Captives

//Tell them, Rolf,// Torio broadcast at the strongest intensity.

'Tell them what?' the boy asked in total surprise.

Even Wulfston, the only one at the table who could not Read it, immediately understood what had happened. He got up, went to Rolf, pulled him out of his chair and hugged him. 'It's working! Torio-how did you do it? Can you teach me now?'

'I don't understand!' Rolf protested. 'I didn't do anything.'

//Yes you did!// Torio replied.

//Rolf, listen,// Lenardo added.

//Nobody's talking,// Julia told him.

'But… how did it happen?' Rolf asked in confusion. 'Torio-how did you know! How did you know when I didn't?'

Torio explained, telling how Rolf had insisted he had heard Melissa's voice when she was miles away, on the other side of the battlefield. 'Melissa, you gave Rolf the clue, when you suggested that he orient himself by using his ability to sense water. But Wulfston, you were right about motivation: Rolf opened to Reading to save his life.'

The black Adept returned to his seat, lost in thought. Then he sighed. 'I am surrounded by Readers, and I cannot reach any of you.' His sense of isolation was palpable.

Aradia ran to Wulfston and hugged him tightly. 'You will learn, my brother-I know you will. It takes time, that's all. But we have three people now with both powers-that proves that more can learn.'

'Why don't you just-' Master Corus began, but Master Amicus interrupted him.

'Corus-no!'

Torio, Lenardo, Melissa, and Julia were all good enough Readers to catch Corus' unspoken words- implant the idea that he can Read in his mind-and echo them to Aradia and Rolf.

'What did he say?' Wulfston asked, not missing the tension among the Readers. When they all remained silent, he leaned forward and demanded, ' Tell me!'

Aradia remained behind him, her arms still around him. 'That we might… implant in your mind the belief that you can Read,' she said gently.

Wulfston put his hands over his sister's, as if for support. It was obvious that the idea was as abhorrent to him as to any Reader, and yet, 'My sister,' he said, 'I trust you. Lenardo-you are as much family as Aradia. I will be safe in your hands.'

'No!' Lenardo and Aradia spoke as one.

'Do you remember how we worked together to save Nerius' life?' Wulfston asked. 'We could have killed him, removing the tumor from his brain-but we risked it, and gave him back his health. I am willing to risk-'

'Father was dying!' Aradia said. 'The worst we could have done would have been to kill him a few weeks sooner. You are in no danger, little brother. All you need to get what you want is patience.'

'And you do not understand the danger,' added Lenardo. 'In Nerius' case we were working with a growth of specific location and dimensions. It was hard work to explain to you, and even harder for you to do-but it was physical. Wulfston, you never know what will happen when you tamper with a person's mind. We could do much worse than kill you. I will not do it, Aradia will not-and thank the gods you are a Lord Adept whose mind no one can tamper with if you do not will it.'

A strange combination of astonishment and guilt was radiating from Masters Amicus and Corus. //They're right,// Master Corus said. //We should never have allowed Portia to start-//

//Stop! Stop Reading!// Master Amicus demanded, grasping the other man's arm.

//What difference does it make now? We can't go home. What difference if these people twist our minds, or if the Council-//

Suddenly something happened that Torio had never Read before-Master Amicus' mind was grappling somehow with Master Corus', trying to prevent his thoughts-Searing pain jabbed through him. Melissa screamed and put her hands to her head. Rolf cried out hoarsely, and Julia gave out a child's wail of pain and fear.

'Wulfston!' Lenardo gasped. 'Amicus! Knock him out!'

The Master Reader slumped in his chair, and the pain subsided to a shallow throbbing. Master Corus put his face in his hands and sobbed.

Aradia was leaning heavily on Wulfston, unReadable. She pulled herself up, walked to Master Corus, and laid her hands on his head. His pain stopped entirely, but dread fear replaced it-he froze as he sat, waiting. She began to Read again. Feeling his fear, she said, 'I won't hurt you. No one will force you… but won't you tell us what you started to? Aloud, please, so my brother can hear.'

He looked up at her, then at Lenardo. 'I was afraid,' he said dully, 'of Portia and her inner circle of Masters. At first I thought they knew best-they were all older, have been Master Readers longer than I have. But this past year I voted with them because they hold the power. Portia can influence the Emperor-she is of his family, did you know?'

'I didn't know,' said Lenardo. 'But it should make no difference-the Emperor, the Senate, the Readers, all work for the best interest of the empire.'

'That's what I thought-I really did. For a long time. I didn't question-'

'I understand,' Lenardo assured him. 'I was the same, until Portia sent me into the savage lands, and I discovered that things are not always as we have been led to believe. Tell us-when did you begin to question?'

The man blushed with shame. 'I didn't. I knew what they were doing, and I made no effort to stop it.'

'Who is'they' and what did they do?' asked Torio.

'What they were going to do to you,' he replied. 'I've Read you. You are a Magister Reader-there is no question about it. You will be a Master when your powers are fully developed. But they-Portia and her inner circle-declared you failed. They'd have married you off-'

'To blunt my powers. I know.'

'Wait,' said Lenardo. 'I 'knew' it, too, Torio. But I am married, and my powers are not blunted. Only at first-'

'If you had been married in a proper Readers' ceremony,' said Master Corus, 'your powers would not have returned.'

Melissa gasped, but remained silent, keeping her thoughts to herself.

'What are you saying?' asked Aradia.

'Marriage-sex-does blunt one's powers. We do not fully understand it, but it seems to have to do with… bodily changes, the way one's powers change at puberty, and are blunted by illness. Pregnant women always have weakened powers-temporarily. But… those powers could return, and even grow-under the right circumstances.'

'That is the way it happens with Adepts,' said Wulfston. 'At least most of the time.'

'Father,' said Aradia. 'Lilith. And Lenardo and me, although I have not yet borne a child.'

'But the Council of Masters wants to retain control over all Readers,' said Master Corus. 'There are so many Readers who will never attain the top ranks-but who might come close over the years, close enough to threaten the political power of the Masters-'

'Readers have no political power,' said Torio. 'We can't hold office-we can't even own property unless we're failed.'

'The Council-or at least Portia's inner circle-may not hold public office,' replied Corus, 'but they wield power. They know the secrets of the Senators. They find out about business deals. It's… the way things have always been done, I was told. I took my share. It was easy… and the others told me it was my right. It wasn't. It was wrong-I can see how my powers have failed from misuse. I could not hide my feelings even from Torio.'

'So,' said Aradia to Lenardo, 'it turns out your fine, upstanding Council of Masters are no less desirous of power than Adepts are, my husband.'

Lenardo nodded. 'They are simply less honest about it. But it makes no difference, Aradia-'

'No difference!' cried Melissa. 'No difference that my best friend has lost her powers because they twisted her mind? No difference that Portia became so afraid of Master Jason that she sent him into danger, to die? No difference that everything we've always believed in is a Hell'

At her outburst, Torio started to turn to Melissa-