Ethon (The Other Worlds Series Book 2) (16 page)

“Give her time.” Legann observed his sister say something to Archrin. “Take her out tonight and see what she does.”

Will chuckled. “You mean like a date?”

He grinned. “She’s never really been on one.”

“I guess that’s a good point.” Will dug into the front pocket of his jeans and yanked out Olinia’s car keys. He tossed them into Legann’s lap. “Would you take Tiara and Archrin home for me?”

“How will you get home?” He raised an eyebrow.

“I’ll call a cab.” Will pushed himself to his feet. “Any suggestions on a good place to eat around here?”

Legann stood up as well. “She loves Indian food.”

He smiled slightly. “Just another reason to love her.”

They made their way to the swings. As they approached, Olinia turned to watch them. From the look in her eyes, Legann knew she’d been listening to his conversation with Will. He glanced at Tiara and Archrin. “I’m going to drive you guys home. You ready to go?”

Archrin’s gaze darted between Will and Olinia before settling on Tiara. “I am.”

“Me too.” Tiara stood, still wearing her grin. “I’ve had a fun day exploring a mythical realm.”

“For being so mythical, Ethon’s always seemed pretty real to me,” Will retorted.

Tiara laughed, retrieving her shopping bags. “All this time I thought you were playing us with that story of coming from Ethon.”

Archrin got to his feet slowly. “If I thought Ethon was a myth, I never would have left Tlaid for it.”

Olinia smiled, but Legann noticed it didn’t reach her eyes. “Don’t worry. A part of Tiara always believed Ethon existed.”

“It’s really not fair that you can hear our thoughts,” Tiara muttered.

She shrugged. “I am what I am.”

“See you later,” Legann said to his sister before heading off after Tiara and Archrin.

Will watched them go as he moved to the swing beside Olinia’s – the one Tiara had left behind – and sat down into it. “You heard me talking to your brother.” It wasn’t really a question. He knew she had.

“How could I not?” She replied dryly. “Legann’s got one of the loudest minds I’ve ever had the pleasure hearing. For a while I thought he was
the
loudest.”

“Who holds the title now?” Will raised an eyebrow.

“Tiara.” Olinia laughed softly to herself. “She never stops thinking.”

He grimaced. “I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, well, I can’t really stop it.” She stared downward, her shoes digging into the wood chips that covered the ground below the swings and playset.

“Olinia,” Will gripped onto the chains of his swing with his hands, “would you go out with me tonight?”

It took her a moment to look up at him. When she did, her eyes were distant, as if she were looking past him. “Why?”

“Because I know it’s one Ethon experience you haven’t tried yet.” He stood and extended a hand to her. “Come on.”

“Where will we go?” She frowned. “You don’t know the area.”

“You’re right, I don’t.” He didn’t wait for her to take his hand. Instead, he grasped hers and pulled her up onto her feet, putting them inches from each other. She gazed up at him, and he was tempted to kiss her again but thought better of it for now. He smiled and still holding her hand began to walk out of the park toward the line of shops and boutiques.

They walked in silence for a ways on the sidewalk between the storefronts and trees that edged the curb until they reached the end of street. A massive river flowed ahead of them with paved trails alongside it. Will had glimpsed it earlier and was now making his way toward it with Olinia. When she realized his plan, she let out a short laugh. “I see you’ve found the Rappahannock River.”

“Is that its name?”

She nodded as Will slowed his pace, leaving the street for the pathway by the river. “During the Colonial period, the Rappahannock made this town prosperous through trade.”

Will stopped at a bench with a clear view of the river and trees surrounding it. He sat down and Olinia did the same beside him. He noticed she still hadn’t released his hand. “It’s strange to hear you speak of my country’s history.”

“I’ve learned a lot of it,” she replied. “Sometimes it just comes out, sorry.”

“No, I like it.” He paused for a moment. Then, “How do you like Ethon?”

“It’s unlike anything I’ve ever known,” she admitted. “Don’t tell Legann I told you, but he secretly loves a lot of stuff in Ethon.”

“What about you, though?”

“I-” she hesitated by curling her legs underneath her on the bench. “I like it, too. There are things that I know I’ll miss in the Other Worlds.”

