“From the Tolenka Mountains that border us on the east, our world stretches for tens of thousands of leagues in every other direction,” he said. “By comparison, Eutracia and Parthalon are mere garden plots. Like you, we have our cities, ports, and such-although their splendors would be nearly unrecognizable to your mind. And like you we live, love, care for our children, and hope for a better day. Just as our lands are so much greater, so is our population. The land is almost evenly divided. The Heretics control the north, the Ones the south. The azure pass is found just north of the war border, in Heretic-controlled territory. When activated, the Borderlands run east to west along the border’s entire length. Had the orb cut through the Tolenkas farther to the north, constructing Crysenium might have proven impossible. As you might expect, most land battles tend to occur along that north- south border. The struggle you just saw was one such conflagration.”
“Do the two separate lands have names?” Tristan asked.
“The Heretic lands are called Rustannica,” Faxon answered. “In Old Eutracian it means, ‘heretical,’ or ‘splitting away.’ The Ones’ lands are named Shashida, or ‘homeland of the faith-keepers.’”
“I see,” Tristan mused. “And the war has raged ever since the Heretics split away.”
“Correct,” Faxon answered. “Before the Heretics started their exclusive practice of the Vagaries, we all lived in quiet but fragile harmony. Then the Heretics revolted and started the war. What followed was a miscalculation beyond description.”
“What do you mean?” Tristan asked.
“During the war’s early years, the Heretics used especially dark magic to influence the forces of nature,” Hoskiko explained. “Spells were formulated that allowed them to employ natural phenomena as war weapons. Millions died. To survive, the Ones had no choice but to do the same thing, even though it went against their better judgment. You see, before the war, what you call Eutracia and Parthalon were also part of where we lived. The Tolenkas didn’t exist, nor did the Sea of Whispers. The lands encompassing Eutracia and Parthalon were contiguous.”
Tristan looked at Faxon with amazement. “How could that be?”
“Once loosed, the magic was far more powerful and difficult to control than either side anticipated,” Hoskiko answered. “The Tolenkas unexpectedly rose, and the landmass separated, creating the Sea of Whispers. Since then the environmental and seismic arts have been abandoned by both sides as being far too dangerous. But the formulas are still held in reserve by each side, should either try such madness again. It is said that the Heretics first formulated these spells to create the Isle of the Citadel.” Pausing for a moment, she sadly closed her eyes.
“Because such potent magic unintentionally created them, the Tolenkas and the Sea of Whispers hold many secrets-secrets that even we have yet to unravel,” she added. “One such mystery is why no one from either side can conquer the mountains. Some say that it is because they are high and the air too thin to breathe-even for us. Others believe that there are darker reasons. But no matter the cause, there is finally a way to cross.”
“The azure pass,” Tristan said.
“Yes,” Hoskiko replied. “That will be your way home again. But time grows short, and we cannot afford to indulge your many questions. It is finally time to tell you why we brought you here.”
Sitting quietly, Tristan looked first at Hoskiko, then Faxon. Hoskiko reached out to touch him on one arm.
“Your ultimate destiny is to stop this terrible War of Attrition,” she said. “It always has been-just as it has been the destiny of eachJin’Sai andJin’Saiou before you who tried and failed.”
Hoskiko’s words stunned Tristan. “That can’t be,” he protested. “The Tome clearly states that I am to combine the craft’s opposing sides for the betterment of mankind. Besides, how could I ever hope to stop a war that you brilliant Envoys cannot?”
“It has to do with interpreting the word ‘sides,’” Hoskiko answered. “Old Eutracian can be a difficult language to grasp, even for those who have spoken it for aeons. Is it so impossible to believe that your wizards might be wrong in how they interpret it?”
Suddenly Tristan understood. “The Tome isn’t saying that Shailiha and I must combine the two arts,” he breathed. “Instead, I am to combine the two opposite ‘sides’ that practice those arts-the Ones and the Heretics! I am to somehow bring peace among you!”
