. His muscles felt stronger and his confidence surer. In many ways, he felt like an entirely new man. The sensation was glorious, empowering. Without hesitation he walked over to where his weapons lay and started strapping them over his right shoulder.
After he had finished he gave Aeolus a wink. At once the wizard knew what Tristan wanted. He smiled.
“Very well,” he said. “But not here.”
Understanding, Tristan quickly headed for the door. He hadn’t gotten two paces before Wigg’s voice rang out.
“Where do you think you’re going?” the First Wizard demanded. “We have to examine your blood signature, to make sure you’re all right!”
Stopping at the doorway, Tristan turned and shook his head. “Not now,” he said. “I have been waiting nearly my entire life for this moment.”
Without further ado he and Aeolus left the room, leaving Wigg, Faegan, and Shailiha no choice but to follow them.
On reaching the first floor, Tristan and Aeolus hurried down a corridor and headed for a door leading outside. By now they were moving so fast that Wigg and Shailiha had to trot to keep up, and Faegan had to levitate his chair. Soon Shailiha saw Tyranny and Abbey up ahead, standing next to each other and talking. After Tristan and Aeolus hurried by, the privateer and acolyte gave them all puzzled looks.
“What’s going on?” Tyranny demanded.
“I don’t know!” Shailiha called out over one shoulder. “If you want to find out, you’ll just have to come along!”
Not to be outdone, Tyranny and Abbey joined the chase.
Tristan stopped just long enough to confront a surprised Minion warrior standing guard in the hall. Tristan ordered him to give up his dreggan. With a confused look on his face, the warrior offered up his sword. His curiosity piqued, he wanted to follow along, but knew better than to abandon his post.
Tristan barged through the doors and led everyone outside. He hurried around a palace corner to find a section of manicured ground that hadn’t been taken up by Minion wounded. As Aeolus neared, Tristan tossed him the extra dreggan.
Aeolus caught the sword firmly by the hilt. As the others caught up and gathered around, Aeolus tested the sword by twirling it several times, watching its blade catch the afternoon sun. This was the first time he had held a dreggan. Although he found the weapon heavy, he keenly appreciated how finely balanced it was.
Tristan came to a stop in the center of the small courtyard and faced Aeolus. As they stood looking at each other, the others watched. Shailiha looked quizzically at Faegan. Saying nothing, Faegan only shook his head and then looked back at Tristan and the weapons master.
Smiling, Tristan bowed, then raised his sword. But Aeolus did not answer the challenge. Instead, he plunged the dreggan’s blade into the ground. His words would surprise the prince.
“No,” Aeolus said. “Until you have proven something to me, you are still my student. Lower your weapon.”
Tristan did as he was asked.
“First tell me-do you feel it?” Aeolus asked.
Holding his dreggan in one hand, Tristan closed his eyes and spread his arms toward the sky. He inhaled deeply and felt like he could conquer the entire world with nothing but the sword in his hand.
“Yes,” he answered, his eyes still closed. “I own it. It is a part of me now.”
“Then prove it,” Aeolus said.
Raising his free hand, the wizard pointed to a nearby tree. Calling the craft, Aeolus tore a branch from the tree and caused it to hover in the air.
When he heard the sound of the branch breaking free, Tristan opened his eyes and lowered his sword. After looking at Aeolus, he closed his eyes again.
“My ears hear no begging,” he said softly. “My eyes see no pain. My heart feels no remorse.”
Suddenly everything stilled. The birds stopped singing and the insects quieted. Then the wind stopped, and the grass surrounding theJin’Sai withered and died. It was like nature had somehow decided to end her ceaseless travails. His eyes still closed, Tristan remained still.
With a wave of his hand, Aeolus sent the freshly cut branch soaring toward the prince. As the branch neared Tristan, it was almost like he could see it coming even with his eyes closed. At the last second he opened them and brought his dreggan blade around in a perfect arc.
Those who saw Tristan’s first use ofK’Shari would never forget it. His blade came around so fast that it was nearly invisible. It severed the branch in midair, and the pieces fell at his feet.
After sheathing his sword, Tristan released hisK’Shari. As he bent down and picked up one of the branch pieces, the forces of nature came alive again. He saw that the angled end of the branch was cut clean, its fresh surface smooth as glass. He handed it to Shailiha for safekeeping.
Aeolus looked at Tristan and smiled. “So it seems the student has surpassed the teacher,” he said. “You have my deepest congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Tristan said humbly. “But I doubt that I could best you, even now. Your years of training would win out.”
Smiling, Aeolus shook his head. “Not if what Faegan told me is true,” he said. “He believes that the Forestallment he just granted to your blood also contained hundreds of martial techniques, and that they will reveal themselves as needed, without further training. Who knows?” Aeolus added with a wry smile. “Youmight be able to teachme a thing or two at this very moment! And you’re forgetting something else,” he added.
“What is that?” Tristan asked.
“That of the two of you, your blood is far stronger,” Wigg interjected. “True, you each carry the ability to summonK’Shari. But it is in your blood, Tristan, that it will burn brightest. So you see-the student has surpassed the teacher after all.”
Tristan and the others watched Aeolus reach under his robe. He produced a small white scroll. Its center was bound with a bloodred ribbon. The prince immediately recognized it as the second symbol ofK’Shari mastery. Tristan gladly took it into his hands.
“I have been waiting for three hundred years to give someone that scroll,” he said. “For a long time, I thought it would go to Satine. Instead it finds its way to you, and I’m glad.”
“Thank you,” Tristan said softly. “I will always honor it.”
“Now then,” Aeolus said. “There remains but one more thing for me to do.”
Although curious, Tristan decided not to ask. Over the last fortnight he had come to trust Aeolus with his life, just as he did each Conclave member.
“Very well,” he said. As he waited, he looked into Aeolus’ eyes.
Suddenly the azure hue of the craft blanketed each of Tristan’s shoulders, and he knew. The azure glow soon
