me
Seboth.’
Seboth scowled and
began to prowl the room. ‘I heard from Hargon this afternoon.’ He
swung away from the window and squatted beside Tika. ‘He summons me
to a great council as he calls it. Summons me – a Lord of the same
standing as him.’ Seboth took Tika’s hands. ‘He ordered me to kill
any Merigs I might see around Far. He has killed several, he
says.’
Breaths were drawn in
all around the fireside. Seboth’s hands tightened on
Tika’s.
‘Lashek has freed the
power within Olam, Lallia and myself. He said you could help us
make progress in understanding just what we might be able to do.
But I went out anyway this afternoon, after I read Hargon’s words,
and I called to a Merig with my mind. He had heard of Hargon’s
killings. I begged him to tell all his kind to beware Return and
any armsmen in Hargon’s colours.’
Tika continued to stare
at the Lord of Far.
‘The Merig was good
enough to accept my word that his kind could find refuge here. I
had thought that he would not listen to me, let alone speak to me
after what has passed at Return.’
Tika laughed without
humour. ‘Most of the creatures I have encountered who use the mind
speech, judge each case as it arises. It seems only humans judge
one and condemn all.’
Seboth released her
hands and moved to sit on pillows near his wife.
‘When would you like to
begin your search?’
Tika glanced at Gan for
his suggestion.
‘I think as soon as
possible. I do not think it safe to stay too near Hargon
now.’
Seboth nodded,
scrubbing a hand across his face wearily. ‘I must leave tomorrow.
Olam will go with you, and an armsman as token escort at
least.’
‘For the first day or
so we will far speak you each sunset, Lallia. I would not risk
trying to reach Lord Seboth while he is in Return.’ Tika hugged her
knees to her chest. ‘We will leave the morning after tomorrow. That
gives Gan time to arrange supplies and will allow the three of us
-’ she indicated herself, Maressa and Ren. ‘To begin your
instruction in the use of power. Lord Seboth, if you choose, we
will work with you for a while now, before you must leave for
Return?’
The room emptied of all
but Lord Seboth, looking a trifle apprehensive, Tika, Maressa and
Ren. Ren’s silver eyes regarded the Lord of Far.
‘We think you need to
learn to shield yourself, quickly and thoroughly. That is most
important. And if you can learn that readily, there are a few
smaller things that might be useful in Return.’
Seboth was amazed at
his exhaustion after only a short period of working with the power.
Tika and Maressa threw mind probe after mind probe at him, until
Seboth could slam a shield into place the instant he sensed their
presence approaching. Ren finally smiled.
‘You were right Tika –
he will be strong indeed, given time and training.’
Tika stretched. ‘I will
go to Farn and Brin now.’
‘I will go to bed.’ Ren
stood, bowing to Seboth before leaving in Tika’s wake.
‘And I will begin to
show you how to far speak,’ Maressa told Seboth quietly when they
were alone. ‘Tika is with Farn and they are holding their minds
closed. Now, open your mind to mine and watch closely what I
do.’
Seboth had a mild but
persistent headache by the time he went to bid farewell to his
guests. Farn’s sapphire eyes flashed and sparkled as he bent his
long, beautiful face towards the Lord of Far.
‘May the stars guide
your path Seboth,’ he intoned. His eyes whirred faster. ‘Only
summon me if you believe we should do something interesting with
this Hargon.’
Seboth blinked. Tika
elbowed Farn sharply in the chest.
‘But Tika, this Hargon
is not a pleasant creature – I knew so when I first met him.’ Farn
objected.
‘Be that as it may
Farn, we do not want to encourage trouble where it might not
appear.’
Tika met Seboth’s eyes
and knew they shared the same thought: trouble was already nearby
and Hargon would be at its heart.
The visitors
Seboth.’
Seboth scowled and
began to prowl the room. ‘I heard from Hargon this afternoon.’ He
swung away from the window and squatted beside Tika. ‘He summons me
to a great council as he calls it. Summons me – a Lord of the same
standing as him.’ Seboth took Tika’s hands. ‘He ordered me to kill
any Merigs I might see around Far. He has killed several, he
says.’
Breaths were drawn in
all around the fireside. Seboth’s hands tightened on
Tika’s.
‘Lashek has freed the
power within Olam, Lallia and myself. He said you could help us
make progress in understanding just what we might be able to do.
But I went out anyway this afternoon, after I read Hargon’s words,
and I called to a Merig with my mind. He had heard of Hargon’s
killings. I begged him to tell all his kind to beware Return and
any armsmen in Hargon’s colours.’
Tika continued to stare
at the Lord of Far.
‘The Merig was good
enough to accept my word that his kind could find refuge here. I
had thought that he would not listen to me, let alone speak to me
after what has passed at Return.’
Tika laughed without
humour. ‘Most of the creatures I have encountered who use the mind
speech, judge each case as it arises. It seems only humans judge
one and condemn all.’
Seboth released her
hands and moved to sit on pillows near his wife.
‘When would you like to
begin your search?’
Tika glanced at Gan for
his suggestion.
‘I think as soon as
possible. I do not think it safe to stay too near Hargon
now.’
Seboth nodded,
scrubbing a hand across his face wearily. ‘I must leave tomorrow.
Olam will go with you, and an armsman as token escort at
least.’
‘For the first day or
so we will far speak you each sunset, Lallia. I would not risk
trying to reach Lord Seboth while he is in Return.’ Tika hugged her
knees to her chest. ‘We will leave the morning after tomorrow. That
gives Gan time to arrange supplies and will allow the three of us
-’ she indicated herself, Maressa and Ren. ‘To begin your
instruction in the use of power. Lord Seboth, if you choose, we
will work with you for a while now, before you must leave for
Return?’
The room emptied of all
but Lord Seboth, looking a trifle apprehensive, Tika, Maressa and
Ren. Ren’s silver eyes regarded the Lord of Far.
‘We think you need to
learn to shield yourself, quickly and thoroughly. That is most
important. And if you can learn that readily, there are a few
smaller things that might be useful in Return.’
Seboth was amazed at
his exhaustion after only a short period of working with the power.
Tika and Maressa threw mind probe after mind probe at him, until
Seboth could slam a shield into place the instant he sensed their
presence approaching. Ren finally smiled.
‘You were right Tika –
he will be strong indeed, given time and training.’
Tika stretched. ‘I will
go to Farn and Brin now.’
‘I will go to bed.’ Ren
stood, bowing to Seboth before leaving in Tika’s wake.
‘And I will begin to
show you how to far speak,’ Maressa told Seboth quietly when they
were alone. ‘Tika is with Farn and they are holding their minds
closed. Now, open your mind to mine and watch closely what I
do.’
Seboth had a mild but
persistent headache by the time he went to bid farewell to his
guests. Farn’s sapphire eyes flashed and sparkled as he bent his
long, beautiful face towards the Lord of Far.
‘May the stars guide
your path Seboth,’ he intoned. His eyes whirred faster. ‘Only
summon me if you believe we should do something interesting with
this Hargon.’
Seboth blinked. Tika
elbowed Farn sharply in the chest.
‘But Tika, this Hargon
is not a pleasant creature – I knew so when I first met him.’ Farn
objected.
‘Be that as it may
Farn, we do not want to encourage trouble where it might not
appear.’
Tika met Seboth’s eyes
and knew they shared the same thought: trouble was already nearby
and Hargon would be at its heart.
The visitors
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