It was an honest answer. Will’s gaze drifted back to the river. The trees that bordered its banks were just starting to don their autumn coats of red and orange. The semi-clear sky from earlier had turned fully gray again, resembling his and Trenton’s eyes once more. Against the river and murky sky, the trees stood out, giving a pleasing array of colors. It was a beautiful countryside. Hard to believe that right behind him was civilization.

Just then, Olinia dropped his hand and whirled, facing the street again. He blinked. “What’s wrong?”

“I thought I heard Porter.”

“Here?” Will turned around in his seat as well.

“I swear he keeps stalking me.” She was frowning.

“Are you sure it was him?”

“No,” she said slowly, “but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was.”

“Want me to go see if the coast is clear?”

“How?” She let out a short laugh. “It’s not like you know what he looks like.”

Will furrowed his eyebrows. “What should we do, then?”

She tilted her head so that she could see his face. “I want to go to dinner with you. Are you hungry?”

He smiled. “Starved.”

10

------------------

Ethon was a world full of surprises, most of which Tiara was utterly confused by. Tiara couldn’t quite believe that Ethon had managed to replace its lack of gifts with what Olinia called
science
. If only the Saerds in the Other Worlds had thought to do the same. Their lives would have improved immensely. Tiara was seriously considering smuggling some Ethon devices back into her realm when she returned – whenever that may be.

Releasing a sigh, Tiara gazed up at her room’s ceiling in the semi-darkness. Everyone else in the house was asleep, or should be by now. In her bedroom’s only bed, Olinia breathed evenly. Well, really it was Olinia’s room, but for the time, they were sharing it. Living in a home similar in size to the one she was raised in was invigorating to Tiara. Castle life just wasn’t the same. A house was far cozier, even though it meant less personal space.

She and Olinia were not the only ones splitting a room at the moment. Archrin and Will were bunking together, and with Olinia’s other brother’s upcoming arrival, Legann would soon have a roommate. Sazx was the only one alone, but he still had to share the upstairs bathing room with the other males. Tiara and Olinia had one conveniently attached to their room, which they had deemed as their own. Since their time in Ethon would be short, instead of buying additional beds, Tiara and Archrin were sleeping on air mattresses – another Ethon contraption.

Although it was a bit tight quarters, Tiara didn’t really mind. She was enjoying the company. About an hour or so ago, Olinia had returned from her night out with Will. Tiara had been changing for bed when Olinia walked in on her, taking her by surprise. She’d entered the room without announcing herself first. Tiara had loved being caught off guard by her friend. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been without protocol. It was nice to be around people who had shared in her past adventures and weren’t constantly adhering to the rules of social hierarchy.

All good things tended to come to an end, though, and for Tiara that would be right around the corner. She still needed to find that female tutor Trier had told her about. It was all a part of some destiny Tiara – the simple Drivian – was supposed to complete. Tiara moaned softly. She wasn’t so sure she wanted to have a destiny. Life was much less complicated when she and Archrin were just running from the Kendrens instead of running their kingdom.

“I swear, out of everyone in this house, you think the most.” Olinia’s voice made Tiara jump. “Your brain just never stops, does it? On and on you go.”

“I’m sorry?” Tiara raised her eyebrows.

“You are not,” Olinia grumbled.

“I can’t just turn off my thoughts,” she retorted.

“No, because that would mean you were dead.”

Tiara snickered. “Should I try to not think so much for a little while?”

“If it means you’ll fall asleep, then yes. I won’t be able to get to sleep until after you do. Your inner ramblings are incessant.” She sat up, rubbing her eyes with her hands. “So, what sort of female tutor does your brother want you to find?”

Tiara knew Olinia discovering her secret quest shouldn’t startle her, but she still wasn’t used to being around someone who could read her mind. Her upbringing among Saerds had left a lasting impression on her. It was so strange to be near other gifted people all the time now. Growing up, it had been just her and her Equilan mother.

“There goes your brain again.” Olinia laughed.

“Oh, please. It’s not like I’m the only one who thinks all the time,” Tiara shot back.

“No, but you are the only one keeping me awake,” she pointed out.

Tiara grinned. “It’s not my fault that you can hear every man, woman, and child you cross paths with.”

“You’re forgetting the infants.”

