The Children of the Anarii VI
The Unfolding
At Zerren's Gate Hold, Morgana, now partnering Kellander, prepares to go before the Mirii High Council, which is debating on whether she can remain in their society because of the Forbidden. Rejat faces her fears of her pregnancy and the loss of her Aza skills. Kellander begins teleporting messages for Elas to her husband Tagar, at risk in the western Outerlands because of the Fathers religion.
A Glimpse of
The Children of the Anarii VI ~ The Unfolding
from Chapter 4
The next day, Elas had just returned to her quarters after finishing her duties for the afternoon when Brealyth shimmered about her. Elaa, the Teleport asks to see you. What shall I tell him? she sent, then appeared before her Mirii in her child form.
She drew a hand through Brealyth’s long pale hair, her hopes rising. “Tell him to come, I will gladly see him,” she replied and her Azerii disappeared. She stepped to her table to make some tajiz, her thoughts restless. What shall I ask? she mused. She wanted to go home, Rejat’s words from the day before seemed like a sign from the Lady, telling her to follow her desire. But what if Tagar was in trouble? Her sudden appearance could jeopardize him and his hold members. What do I do?
A light knock startled her and she raised her calming skills as she told Brealyth to let the Teleport enter. She looked up as her door opened to see Kellander step in, a touch of fatigue about his tall form. It had been several days since he and Morgana had come to see her. He was back at nearly full duties, maybe even his Aza practice as well, though she hoped he was not pushing himself as brutally as he was before his heart failed him.
“Healer Elas, I'm sorry it took me so long,” he began as he stopped inside her door. Elas waved a hand for him to join her at her table.
“Aza Kellander, come, join me. Don't apologize, though I am anxious. I know you are still getting your strength back. How go your duties?” she asked as she poured herself a cup of tajiz and offered him one. He sat beside her and leaned on his elbows on the table, one hand rising to pull his hair from his face. It had grown much since the fire shortened it around his temples and forehead.
“I am glad to be at work again, thanks to Morgana, and you,” he said and smiled, then accepted her offer. “My skills are improving daily, maybe even better than before.” He took a sip of the tajiz, then met her gaze.
“You know Morgana’s touch could be the reason? Drek’h’s healing talent was strengthened by his time with her. E’sar tested him just before he left. His talent had grown.”
Kellander went still at the mention of Morgana’s previous lover. She felt him raise his calming energy as he tried to relax. “No, I wasn't aware of that. But I do notice a difference in my teleport talent.” He lowered his gaze to his cup.
“I'm sorry, Kellander. I shouldn’t have mentioned him.” Elas felt sympathy for the Aza Tor, wondering again what Morgana would do when Drek’h returned for her. She could see how deeply Kellander cared for her niece and remembered how distressed he had been when she asked him his feelings for Morgana before he regained his memories. Then he had only known the raging desire for Morgana because of Sentaar’s impulse ‘push,’ not his true feelings. “You really do love her,” she said lowly and he looked back at her, a touch of sadness in his eyes.
“Yes, Elas. I do. I want her to choose me, but she won’t. She gets upset when I—if I ask her to. Yet she is unsure Drek’h will return. I can’t help wishing he would not,” he said, a defiant cast in his gaze.
Before replying, Elas took a drink of her tajiz. “You know you can’t force her, or challenge Drek’h. He said he’s coming back. She must choose. He does have a claim on her.”
The Teleport’s face darkened. “I know that well enough, but she does not. Maybe you should tell her. Drek’h left her. Why should he still have a claim on her? She loves me, I will not leave her unless—” He stopped his words, lowering his eyes again. “Maybe we should not discuss this,” he finally said after a tense pause.
Elas nodded. “I will talk to her. She needs to choose. It’s not fair to you, your feelings.”
He looked up, blowing a long sigh. “You have helped me greatly, Elas. Now, tell me, how can I help you?”
She clasped her hands together in a prayerful gesture, her gaze low. “Have you ever been to the western Varan valleys?”
“The landsholds of the western Outerlands, near the coast?”
“More inland, nearly in the foothills.” She met his sight again and felt her heart race. “East of Callendae, west of the old Trader’s Pass.”
A thoughtful expression filled Kellander’s face. “Yes, I have traveled through that area, but it was one of my early journeys, and I didn't stay long. But I know what the people there are like,” he said, a shadow touching his eyes. “At least close to Callendae. Very suspicious.”
“This is a landshold a few days east, almost in the foothills.” She felt herself tremble and clasped her cup, taking a long drink, then looked back at the Teleport. His dark eyes were heavy on her face.
“Elas, tell me of the dreams you’ve had. Morgana said there was something evil going on in the landsholds?”
She shivered again, then took a deep breath and told him what she had visioned and dreamt, then what Ruthenn had told her about the fanatical religion of the Fathers moving up from the south. “According to the reports from Mahdii Hold they have not encountered these ‘Fathers’ in the northern landsholds yet. But I know something is wrong,” she said, her arms now wrapped about herself. “Morgana sees it too?”
Kellander’s expression remained still. “She didn't say if she’d had a Vision or not. She just—guessed, why you really agreed to help me, then told me to be careful, that there’s something happening in the landsholds. ‘Something evil.’ Her words.”
