Between Darkness and Light Trilogy (15 page)

“But where have you been?! Where is this
'Lumina'?”

“When I asked, they said it was at the top
of the Universe – they said it was the source of Reality.” The two
great dragon heads swing toward each other, it seems as though
something quite meaningful passes between them.

Zah-Ha'Gor asks the next logical question.
“Are you now able to move freely between there and here?”

“Can you bring William?” Puffs voice is
urgent.

“I believe so, yes. I was just about to
fetch him, actually.”

“Please do so. We will wait.”

Again I concentrate on my jewel, feeling
somewhat self-conscious with two dragons watching me so keenly. I
quickly search for the best image to return to, and find one that
takes me right to my rooms! Immediately upon my return I send a
mental burst to William. I hear a groggy, ‘Huh?’

‘William, I’ve been back to Shiral!’

‘What?’

‘I accidentally transported to Shiral, and
eight triads have passed there since we left!’

‘How did you do that – eight triads?!’

‘They need us, William. We need to set up a
provisional government, something to keep them functioning during
our absences.’

‘I’m tired, Shi'ahn, I only recently fell
asleep.’

Zah-Ha’Gor and Puff are waiting for us, come
with me and sleep on Shiral.’

‘Give me a few minutes, then I’ll be
over.’

While waiting I decide to pick out an
elaborate gown from my closet, something that can't be made on
Shiral, something that will leave no doubt that I have been
elsewhere.

When he reaches my rooms, he smells faintly
of perfume. “William, did I interrupt something?”

“My well earned sleep. Mind your own
business, will you?” I smile at him and he grudgingly returns it.
“So, how did you get there?”

I smile playfully, “Mind your own business
and take my hands.” I concentrate on the image of Shiral in my
crystal, and will both of us through.

“Wow – how did you do that?”

I glance around, it is evening and no one
should be nearby. No one but two annoyed looking dragons, that is,
but their expressions change quickly.

“Shi'ah'i!”

“William.”

This time our dragons approach us, lowering
their heads, and both William and I throw ourselves against their
necks. I recognize the sparkle behind Zah-Ha'Gor's eyes and quickly
climb up in front of her wings. She teaches me something new - she
can take flight almost perfectly vertically! Her voice echoes out
over the bay, the same cry over and over, the very first word she
ever said in my presence, “Mine!” Everyone within miles must hear
her, though they will not understand her speech – but she flies
high enough, and acrobatically enough that all who see us are sure
to realize I'm back. When we land I finally think to ask,

“How long did you wait for us?”

“Seven days. How long did you think you were
gone?”

“Oh, maybe nine Ninebreaths. William had
just fallen asleep.”

Puff addresses me seriously, “Shi'ahn, you
still have not answered William's question. How did you transport
yourself?”

Well, I suppose there's no reason they
shouldn't know. I reach into my bodice and draw out the gem like
crystal, lifting it free of the concealing pouch. “I used this,
Cailli gave it to me earlier today.”

William's eyes go wide, “That’s a transport
crystal?”

Puff, sounding very serious, says, “Shi'ah’,
please hold that up so that Zah-Ha'Gor and I may properly inspect
it.” Then he almost whispers, “I have never seen the like of
it.”

Zah-Ha'Gor breathes, “That is powerful
beyond imagination – even dragon imagination. Who is this 'Cailli'
that gave you this jewel of tremendous power?”

“Cailli, the Cailliach is… well, she created
the Staircase of Enlightenment, the source of order in the
Universe. Apparently, she actually created half of our
universe.”

William adds, “Yea, and she told Shi'ahn to
call her 'Grandmother', if she wishes.”

I protest, “William!” Zah-Ha'Gor lowers her
head and gently nuzzles me, her voice a soft rumble,

“Mine.”

William says, “That is far greater than the
crystals the Emperor gave us.”

“Indeed it is. I could swear this crystal is
more powerful than the one Aurora possesses.”

“Why would Cailliach give you such a
thing?”

“I’m not sure. She did imply that it would
help me stay out of trouble, or perhaps it will help me escape
trouble that I find myself in.”

“So you’ve been labeled a troublemaker?”

“I’d say more of a trouble finder…”

William yawns, surprising our dragons. “I
haven't slept much yet, and it's been a long day.”

