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Post Info TOPIC: Chapter 11


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Chapter 11
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    Kayeen was sitting alone at the table in a corner of the seedy inn. His mood was dark and his men knew that when he was like this it was best he be left alone. But the stranger, as he walked through the front door, would not have known that. The man looked out of place in this hovel with his expensive travel clothes and his clean cut hair. Squinting to adjust to the darkness of the large smoky room, he looked down at the device he was holding in his hand and then looked directly at Kayeen. With a purposeful stride he threaded his way through the haphazard placement of tables to the corner Kayeen was occupying. Standing behind the only other chair the stranger asked if he could have a seat. Kayeen pointed his mug at the empty chair with a noncommittal grunt.

    The man took that as assent and tidily folded himself into the chair. Then there was an awkward silence as he drew a blank on how to begin. Kayeen was amused at the poor mans discomfiture.

    Youre out of your league, arent you.

    Im sorry?

    Im guessing you were the son of a northern factor. Well bred, well educated, and then packed off to the Society before they even bothered to send someone to fetch you. Do I miss my mark?

    Not by much.

    So I guess Gavril was the one sent to get us and when I left home before he arrived you were the next best thing they had in a pinch, werent you?

    Well, sir, I

    Sir. I like that. Perhaps I might keep you on to teach my boys some manners.

    Kayeen gestured with his hand to the rest of the inn. For the first time the man from the Society noticed that all other conversation had stopped as every eye was turned their direction. Although less than half those in the inn were crew on the Blue Spray, enough were that the rest were curious to see what had garnered so many others attention.

    On seeing the two looking out at the rest of the crowd, a weasely looking man asked, Problem boss?

    Im sure hell behave, Kayeen answered, but he did make eye contact with two other men at different tables. Both of the biggest burliest men on the Spray left their tables to stand behind the unwelcome visitor.

    Was that your Finder you were playing with when you first cam in? Can I see it?

    How did you know about that?

    My dad was on the Council. How do you think?
    The other mans eyes went wide and he turned white as a sheet. Kayeen laughed as he fumbled at pulling out the Finder.

    You poor fool. They didnt even tell you when they sent you off that you were out to get the spawn of the famous exiles did they? Looking down at the Finder Kayeen continued, Well, well. If this thing is a compass then Im north. So until it is reset it will always point to me, right?

    That is correct, sir.

    So what is your name?

    Its Kessen, sir.

    Well, Kessen, from now on whatever direction this Finder is pointing, I want you walking in the opposite.

    Something snapped inside Kessen. He had been trying to be civil. He was trying to give this punk kid the respect he would expect to be given and this guy simply used it to roll right over him. Enough of that. If this kid only listened to power then power is what he would see.

    So, you think that because your daddy thumbed his nose at the Society that you can do the same? You think that because you can speak a word or two of magik and have gathered a few thugs around you that youre untouchable? Heres whats going to happen. In a few minutes Im going to walk right out that door and one way or another youre going to come with me.

    All across the room one could hear the scraping of chairs as men pushed themselves away from their table prepared to come to Kayeens defense. From over both shoulders Kessen could hear those big men cracking their knuckles. All around the rest of the room there was the metallic scraping as swords, knives, and daggers were being drawn. Every man who was not a part of theBlue Spray including the innkeeper quickly made for an exit. For a moment the two locked eyes across the table. Then Kayeen pushed the Finder to the other side.

    You were doing so well for yourself. Whyd you have to go and get stupid? You had a chance to leave, but that door is closed.

Before Kayeen could go any further Kessen muttered, opri. Then he stood, turning around, and said it again, opri!

    There was virtually no other motion in the room as Kayeen leaned back in his chair and folded his hands behind his head.

    As soon as I break your hold, theyre gonna be mad enough to murder. But maybe I should let you sweat it out. Im curious, how long do you think you can hold a couple dozen grown men with magik against their will? I barely even noticed your sad attempt to hold me.

Kayeen stood up on his chair, shrugged back the left side of his cloak, and drew his sword.

    When I release you, nobody is to lay a finger on Kessen. His life is mine to do with as I will.

    Kayeen wickedly smiled down on the sweating and visibly shaken Kessen and muttered, astupa. Across the room men jerked in motion as the bonds holding them in place were shattered. The two brawny men took a couple frightened steps back, but the rest of the crew in the inn moved forward making a semicircle around the corner where the two men were locked in a battle of wills. Kessens eyes were wide as saucers in shock and fear. Kayeens jaw was clenched and his knuckles were white where they gripped the sword.

    How does it feel? Can you still sense it just out of reach or is it completely gone. Do you feel like a part of you is missing or do you not even notice at all. When reading what it takes to shield someone I was not told what it must be like to be on the receiving end.

    All this Kayeen said through clenched teeth. With every muscle taught, he was straining as hard as he ever did speaking magik. For a few more seconds he studied the other man and then all tension left his body. Kayeen put one hand against the wall to keep himself from swaying while at the same time Kessen lurched forward so quickly that his nose bumped the table. As his eyes watered he gasped in air. He hadnt even realized that the whole time he was shielded from magik, he had been holding his breath. After coming down from his chair Kayeen used the tip of his sword to lift up Kessens chin until the two again locked eyes.

    Grab the sword.

    Kessen did.

    Now this is the oath I want from you: Under the light of the Creator, in the hope of His coming, and on my honor as a member of the Society of His Servants, I do solemnly swear to obey Kayeen in everything and in absence of a direct command, do as I firmly believe he would have of me in all things.

    Kessen repeated the oath verbatim.

    Now squeeze.

    As Kessen gripped the sword tighter, Kayeen pulled it away slicing deeply the four fingers and the meat under the other mans thumb.