She blinked. “You can hear babies too?”

“Yeah, they’re cute.” Tiara made out a smile on Olinia’s face in the dark. “They think in images and very strong emotions. No mixed feelings for them.” Olinia shook her head, as if to clear it. “Now, back to this tutor. What is she supposed to instruct you on?”

Tiara sighed. “I’m to learn how to see the future.”

“Well, that shouldn’t be too hard,” Olinia yawned, covering her mouth with one hand, “You can already Globe.”

“What does Globing have to do with it?” Tiara stared.

“It’s how the Fraers see the future,” Olinia replied. She cocked her head to one side. “For being the daughter of an Equilan, you don’t seem to know much about your people.”

My people?
Tiara frowned. “How do you know that Fraers Globe to see the future?”

“Because I’ve been to Andin,” she said simply. “I did a little reading while I was there.”

“You’ve been to Andin?” Tiara blurted. Her pulse quickened. “Can you Globe to the future?” If Olinia had done it before, this would solve her problem of finding a tutor.

Her optimism was dashed a second later though when Olinia shook her head. “Sorry, I can’t Globe to the future. I wasn’t born in Time like you were.”

“Does that matter?” Tiara was confused.

“Only those from Time are given the ability to see the future. Time is a different realm than the Other Worlds. You being born in Time makes you from there,” Olinia explained. “So, you’re not like me, an Other Worlder.”

Tiara ran her tongue along the back of her teeth. “Did your Time reading mention how one could Globe to the future?”

“It told me the basic process,” she admitted. “But I don’t know if following that would actually work.”

Would you be willing to help me try it out?

“If you promise to shut off your brain for the rest of the night,” Olinia smirked.

“I’ll do my best, but I can’t make any promises.” Tiara grinned.

:  :  :  :  :

Sazx sat on the edge of his bed, looking at himself in the long mirror above the room’s one dresser. Although the hair of a Nagreth was dark, his was naturally so. When he went through the binding ceremony, his hair stayed the same. It was just his eyes and skin that changed pigments.

As a Nagreth, his blue eyes turned to steel and his pale skin became gray. The Saerds called Nagreth the walking dead, and for good reason. Nagreth resembled breathing corpses. Sazx had never relished in his reflection as a Nagreth, unlike most who swore themselves to Dagon. To those men, the gray skin was a symbol of the power they held in the realm. Sazx had not been one to savor such things.

Prior to his meeting of the Princess Olinia, no one had known of his ability to return his appearance to his normal self. From that very first day when the Velvitor who attended his binding struck the back of his neck with a slim poker, momentarily making him blind, Sazx knew he was not like the other future Nagreth present. The seven other men also pricked by the Velvitor didn’t cry out or have their faces contort with severe anguish. Sazx did.

He’d tried to hold in his pain, but as the color drained from his body, he could feel each infinitesimal movement the binding took within him. It was as if the binding were a foreign object that was slowly attempting to consume his soul – like a virus he couldn’t quite rid himself of no matter how hard he fought it.

Unlike his fellow newly initiated Nagreth, Sazx was bedridden for days – given to fits of convulsions. He was sure that the binding would end his life. Then, late one night, dripping in sweat from his most recent seizure, he let go of his determination to become bound to Dagon, to join the Nagreth. Almost instantly his skin returned to its natural color, stunning him. He’d never heard of any Nagreth returning to his old self, even after he retired from Dagon’s militia. Sazx had done the impossible, but how?

He realized that his body was rejecting the binding. He was perhaps not meant to be a Nagreth after all. It wouldn’t do, though. Sazx needed the money the career presented him. He was low-born without many options. His late father had been an unsuccessful peddler of various wares. Sazx didn’t want to live the rest of his life that way. The Nagreth were paid well and offered land after retirement. Sazx wished for land to build a home to one day raise sons of his own. In order for him to obtain such goals, he needed to become a Nagreth.

Yet, his body was denying him his desire. The binding was killing him. To continue his existence, he would need to live as only partially bound. He could feel the binding inside of him as a separate entity. If he were able to tap into the bound portion of his being when he demanded it, but still able to return to himself freely, then he would have a chance of survival. He could live as a Nagreth, claiming the benefits it gave, while remaining unharmed from the poison it seemed to seep into him. The question, though, was how could he pull the deed off? As far as he knew, none had accomplished such.