Elas nodded. “She feels it too. I have not told her of my Vision and dreams. Her family is there, my—companion is her father’s younger brother. I didn't want to worry her.” Her gaze fell to her hands as she clasped her cup, noting her barii ring as it glittered darkly on her left hand.
Kellander reached out and touched her arm. “Elas, what do you wish me to do?”
She met his intense gaze, her eyes brightening. “I—need to know if he—Tagar—is all right. If I were a Teleport, I would go myself, but I do not want to just appear, for fear of endangering him and his family, though that is exactly what I wish to do.”
“I can take you, once my strength is fully returned, but I have to know exactly where I am going. Verryth and I must have a precise image, or it’s too dangerous. It would be best if we could scan ahead first.” He drew his hand back and a trace of smile rose upon his lips. She stared at him, her eyes questioning.
“I have done this before, when I was just a new Mirii still at Lasah. It was part of my training, though I used safer locations than the Outerlands to teleport to.”
“So you have teleported to places you have never been?” she asked, her mind tossing over ideas of where would be best to approach Tagar’s home.
Kellander nodded. “Yes, Verryth and I just had to do a very thorough scan first, to get as much sense of the area, and it had to be a relatively quiet location. No intruders, or it could be hazardous,” he ended, his frown returning.
“You could appear within another’s aura, or body?” Elas shivered at the thought. She had never asked a Teleport about their abilities before.
“No, our energies would be incompatible, but if we were to suddenly appear in front of an armed soldier or PeaceKeeper, a quick sword thrust would be the end of me if I did not raise my shield soon enough.” He took a drink of tajiz, then held his gaze on his cup. “How do you wish to approach your companion first? A written message? If he is aware of your desire to contact him, it could make things easier and safer for later, than if I took you directly now. Besides keeping this hidden from the Elders. I assume you were not given permission to leave,” he said and glanced back at her.
Elas felt a wave of compassion from the Teleport, along with a trace of his anger and remembered he had been ordered to remain at his ward even though he had experienced repeated visions of the fire destroying it. “The council said I can leave in the spring. But I feel that will be too late. I must know now,” she replied, holding her own frustrations in check. She rose to her feet, debating on getting the letter she had written to Tagar over the past several weeks. “Wait, let me get something,” she mumbled. She left the table for her sleeping room to quickly retrieved her writing box then returned to her chair. Kellander watched her, his fatigue still evident.
“I wrote…pages,” she began, keeping the box closed, “but maybe a note—”
Kellander stopped her with a touch to her hand. “Elas, wait, I still have to know where I'm going before I know what I am carrying,” he said, a trace of smile appearing again at her impatience.
“Yes, well, let me think.” She went still, searching her mind for the best place. Tagar’s sleeping room? No, that would be too abrupt and Tagar’s habits changed periodically. He could come in while the Teleport was leaving him her note. Besides, it was too personal. There had to be a better place.
“The circle, in the forest behind his home. It’s on his lands, it’s an old meeting place of ours,” she said as she met Kellander’s gaze. “It’s a place Rejat and I used to meet, as well as other Mirii traveling through the area. It’s safer than his house if there is some danger there.”
“What makes you think there won’t be danger in this circle if his people know about it? They might expect some Mirii to be there and watch it closely,” he said, his voice uneasy.
Elas shook her head. “Few of his holders know about it. The forest is deep around it and his people were favorable to us. I feel that would be the best place to start, and there is a place within it to leave a message. But he would have to be told to look for it.”
Kellander looked doubtful. “How do you suggest that? Can you mind link with him?”
“No, but we could,” she replied, “if your scan will reach that far. You can assist me, to extend my range. Tagar could hear my mind voice some, though he is not a Talent.” She lowered her gaze to the box before her, her longing for her mate rising.
“Very well. I believe I can do a long scan that far now. When do you wish to try to contact him?” he asked, his expression eased when she looked back at him.
“I would right now if I thought he would be alone, but later, well after dark would be better, when he is near to sleep.”
“Can your mind voice wake him?” Kellander asked then took a drink of his tajiz.
“Does Morgana’s presence still drive your desire and push your fatigue aside?” she returned and he nearly choked, lowering his cup as embarrassment filled his face. She smiled at the surprised look he threw her. “Yes, Kellander, I too have known intense passion. Does that answer your question?”
He wiped at his face, the redness fading. “Yes, it does. Now, when? Tonight?”
“Are you up to it? You look tired,” Elas said, hoping he would disagree.
He did, his pride rising, she supposed. “I can rest awhile, then meet you here later. But Morgana—”
“I don't want her to worry, and I’d rather she didn't know. Otherwise she may get blamed if something unfavorable happens.”
He nodded, then a thought lightened his face. “I will suggest she see your sister? While I meet with you?”
Elas frowned. “Morgana is more perceptive than that. Tell her what you must. If she comes with you, I’ll talk to her and try to persuade her to let us do this alone.”
Kellander nodded then rose to his feet. “What time?”
“About tenth hour? That should be late enough to start,” Elas said and stood as the Teleport turned for her door. He opened it and glanced back at her, his gaze firm.
Then I shall meet you here at that time, and I suggest you rest as well. The western Varan valleys are a very long way from here, and it will test your skills as well as mine, he sent, then turned and stepped into the hallway, leaving Elas in excited turmoil over their coming effort.
And the journey continues...
The Children of the Anarii VII - The Mastering
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