Puff sniffs at William, and I could swear
there is laughter hiding in his voice.

“I don't doubt it. Go get some sleep, both
of you. We have much to think about.”

We head up to the cottage, and since I’m not
as tired as William, I start carefully exploring the connections
available through my new crystal, consciously, this time, and I am
careful not to initiate any of them. I could play with this for
hours! I shouldn’t, though. I look outside and the moons’
reflections on the lake call to me. Well, why not – I answer.

My dress discarded on the shore, I frolic in
the water for a while before Gaea calls to me.

‘Shi'ahn, you have returned.’

‘Yes, Gaea, and I have come with William. We
are here to make proper provisions for our being gone for extended
periods of time. Gaea, I was gone for only about nine ninebreaths
in my experience.”

‘Then you should have plenty of time here
before you must leave again.’ Happy laughter rings out in my
voice,

‘Yes, we will stay for a while.’

~~~

During the days William and I meet with the
leaders of Shiral, after I finally get them all to attend. I cause
the summoning bells of those regions that do not at first respond
to ring louder, then even louder, until the final stragglers join
us more out of self-defense than duty. That proves to be only the
beginning of the battle. I've never cared to intimidate people, but
this turns out to be a special circumstance; I think William rather
enjoys himself. I, on the other hand, do not. I hate politics.

In the evenings I concentrate on Gaea. I
have noticed that Gaea seems stronger after each time I have worked
on my spells lately. As an experiment, I enter the trance-like
power dance yet again, (I am Song, I am Dance, I'm Shirallian Dust)
but instead of weaving spells, I weave power into Gaea,
strengthening her and increasing her capabilities; her
song
,
her
harmony
, becomes far more complex than it was when we
arrived. Before I sleep I listen carefully to my surroundings,
which are more resonant now than they were after my first return
visit, letting them lull me into dream.

Each day I follow the same pattern –
politics during the day, work with Gaea in the evening,
strengthening different aspects of her being. I also try to build
protective shielding around our world, I wouldn't want uninvited
people walking through on 'passages' like Alma recently
experienced. And if any more crystals provide access to this place
besides mine and William's, I want them blocked! Whenever
Zah-Ha'Gor appears, I spend the rest of that day, and often the
night as well, in her company. By the end of three ninedays I have
done all for Gaea I can think to, and William and I have worked
with the government to the point that we feel confident they will
be able to carry on fine without our regular presence. It appears
that we have accomplished all that it need be done before our next
return; I end my evening of frolicking with Zah-Ha'Gor early and
get a good nights sleep. After a breakfast of all our favorite
morning foods, we each use our own crystals to return to
Lumina.

Chapter
10

Interrogations

Only minutes after arriving, there is a
knock on my door. “Enter.”

“Lady Shi'ahn, Prince Lucian has requested
your presence.”

“Ah…”

“I shall escort you to him in… a half hour?
I know it is very early; I have brought you some food.”

“Yes, of course.” She leaves without further
ado. I’ve just eaten, but not wanting the food to go to waste, I
place a stasis spell over it – I'll eat it when I return. Half an
hour? It’s still night. Will I ever have a leisurely morning
again?

I am led to a room where Lucian awaits me; I
can’t help my skeptical expression. “What do you want with me,
Lucian?”

He pauses a moment as he looks me over; I
detect I quiet sniff. “Shi'ahn, what have you been doing
recently?”

Oh, I should have showered. I hadn't thought
I'd needed to, since Zah-Ha'Gor and I had been playing in the water
last night. “I… took a little swim.” He looks questioningly at me,
but then shakes his head.

“Shi'ahn, there are issues you must
understand. What came between you and I was a minor personal
strife, of no importance really. Family and realm security are far
more important – we must both set aside any personal bias and work
together for the good of this realm.” He pauses momentarily,
frowning. “You have been chosen to assist in the questioning of Cas
Lydia, in a mental interrogation.”

“I have? Why me?”

“Because you have not yet ascended the Path
of Enlightenment. On many important levels, you are not yet one of
us. That may give you an advantage that no other family member
aside from your brother has, but you should know that it is
dangerous. I will break her psychic defenses and do all that I can
to negate her attempts to fight back. Do you have any
questions?”

“Yes… well, this mental interrogation, how
does it, ah… how does it work?”

He shakes his head as though he considers my
assistance pointless and not particularly appreciated, but answers
my question nonetheless. “She has retreated deeply into her mind,
so the first thing you must do is find her. She is a member of the
Uisnach Household, concentrating on that may help. When you
approach, you should appear conciliatory, talk to her, learn about
her, and use what you learn to lead you to the truthful answers to
our questions. Do not trust her, though. She could harm you; she
has a very strong mind. If you get into trouble, let go.”

He leads me into a darkly lit room that
smells, if possible, worse than the dungeon cell I so recently
escaped. It also shares the odd deadening feeling that entire
castle had; power negation. I see her then, stripped and tied to a
cold hard bench. There are some unusual devices on a table nearby,
I shudder to even speculate at their function. Her body appears
unharmed, but her
song
screams in pain… she
sounds
awful! I stare at Lucian in accusation and he responds as if
nothing is wrong. “As I said, she has a strong mind. Nothing in the
physical world fazes her anymore; she has disconnected.” He places
a device on my wrist, “This will negate the neural toxin she is
secreting through her skin.” I dutifully reach out to touch her
arm, and descend into infinite pain.

