from Chapter 5

The eleventh hour evening call had just been quietly announced by the Meld Azerii when E’sar received word from Elas on Rejat’s distressing condition. He sat at his table, his hold books pushed aside to listen to his Azerii relay the information, then opened his mind to reach Elas directly. Meet me there, but do not enter, he sent, his mind voice harsh with concern. He told his aide he needed to stretch his legs and set off alone for the first level Aza corridor.

At Rejat’s door he saw Elas waiting beside the Mahdii Aza Tor, Callent. The two met his sight, their faces grim. I'm sorry to disturb you so late, Sha E’sar, but I felt— Elas began and he raised a hand to stop her words.

Elas, she is your sister. Let us proceed quietly. He turned to Callent. Can you keep this private? I wish to scan them both, to see what is their connection.

Callent nodded. Yes, Sha E’sar. I will shield, he sent crisply and his Azerii’s lights began to shimmer over his head.

E’sar looked at Rejat’s door. He lowered his eyelids to focus, telling Collyth, his Azerii, to call Rejat’s Azerii and keep him from interfering, then he reached out with his mind through the door before him. Once beyond the wooden barrier he found Rejat and Sarduk’h lying close on the Aza Har’s wide bed, their sleep edged with restlessness. He first touched the Hunter’s mind to clamp down on his dozing consciousness, forcing him into a stable pushed sleep, then drew his awareness back just enough to glance at Elas, standing silent beside him.

Hold your sister if she wakes. Do not push her out unless you must. She nodded once and at his gesture opened the door. They quietly stepped inside, raising the sphere to softly light their work. Callent closed the door then stood before it, raising and expanding his shield to keep their visit private.

Rejat and Sarduk’h were lying close, still dressed in their practice clothing, the Hunter enclosing the Aza Har in an loose embrace. In his now-deepened sleep Sarduk’h’s face had relaxed, while Rejat’s held a strange, lingering tension. E’sar sat down at the head of the bed. He reached out past Rejat to clasp Sarduk’h’s temple, while Elas sat before his knees at her sister’s side. With her touch Rejat stirred fretfully, but did not wake, though her face contorted in dreamer’s agitation. E’sar briefly noted the Aza Har’s uneasy motions, then focused on the unconscious Hunter.

The Elder Healer opened his mind to scan the Hunter’s body, taking in the Vondarii’s excellent health, and seeing he was several years Rejat’s senior. Then he moved to scan Sarduk’h’s mind and aura. He picked up the turmoil the man had felt since before coming to their hold, traces of a repeating dream about the Aza Har, glimpses of her fall, and the deepened awareness of his love for her, ever since Morgana had touched his heart the day of Rejat’s fall. Much that Sarduk’h had undergone in the past few weeks, E’sar sensed there would be more struggle to come if Rejat did not improve. The Hunter was becoming angry with the Mirii, especially the Healers, and E'sar’s probing scan touched an intense desire to remove Rejat from the hold to protect her. A link to his past then appeared, revealing whispers of a terrible loss that the Aza Har was somehow reflecting in Sarduk’h’s present. Traces of guilt also echoed in the man’s mind, along with the determination to not let the same thing happen to the woman that he was now deeply in love with.

E'sar drew his awareness back to find Elas holding Rejat’s head, the Aza Har beginning to wake. A look of complete terror flashed in Rejat’s eyes, until she recognized her sister. “No, please, Elas, please don't hurt him, don't send him away,” Rejat pleaded, her words hushed, her emotions plain as she pressed herself closer to the Hunter’s side.

“Shh, Laa, we’re not going to hurt you or him, we just want to help you,” Elas said to comfort her and stroking Rejat’s temple. “Laa, tell us what’s wrong? Why are you afraid of me?”

Rejat tried to pull away from her sister’s touch, again rolling against Sarduk’h. “No, Elas, just leave me alone,” she moaned, her voice rising in agitation. She briefly closed her eyes, then looked up and called her Azerii’s name in panic.

Stillyth flashed his lights over her once, but did not appear in form. She turned accusing eyes to Elas, then E’sar. “Leave me alone! Why can’t you leave me alone?” she cried and tried to push them away.

E’sar touched her forehead and she quickly calmed under his skills. “Because, you are our responsibility, Laa,” he replied soothingly. She closed her eyes, whispering her protests. “Rejat, what is troubling you?” he asked, his hand still on the top of her head. She tried again to roll away and he pushed more of his calming energy through her, effectively stilling her efforts.

“The darkness, the darkness,” Rejat mumbled, a tight frown creasing her brow.

“What darkness, Rejat? What is the darkness?”

Rejat shook her head. “Please, don't push me, don't push me to sleep, the darkness, the Madness,” she said and her trembling began again. “The Madness is waiting, following me, in the darkness.”

E’sar glanced at Elas, seeing her deep worry. “Has she ever mastered the Dark Azerii?”

Elas nodded. “Yes, more than once. Do you think she is seeing that? The Madness of the Dark Azerii in her sleep state?”

E’sar did not reply. He looked back down at Rejat, then closed his eyes to scan her thoughts. Immediately the image of the black fog of the Dark Azerii met his mind and he nearly recoiled at the sight. He pushed beyond the foul image, then began to hear the whispering words of her mind, pulling her, condemning her with doubts of her strength or talents ever returning.

He opened his eyes as he drew his scan back. “She’s in her despair,” he announced wearily, his voice heavy. He stroked Rejat’s head. She had calmed, her eyes open but not seeing them. “She is not to be pushed to sleep. It seems to bring the images forward and she can’t wake to escape them.”

Elas visibly shuddered. “What can we do?” she whispered, her voice full of care.

E’sar looked over Rejat’s body again, noting the strong bond she had with the Hunter, seeing fine golden strands linking them completely in his inner-sight. “We let them stay together, for now, and keep an eye on both of them. He seems to be a calming presence to her, since he’s not Mirii.” He withdrew his hand then leaned back to glance up at Callent, standing silent before the door. “You two are the closest friends to them here. I want you to keep an eye on them. Aza Callent, I will talk to Morant and let him know this.”

Callent nodded, then glanced down at Elas. “What about Morgana? Can’t she see Rejat?” he asked, looking once more at E’sar. “Maybe she can help somehow.”

Though his face was not refusing the Aza Tor’s words, E’sar shook his head. “No, the other Elders are too closed to her trying to use the Forbidden,” he said, then rose to his feet. He looked back down at Rejat. The Aza Har’s face had relaxed with his touch. Her eyes had closed; she was drifting away into normal sleep.

“Elas,” he began and she stood up, turning to him. “Use your calming skills next time if necessary. Check on them in the morning, and see that Sarduk’h brings her to the Healers Hall at tenth hour. I still want to run a full scan on her again.” He turned back to Callent and the Aza Tor dropped his shield. They quietly stepped out of the room, leaving the Hunter and the Aza Har to their rest while they hurried away for their own.