Aradia's land even if no one there could interpret them? Their combined army was gathered north of Lilith's border, waiting for the signal to attack. The Adepts would sleep, renewing their strength, but meanwhile their army was to breach Lilith's borders in a surprise attack. By the time she could call her troops into action, the Adepts would be at full strength again-and in concert with their army they could move freely, give chase if by some chance she should escape. Although pinned between an army to the north and a circle of Adepts to the south, there was little hope for Lilith.
If only there were more Readers in my land, Lenardo thought desperately. But there was no one to whom to relay the message except Aradia. She would have to warn Lilith any way she could.
Lenardo Read, fascinated as Hron, Marava, and the others worded their message, unpacking and consuming as they did so one of those tremendous meals Adepts ate. It no longer surprised Lenardo; he had frequently seen the slender, delicate Aradia consume a meal worthy of three men who had worked in the fields all day.
Meal and message complete, the four Adepts sat down on the ground, arms extended and hands clasped to form a literal circle.
'Galen,' said Hron, 'is our army in position as agreed?
The lantern in place?''
'You know I can't Read that far,' Galen said sullenly.
'If you had-'
'Help us win this battle,' Hron said, 'and I will heal you completely.'
Lenardo had not been Reading Galen physically, but he would have noticed if the boy were in pain. Now he Read visually.
He would never have recognized Galen by sight. He was hideously disfigured from the burns he had received in the battle of Adepts last spring. Hron, Lenardo noted, was unscarred, with only his short hair and beard attesting to the fact that they had been burned away four months ago.
Both Hron and Galen must have been horribly burned. Lenardo had been convinced that no one had survived the fire in the canyon. Only Adept powers could have saved these two when they somehow escaped alive.
It was easy enough to guess what Hron had done. Although he had applied his powers to his own complete recovery, all he had done for Galen was to keep him alive, letting his burns heal as they would. His skin was a mass of scar tissue, his face a mockery, with holes for eyes, nose, and mouth in an otherwise shapeless blob. His hands were stiffened into claws. He could move and walk without pain but also without the ease necessary to effect an escape, and his horrible appearance would mark him wherever he might go.
Sick at heart, Lenardo was reminded of the legends of the founding of the Aventine Empire, when Readers were just developing their powers. The first Emperor was reputed to have gained the throne with the aid of a Reader whom he lamed so that the man could not run away.
If Hron had the power to heal himself, he could have healed Galen, but he didn't trust him. Perhaps he never would, but by dangling the promise of being fully healed before Galen, he would make the Reader perform as desired.
Lenardo watched the Adepts concentrate, chanting in unison the rhythm of the code they were transmitting. To the north of Lilith's land, soldiers kept watch by a lantern. When the flame began to dance rhythmically, they quickly called their commander.
The message was repeated several times. Then the commander began to mobilize his troops while the four Adepts fell into deep recuperative sleep.
Lenardo returned his attention to Aradia. //You drew them away,// she said. //How, Lenardo?//
Ill used Reading to fool Galen. The Masters who taught me would disapprove, but it worked. Aradia, you must get word to Lilith. There is an army moving against her from the north, to trap her between them and the circle of Adepts.//
//The watchers will send the message, and I'll send riders as well. She and her son must join me in Zendi. And you, Lenardo-//
//I will be there as quickly as I can. Hurry, now. You and Wulfston join the minor Adepts you've been training. You can equal the four Adepts attacking.//
He had withdrawn his attention back to where he was, at the inn in Tiberium, before he remembered that he had intended to Read whether Aradia was pregnant. Julia was still sleeping peacefully. A few more minutesFirst he Read the immediate area of the inn, a superficial scan. Of course, no one was coming after them here.
It was almost midnight. Downstairs, the landlord had barred the door for the night. Most of the guests were asleep. A couple of revelers walked laughing down the street outside toward a discreet house of prostitution a small distance away.
And then Lenardo Read another figure moving swiftly through the night, as surefooted as most men walked at noon. Torio! He was Reading only his way, projecting nothing, but it was obvious he was headed straight for the inn.
Lenardo didn't want the boy pounding on the door and rousing the household. He slipped quietly out of his room and down the stairs. No one was stirring. Lenardo unbarred the door for Torio and then barred it again.
//What are you doing here?//
'Don't Read,' Torio whispered. 'I tried to come undetected. Take me up to your room.'
He took Lenardo's arm, willing to be led blindly through the inn rather than risk notice by Reading further. What could he possibly fear that much?,
'You can't come into my room,' Lenardo reminded him. 'My daughter is there. A female Reader.'
'It doesn't matter,' Torio said, his voice choked with tears. 'They've failed me, so it doesn't matter anymore.'
'Failed?'
'Shh! Master Lenardo, it has to do with you. Please, let's go where we can't be overheard.'
Lenardo led Torio up the stairs and into his room, installing him in the single chair.
'Now what is this about failing you?'
'It's true.' Torio's milky eyes drifted, unfocused, when he was not Reading. Tears slid down his cheeks as he continued. 'After I made sure all the younger boys were asleep, I went to Master Clement's room to find out what he had heard from you. While I was there, Portia contacted us. She said-' his voice broke again 'she said my conduct in not reporting that you contacted me last week was a breach of the Code. She said I'm unfit to teach and that my skills are not up to the standards required to continue training.'
'That's a lie,' Lenardo said angrily. 'Torio, your skills are far beyond what mine were at your age, and I was passed without question.'
'Master Clement tried to reason with her, but she says it's settled. I've been failed. Tomorrow-'
'Yes, Torio? What about tomorrow?'
'Master, they won't let me have medical training or serve with the army or anything. Portia told me to report to her at noon tomorrow… to meet my wife.' He struck away his tears angrily, but there was a wealth of despair behind the gesture. 'Master Lenardo, what am I going to do?'
'You're not going to report to Portia, that's certain. And you're not getting married, unless some day you want to.'
'I'll never-'
'Don't say never, Torio. I plan to get married as soon as I get home and reclaim my land.'
'Home? Your land?'
'That's right. A land where no one but a Reader himself decides what he can or cannot do. Where Readers and Adepts share their powers for the good of all.'
'That's not possible,' the boy said.
'Would you like it to be?'
A pause. Then, 'Oh, Master Lenardo, if only it could be.'
'It can be, Torio, but only if we make it so. Come with me. We need Readers desperately. Poor Julia's been carrying a full work load at her age.'
At the mention of her name, Julia woke up, squirming and rubbing her eyes. Then she stared at Torio. 'I know you. I've seen you in Father's mind. You were there when he got the wolf-stone. Torio.'
'That's right,' the boy replied, resisting the urge to Read the child. 'And you are Julia. Master Lenardo has told me about you.'