~~~

When I finally am free, I find myself
stumbling down a deserted corridor. I have no idea where I am, I
only know I want to be dead. I hear a voice, is it familiar?

“Shi'ahn? Shi'ahn, what is wrong, you look
terrible.” Someone puts an arm around me and almost immediately
recoils. The arm returns, though now there is more cloth between it
and me. “Shi'ahn, lets get you to your rooms, then tell me what has
happened to you.” I let myself be led, barely noticing when
movement stops and I’m sitting. He, yes, it is a man’s voice, he
speaks soothingly as he draws my head to his chest, smoothes my
hair with his hand. “Tell me what has happened to you.” I shake my
head; my entire body shakes and tears streak down my face.

“I can’t.”

“Then tell me where you were.”

I think back, where had I been, who was I
with? Lucian's face swims into focus. “Lucian.”

“Lucian! He is interrogating the Shiftling
prisoner. Don’t tell me you were with him!”

“I… I was summoned. Not enlightened, better
chance…”

“That Bastard! You should never have been
involved in that – you don’t have the experience, you aren’t meant
for such ugliness! My poor beauty. Here, relax against me, sink
into my arms and the safe comfort they offer you.” He begins
humming, his voice is calming, soothing… comforting. I am safe in
his arms, he will let no one hurt me. Slowly my mind begins to
relax, thoughts finally begin to make their way past a barrier like
water through a spillway, then the dam breaks and pain begins to
wash out of me through my tears and cries of sorrow. My only
constants are the warm embrace that keeps me safe, and the
beautiful voice that fills the spaces in my mind that were so
recently filled with pure, unrelenting pain. I drink in his
comforting presence, filling myself with the strength he offers
me.

“Shi'ahn, can you speak now?” I realize I’m
not crying anymore, my muscles have relaxed from their deathlike
cramp.

“Yes, yes I think so.”

“Can you tell me what happened? I have
learned that Lucian has ended his interrogation, but there is no
word of injuries. How could he have not reported your
condition?”

“Because he is a cold, heartless
bastard!”

“You’ll have no argument from me there.” The
lighthearted lilt of his reply is familiar; finally I recognize the
voice and pull back to look into his face.

“Casanova?” I pull away from his embrace and
he smiles ruefully.

“I’m sure the other’s have told you many
stories of how terrible and dangerous I am; the lady-killer. Well,
you will see that you remain fully clothed, and if you think back
you will realize that I have taken no liberties.” He pauses a
moment while I take stock of myself. “See? I am no stranger to
pain, Shi'ahn, and such devastation as I sensed in you… I cannot
stand by and refuse to help. I am not like Lucian, not like so many
of our family… my heart still beats with compassion for others.” I
have listened carefully to him as he speaks, he is being honest.
“Shi'ahn, I swear you are truly safe with me now.” The sincerity of
his words resounds in my soul, and when he holds out his arms again
I gratefully return to his comforting embrace. “Shi'ahn, as I said
I am no stranger to pain, and I know that if kept bottled up inside
oneself, it will eventually turn against you and become like acid;
an inescapable enemy that will consume you. Tell me what happened,
share the pain, I swear I will keep any secrets you wish kept.”