Dont rise from that chair until I return.

    With that command Kayeen strode purposefully out of the inn. The other crewmembers of theBlue Spray milled about in shock and confusion. Kessen could not rise.

 

    You speak, dont you?

    For a brief instant Jaen Farsight thought of lying to his grandfather. But it would do no good. The question would not have been asked if the answer were not already known. Farsight simply bowed his head.

    You shame me, son. How long have you known? Why have you not already embarked on the Path?

    For you, father. I wanted to be here to close your eyes.

    Jaens grandfather sighed.

    It is the way of life. We are born, we touch the world as we can, and then we return to it. My life has been full and rich. My days remaining are few, but I do not see the end that closely yet. You have been given a different destiny. You are touched by the Creator. Once you embark upon the Path, your years will stretch out long before you and the reach and power of your touch will be far greater than most could ever dream. But when you delay before embarking upon your destiny, you cut years even decades off your life.

    What are years without your wisdom to guide me, father?

    The older man smiled as this flattery.

    My eyes will close easy knowing your future shines bright. Go now, son. Go before the village calls for your departure and you tarnish what honor your gifting brings.

    Jaen Farsight, knowing his grandfather was right, still voiced his hesitation, They are not what they once were. Kings and nations are taking a stand against their influence and ignore their counsel. They have traded away honor for a long life. They have abandoned their mission for comfort and luxury.

    What do you know of kings and nations? Do not listen to the rumors of the idle. But honor? You are of the Innoit. We know honor. We know also the price of luxury and comfort and have vowed never to pay it again. Soon you will see for yourself how things lie. If you are right, do not tell them. Show them. Be the change you want to see.

    For a moment the two simply looked at each other. It was not a time for words, it was a time for painting a memory firmly in your mind. Finally, Farsight bowed his head and walked backwards out of the hut. He turned only when he reached the entrance.

    He did not have to pack much. Centralia, the city that had grown up around the Society and the Tree, was only a few days journey by horse.

Still sitting on his stool by the fire, the older man listened to others wishing Farsight well on his journey. When the sound of the horses hooves finally receded eyond hearing, the old man slid off his stool and knelt on the ground in prayer.

    Bearer of Light, Creator of all that we see, shelter the son of my son in the palm of Your hand. Guide him, protect him, and shape him as only You can. Keep his step sure, his hand strong, his gaze fixed, his mind sharp, and his heart pure. Wherever he travels let him always walk closely in step with You. Make him the man his father never became.

 

    It seemed that sleep was a luxury neither of the two at the table enjoyed. For Avril the excitement and adventure of being in his first real town kept him up half the night. Put on top of that the fact that the first beautiful young woman he ever met would be joining them and you have a young man wound up so tight it might take him a week to come down. Avril was, however, wise for his age and seeing the sorry state of his partner, he kept that energy tightly in check. His constant yawning and the dark circles under his eyes made it easy to pretend that his mind was as tired as his body.

    For Lokee, there was no pretending. Her eyes had the swollen, bloodshot look of someone who had spent the night in tears. Among the Zingari a girl sleeps with their family until she has had her first bleeding. At that point she lived in another wagon with the other unmarried girls. Last night was literally the first time in her life that Lokee slept alone. Well, it was the first night she was alone. There hadnt been any sleeping.

    As soon as we get a bit out of town, Ill heal that for you.

    Gavril, who got plenty of sleep last night, pointed at Lokees hand as he came up to the table. On her right hand was a bandana doing the duty of a bandage. It had been washed overnight, but it was still stained from the blood it had soaked up from her knuckles yesterday. Under the makeshift bandage the hand had the bruised and swollen look of a spreading infection.

    I dont need your magik. Lokee hissed bringing the injured hand into her lap.

    Gavril turned and sat down directly across from the Zingari girl. With one hand he gripped the table and with the other he pointed directly at Lokee.

    You need to get over your aversion to magik real quick. Like you said, Im a part of the Society. Avril here already seems to know more than most apprentices in their second year. We will be talking about and using magik almost nonstop from here to Centralia. Magik is very much a part of our lives and if you are coming with us it will be a part of yours too.

    It is out of respect for you and your people that I have not healed your hand already. You know as well as anybody the work involved in setting up and taking down camp while traveling and I need you whole for you to pull your weight. Im waiting until we are out of town because we will be drawing enough eyes with you as it is. If it were commonly known here that I was a part of the Society, word would spread through every Zingari traveling camp from the Nipponatu to the Roma to Aknatz. In time that will happen anyways. Since the first of the Zingari broke away not one has ever joined the Society. None. You have the potential to be the first. Do you realize the gravity of your choice to join us? You have the gift.

    I would love to give you more time to make such a weighty decision, but time is simply a luxury we do not have. Once we are on our way you will be hearing and seeing things that must be kept under wraps. At that point I cannot allow you to leave us. So this is your last chance. Avril and I are going to get up and walk out that door. You can stay if you like, but if you go out that door with us, there will be no turning back.

With that, Gavril pushed his chair back, rose, and strode purposefully out of the inn. Avril was a bit shaken at Gavrils rough words and he stood and started to follow in a tired, confused stupor. At the door he stopped and turned around. Lokee was still sitting in her chair with eyes that were again moistening up. She was shaking like a leaf. After a brief moments hesitation Avril walked back toward her and held out his hand.

    Please.

    Lokee took his hand and with it he helped her to her feet. Hand in hand the two walked out the door.



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Kayeen and Kessen is the front end of chapter 8.

The role of Jaen Farsight is now being played by Rowyh. You first meet him in chapter 1. He also returns in chapters 5 and 8. 

Gavril and Avril meeting Lokee (now Nadezha) also takes place in the middle of chapter 8.



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