Delver Magic: Book 05 - Chain of Bargains (13 page)

"So the best answer is still
to repair her mind."

Jure again looked to Heteera who
seemed to be ignoring the conversation as if it had nothing to do with her.
Jure felt great pity for the sorceress, and then felt a surge of guilt. He
wasn't sorry he cast the spell that created the barrier, but he was sorry how
Heteera seemed to embrace it, utilized it as a way to escape reality and sink
into an abyss of confusion.

"I still think I should try a
spell of reversal," Jure offered in a moment of desperation.

"And I still agree with
you," Enin added. "Unfortunately, we still haven't figured out the
right way to cast it. Do you simply attempt to end the spell? If so, what
happens to the magic when it's suddenly unleashed? That's not something we want
to deal with on a trial and error basis. Even if the magic is freed without
incident, what happens to Heteera's consciousness? Her mind is in a shambles.
Releasing the magic in one immediate burst may drive her into deeper confusion."

"But we don't seem to be
getting anywhere."

Enin didn't completely reject
Jure's assertion, but he didn't wish to accept it, either. He started to pace
around the room again as he considered the measurable progress.

"She's not getting better.
That's true. I am learning, though, and that has to be taken under
consideration. I know there are certain things I must not try. I know what's
not wrong with her as well. Sometimes when you rule out certain options, you
get closer to the true answer. I'm also gaining a greater understanding of how
the magic can be utilized when under proper control. That's going to help her
in the future... if we can ever reach her again."

Enin then cast a quick glance to
Jure. "You're learning as well."

"Yes, but I don't want it to
be at her expense."

"You make it sound like it's
your fault."

"It was my spell."

"And she's the one who
allowed it to take such firm hold of her consciousness. We could have removed
the spell after but a few days if she did not welcome what she saw as a relief
from her perceived shortcomings. She's not reaching out to us. A very large
part of her wants to remain in that state."

"I know you keep telling me
that, but I just can't accept it."

"Neither can I." Enin
sighed. "I believe there's a part of her that wishes to be saved. I just
don't know how to reach it. Well, that's all we can do today. You'll keep watch
over her?"

"Of course."

"Anything else we need to
discuss?"

There were many things Jure would
have
liked
to discuss. His own
control over the magic was growing. After the encounter that led to Heteera's
state of near oblivion, he reached the level of casting white magic with a
single perfect circle. He maintained that precision even after separating
himself from the sorceress' vast magical reserves, but he remained far removed
from Enin's aptitude. Though he was many cycles of the season the elder to
Enin, he could not match Enin's depth of experience regarding magic. Still, he
continued to develop his skill with enthusiasm, and the great wizard of Uton
proved to be a vast resource of knowledge.

He would have liked to ask Enin
about the intricacies of entering Heteera's mind, and he would have greatly
enjoyed discussing the development of other self sustaining spells. He wondered
if Enin ever assessed Heteera's mental limitations and how they might have been
altered by the staggering flow of magic within her. He also would have loved to
delve into the division of magic with respect to different hues and if it were
possible to isolate certain aspects of one color shade within a similar
barrier.

Unfortunately, there was a
difference between what represented a true
need
and what fell into the category of
desire
.
Jure could not constantly ask Enin for new insight regarding spells and the
utilization of magical energy. Enin's time was simply growing too valuable. He
watched over two towns—Connel and Burbon—worked with the dwarves of Dunop, and
dealt with the constant flow of settlers coming across the plains. While Jure
did not wish to pester Enin, he could not refrain from asking about the last of
these issues.

"Any word from Holli and
Ryson?" Jure asked.

"Word? No, but to some degree
I have been following their progress. As you know, Holli and I share a rather
intimate link. I have not pressed her thoughts to ascertain much detail, but I
know they have reached the Great Valleys.
They have covered a great deal of ground. She has not been in any peril that
she could not handle, but it's clear to me that she continues to be puzzled by
what she uncovers."

"What about word from the
settlers. I can't help but see that they just keep coming in from the east. It
seems they're still leaving the valleys."

"Yes, they are. They talk
about the goblins and other dark creatures, but there have been no battles.
Most of them can't fully explain why they left. They just felt as if they had
no choice."

"Do you have any ideas?"

"No. I admit I have not given
it much thought. There's so much to do here. Simply not enough time in the
day."

"I understand, but I have to
say it has me concerned."

Enin eyed the older wizard. He
knew Jure remained very sensitive to the magic.

"Have you sensed anything...
something in the magic?"

"Nothing in particular,"
Jure admitted. "It's not like there's some great alarm ringing through the
magic, but something's... well, something feels odd."

"Explain,
 
please."

"I wish I could. It's like a
stain that somehow gets completely washed out of a shirt. If you look close,
it's gone. There's no sign of it, but every now and then, you think you see it.
Like it came back, but it's not really there. You're not sure if it's a memory
of the stain, or if somehow it left some kind of imprint that can only be seen
in a particular light. That's what it's like."

"Interesting. When Holli
returns, I would like you to talk to her about that. Perhaps the two of you can
find some significance in the matter. As for now, it all remains a puzzle. Let
us hope Holli and Ryson find the right pieces."

Jure nodded in agreement.

"Ashlan isn't just some small
town. It's more than three times the size of Huntston."

"I understand that,"
Holli replied, but she remained uncertain of Ryson's plans. "That does not
mean we should put each other at risk."

"I think we're risking more
if we stick together."

"How so?"

"People are looking for us,
but they'll be looking for the two of us... together. If we separate, it's
going to be that much harder for them to recognize us."

Ryson paused as he realized the
elf guard wasn't going to like his next suggestion, either. He decided not to dance
around the subject. Holli appreciated decisiveness and clarity, and so, he
would make his case expressing those attributes.