Over the course of that night, Sazx contrived a plan that would enable him to live as a Nagreth. Through some practice, he deduced that he could make himself gray while not being entirely bound. The next day, he was able to rise looking the part of a Nagreth without the side effects of actually being one. Even though he still felt the pull of the binding at times, he knew it was not nearly as strong as it should have been. As time went on, Sazx became exceptional at interchanging the gray and pale versions of himself to the point that he could make the adjustment with hardly any effort.

Even though he wore the gray faithfully, Sazx preferred his normal skin tone. When Dagon sent him on the quest to find information about the princess and her twin, Sazx had kept himself pale instead of gray. It allowed him to venture out during the day and not just slink around at night hoping no one noticed his pallor. It was always such a sweet release when he’d take off the gray, which was the main reason why he’d sleep pale. It permitted him a more restful night.

When Sazx abandoned the Nagreth for good, he tampered with Dagon’s binding once more. He chose to absolutely rid himself of it – to suffer no more from the little power it did hold over him. Through another mental conflict, he succeeded in the complete extraction of himself from Dagon’s Nagreth. Looking back on the process now, it was as if he’d shut the binding off, like an Ethon light switch. He knew it was still inside of him somewhere, but he’d managed to submerge it deep enough to no longer prohibit his choices.

Now, as Sazx watched his reflection in the mirror, beads of perspiration formed just below his hairline. He knew what must be done – he needed to become gray again.

Olinia’s observation that her uncle could still be alive had been plaguing his thoughts ever since he’d left the Vrenyx. For weeks Sazx had avoided the simple truth that there was a way to know of Dagon’s death for sure. If Sazx were to reignite the binding within, then the answer would come immediately. From his very first training session, he had learned that the binding only lasted as long as Dagon still drew breath. If Dagon were dead, then Sazx wouldn’t be able to return to the binding at all, for it would be obsolete. What good was a binding to a deceased emperor?

This was the purpose of Sazx’s current solitude. Olinia had left with Will to visit her school for an hour or so. It was the perfect opportunity for Sazx to turn his binding back on. He refused to do so within Olinia’s one hundred yard radius. Olinia would sense his agony that would indeed accompany the binding. Not wanting to have any sort of interruptions during the process, Sazx waited until she was gone to begin.

As he silently dreaded what would follow, Sazx took several deep breaths to calm him before shifting his focus inward. With little effort, he envisioned the foreign matter inside. Since thinking of Olinia was what had broken the binding in the first place, Sazx shoved her as far from his mind as possible. Instead, he concentrated on the faces of the Nagreth he had led. At one time they were the closest things he’d ever had to friends. There had been a mutual camaraderie on the basis of similar goals. Even though Sazx had always seen the mental capacity of his fellow Nagreth as less than exceptional, for a long time they were all he knew. The Nagreth were his life and his livelihood.

Suddenly, the same searing hot pain Sazx had only experienced once exploded through his veins. Just as it had before, his vision went black only to return a second later as an array of blurred images. Sazx gripped onto the edge of the bed beneath his legs so as to stop himself from falling off. He gritted his teeth, forcing back the scream that wanted to escape his throat from the fire that wouldn’t cease boiling his insides. What had he done to himself?

Regretting his choice already, Sazx struggled to partition his mind between the binding and himself. He gasped in for air, desperate to fill his scorched lungs. His eyes cleared somewhat, and he witnessed his arms gradually turn from pale to gray. The binding was working. Dagon was still alive.

This one truth redoubled Sazx’s efforts to relieve his body from being fully bound. He needed to survive to tell the princess that her uncle was conscious somewhere. Inhaling once more, Sazx visualized his internal core as two separate parts – one Nagreth, the other himself. Slowly, he mentally dragged bits of the binding and his own consciousness to their different locations within him. As he did so, the pain subsided – the fire quenched.

When he finally finished, Sazx lifted his gaze to the mirror. A gray man with steel eyes that rarely showed any sign of emotion glared back at him. His heart pounded against his chest. The Nagreth had returned. Would he be able to depart from it at will as he once had?