“Yes,” Faxon said. “You are the firstJin’Sai to fully understand.”
“But how am I to do this?” Tristan asked.
“You must first understand that the craft’s two sides need each other to survive,” Hoskiko said. “Without good, evil would not exist and vice versa. Like light and dark, and male and female, each side needs the other to carry on. Each side of the craft must be allowed its existence-even the Vagaries. But to flourish peacefully they must coexist in a world of mystical checks and balances, rather than by warring against each other. If either side should be destroyed, the other will wither and die.”
“But if that is the case, then why do the Heretics continue trying to destroy the Vigors?” Tristan asked. “The Coven, Nicholas, Wulfgar-with the Heretics’ help, in one way or another they all tried to ensure that only the Vagaries ruled. If what you say is true, their actions make no sense. Was it their goal to wipe out all magic?”
“No,” Faxon answered. “The answer has to do with left-leaning blood signatures. Those with signatures leaning far leftward are much more devoted in their fanaticism. Their minds become frantic, chaotic, and unyielding to any philosophy other than their own. Any sense of tolerance disappears. The craft’s two sides are much the same, save for this distinction.
“For the most powerful of those who practice the Vagaries, their worship turns into deadly obsession,” he added. “Their minds, hearts, and souls are overtaken by it, and they consider the Vigors’ followers to be the evil ones. In essence, they no longer know that what they are doing is wrong, or destructive to the craft as a whole. The Coven of the Sorceresses, Nicholas, Wulfgar, and now Serena were all such true believers, as are the many Heretics who counseled them. Each suffered from this madness. In their frantic need to crush the Vigors, they believe their cause justifies any means. Among the more fanatical leaders of Rustannica that misguided sense of fatalism exists to this day.”
“Do you remember Wigg telling you about Failee’s madness?” Hoskiko asked Tristan. “She was brilliant, even by our standards. To this day her dark work continues to influence your world. She was not the first to be affected that way. Aeons ago, when the Heretics split away, their improper Vagaries use sometimes caused the same madness in them. Sometimes it also became psychosexual, as it did with Succiu, Second Mistress of the Coven.”
“Because of their immense gifts, the radical Vagaries worshippers hold sway over all others living in Rustannica,” Faxon told the prince. “Their kind is comprised of two distinct parts. The governing order is a group of Heretical clerics called thePon Q’tar. They are the true fanatics. The Imperial Order is thePon Q’tar ’s military arm. They oversee the war, taking their orders from thePon Q’tar and the emperor. Beneath both these groups live the more ordinary citizens.”
“Why don’t those with far right-leaning signatures suffer their own madness?” Tristan asked. “That’s something I could never understand. Nor could my wizards answer this question.”
Faxon smiled. “Ah,” he said. “We have finally come to the heart of the matter.” Leaning a bit closer, he searched Tristan’s face.
“To better understand the answer, consider these questions,” he said. “Tell us-is cold the absence of heat, or is heat the absence of cold? In that same vein, is dark the absence of light, or is light the absence of dark?”
Tristan found Faxon’s inquiries strange. “What are you talking about?” he asked.
“Have your wizards ever mentioned that chaos is the natural order of the universe?” Faxon asked.
“Yes,” Tristan answered, “many times in fact.”
“With that idea in mind, consider Faxon’s questions, then answer them to your best ability,” Hoskiko said.
Tristan thought for a moment. “I suppose that cold is the absence of heat,” he said, “and dark is the absence of light.”
“Well done,” Hoskiko said. “Tell us why.”
“Because unlike cold and dark, heat and light are energy forms that must be generated,” Tristan answered. “It is like being in a cave. Because the cave’s natural inclination is to be cold and dark, it will remain that way until visited by a flame’s heat and light.”
“And…?” Faxon asked.
“The cold and darkness are therefore the natural order of the universe,” Tristan mused. “Without energy to change them, they always prevail.” An astonished look suddenly overcame Tristan’s face. “I finally understand,” he