"You also have to take my
sword. They're looking for two travelers, one with a sword on his back. If I'm
not carrying this, what are the chances anyone's going to recognize me? I look
like a human, and Ashlan is a big city. I'm going to blend right in. If I don't
have the sword and I'm by myself, no one is going to even ask me any
questions."

Holli found it difficult to argue
with Ryson's logic. From their encounter with the soldiers in Huntston, it was
obvious the guards were on the lookout for an athletic couple with the male
carrying a sword and the woman a bow. Other details were certainly included,
such as looking for her pointed ears or a woman strangely wearing a cap during
the heat of the high sun season. If they walked into Ashlan together, without
making any changes to their appearance, they were bound to be noticed
eventually. She did not agree, however, with acting reckless, and she certainly
didn't wish to leave Ryson defenseless.

"And you would enter the town
without a weapon?"

Ryson pointed to the two war
blades he wore at his hips.

"I'm not unarmed."

Holli was well aware of the
weapons Sy Fenden had given to Ryson, but she also understood the delver's
nature and his reluctance toward causing harm.

"I am talking about weapons
you would actually use. You still carry those blades at Sy's behest, but I know
you do not unsheathe them."

Ryson scowled. He didn't like to
think about when he used the battle swords. It hurt, but he offered a very real
truth to help aid his position.

"I've used them when I had
to."

Holli saw the pain in the delver's
eyes.

"I know you have, but you do
not like to. If we are together, there will be less of a chance for you to need
them."

"Actually, there may be more.
If we get identified in Ashlan, what's going to happen? You're not going to let
them take us prisoner this time, not when we'd be in Prilgrat's hometown. And
we're going to be dealing with different soldiers, probably much better trained
than the ones in Huntston. We're going to have to fight, that makes things more
difficult and more dangerous. I'm not going to want to pull out the Sword of
Decree and have it light up like a beacon for everyone to see. Not in Ashlan.
If I need a weapon, I'm going to pull the war blades."

Holli sighed as she began to
accept the truth.

"I see your point," she
admitted. "If we separate and I take your sword, the chances of you being
recognized fall dramatically."

"And if I'm careful, there
won't be a need for any weapon at all."

"Very well, but keep hold of
the sword for now."

"You still don't like the
idea, do you?" Ryson asked.

"No."

Ryson didn't press the issue. He
knew the elf guard would eventually accept the plan. Instead, he decided to
focus on another question that tantalized his delver curiosity.

"Does it annoy you that Enin
sends you off to explore with me?"

Holli raised a single eyebrow,
offering a curious expression, then turned her gaze in every direction to gauge
their surroundings. They were moving quickly on foot, despite avoiding all
travelers and patrols throughout the valleys. They traveled both day and night,
taking only short breaks for rest. Ashlan was not yet in sight, but it would be
before the sun set that day. With a quick scan complete, she turned a robust
smile upon the delver.

"You feel you are some great
calamity to me?"

"I hope not," the delver
responded cheerfully, quite happy to see the broad smile of his companion.

"You are not," the elf
assured.

"But I'm still kind of a
pain, right?"

"The only thing that pains me
is that you can outrun me. That has always bothered me."

"But I don't take off without
telling you first. You have to admit that."

"I admit nothing of the sort.
Delvers run off after the first shiny light in the distance."

"Well, we like shiny things,
and mysteries."

"Then you must be enjoying
this."

Ryson considered the point. The
valleys certainly offered a mystery—no denying that. Goblins taking over farms,
entering towns and cities as if they were invited guests; it defied logic. He
could almost understand why humans would take on the exodus to cross the
plains, but he found nothing that would explain the underlying cause for it
all. That was the mystery they fought to solve, and it continued to elude them.
Difficult mysteries, however, were a delver's treasure.

In that, he had to admit he was
enjoying the adventure. Exploring new grounds, meeting new people, seeing new
sights; it was more than a simple treasure. It was a delver's delight. He
couldn't deny it. Only the gravity of the situation gave him pause. Dark
creatures watched the valleys from both near and far. He did not wish to
believe something sinister was behind it all, but little else explained the
circumstances.

"I don't know that it's all
fun and games, but I can't deny it's been exhilarating," Ryson finally
admitted. "What about you?

"I have been given a task,
and I intend to accomplish it. That is what an elf guard does, and thus, I am
content."

Ryson noted a hint of
dissatisfaction in the elf's tone. He believed he might know the cause.

"But if you're here with me,
you're not guarding Enin. Isn't that your main objective these days?"

The elf's smile was pressed aside
by a slight grimace. Surprisingly to the delver, she spoke honestly of her
pain.

"There is very little I can
do to protect him that he cannot do himself. Even with the magical energies he
shares with me, I am a dust speck compared to his power. Mostly, I keep the
curious away from him. As for guarding him from true threats, I am no longer
sure what those threats are."

That caught the delver's ear and
stoked his curiosity even further.

"You think something is
threatening him?"

Holli did not answer. She turned
her gaze about to check their flanks.

"Holli?"

"I don't know if anything can
truly threaten him," Holli finally answered without looking at the delver.

"I'm not sure if I agree with
that. He got himself caught up with Baannat, separated himself from his magic.
He was in a great deal of trouble then."

"And that was a threat I
could not save him from."

"You think that was your
fault?"

"I am not wallowing in self
pity, if that is your question."

"No, I'm just trying to
understand what you're talking about."

"I am talking about his own
failings, not mine."

"I don't know if I'm
following any of this."

"There is little that needs
to be followed. Enin can only truly be in danger if he places himself in
danger. If that occurs, there is little I can do about it. As an elf guard, I
have to accept those simple truths. I focus on what I can accomplish, both in
how I can be of service to him and to the land. That is what he wishes, and
that is how it must be."