Connections
Palenon slept uneasily. The chair wasn’t comfortable, but he was exhausted. Being chased through the Citadel of Kunir by the Lord Commander of the Citadel, pinned to a door by a long knife through the shoulder, and coming face to face with the copper-haired woman who haunted his dreams was too much.
As he slipped into sleep, a soft female voice spoke to him. “Palenon, rest easily within these walls. You have a long journey ahead.” He drifted to sleep as a pair of eyes opened in his dreams and bore into him. He twisted and moaned in his sleep. The eyes blinked and the pupils elongated into reptilian slits, flaming with anger. Palenon could sense the anger and rage, but for some reason they were distant and did not bother him as much as in the past.
What seemed like an eternity later, a young woman stepped from the mists of his dreams. She was dressed in a dark blue robe and her copper hair was braided into three long braids that draped down to waist. Her deep emerald eyes blazed with an inner fire. Around her swirled small motes of fire, snow, and lightning. She calmly stepped up to the slitted eyes and raised a hand towards one of them. A howl of pain echoed through Palenon’s dream and he twisted as the eye exploded in a burst of fire. Raising her hand towards the other eye, another shriek of pain tore through Palenon as the second eye froze and shattered into icy dust. She then turned to Palenon and extended her hand, palm down in a gesture of calming. Then the dream changed. Usually the dream ended when the woman destroyed the eyes and calmed him. This time, the woman sat down in a meditative position and started plucking the various motes from the air around her. As she closed her hand around each mote, it vanished and her eyes flashed. When she had secured all the motes, she smiled and closed her eyes, tilting her head back and resting her hands, palms up, on her knees in a display of exaltation. After a moment, she looked at Palenon and smiled at him. “Rest well, Palenon. You are safe.” she whispered. With that, Palenon drifted into a deep, peaceful sleep.
—-
Najal woke up as early morning light streamed into the infirmary room that she was in. She looked around and saw Fenyn asleep on a bed not far away. Then she noticed the young man asleep in the chair next to her bed. She didn’t recognize him and he was resting his head on her bed. A little bit disturbed by this, she drew her knees up to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Under other circumstances, a strange man sleeping with his head on her bed would have scared her, but for some reason an intense curiosity overwhelmed her urge to wake him up and demand an explanation. Instead, she just watched him as slept restlessly. He groaned and shuddered several times and each time, an urge to reach out and put her hand on his head came over her, but she resisted the odd urge each time. Finally, the man groaned, pain etched on his face, and she couldn’t resist. She reached out and caressed his hair, shushing him in quiet tones. As soon as her hand touched him, the man settled down and fell into an undisturbed sleep. She withdrew her hand and simply watched him again.
A candle-mark later, Fenyn stirred and woke. He yawned and Najal looked over, a finger on her lips. Fenyn looked over and saw the man asleep, leaning on her bed. He nodded and stretched before slowly, painfully, getting out of his bed. He groaned and Najal glared at him, shushing him. He glared back and slowly walked to the door. Carefully opening it, he edged his way out and reclosed the door.
Several minutes later, a robed woman quietly opened the door and walked in. She crossed to the opposite side of the bed from the sleeping man and whispered to Najal, “I would like to check your wound to see how it is healing. The Lady Oracle would like to make sure that you are able to travel today.” Najal nodded and the woman carefully pulled the sheet down over her leg and began to poke around the scar that had formed overnight. Najal gritted her teeth as the woman prodded the injured muscle. After a few prods, the woman nodded. She whispered, “Your leg is healing well. You should be able to travel without issues. May I see your arm as well?” Najal looked her dubiously, but pulled up the sleeve of the robe she was dressed in. The woman took her wrist gently and examined the long, drawn scar. It was healing well, but even after fifteen days, it still looked raw and fresh, while the wound on her leg appeared several ten-days healed. The woman looked up at Najal and asked “Blood magic?” Najal nodded. The woman nodded back, “It is healing extremely well then. Take good care of it and avoid performing more blood magic in the near future. Until it is fully healed additional blood magic will re-open this wound. It will also be harder to heal.” Najal worried her lower lip. “I had no choice at the time and I didn’t enjoy the experience at all. I’m going to avoid performing blood magic at all costs, have no doubt about that” she whispered. The woman nodded. “Good,” she said. “That one has been there all night. You will want to be careful with him.” Najal looked up. “He’s not a cleric?” she asked, a little panic creeping into her whisper. The woman shook her head. “No. He is one of yours. The Lady Oracle has seen him in her visions, just as she has seen you and the armored one” she said, standing up and walking towards the door. As she opened the door, she said “Remember, treat him fairly and with care.”
—-
Fenyn found Lisila and Ardel in the armory a half candle-mark later. “She’s awake and watching some guy who’s asleep on her bed.” he said as he saw Lisila. She looked up at him. “Good, you’re awake. The man who is sleeping next to Najal is named Palenon. He was the one that Lord Valadur was trying to kill,” she said. “Now that you are here, you can work with Ardel to get all of our supplies packed.”
“What are you going to do?” asked Fenyn, a trace of annoyance in his voice.
Ardel looked up and cuffed him on the shoulder. “What does it matter? She told you to help me. Are you going to?” he asked. Fenyn glared at him. “And if I decide not to?” he asked, annoyed.
Ardel shrugged. “Then you don’t have any supplies. You are coming with us, right?”
Fenyn looked at him, surprised. “Yes. I’m coming with you.”
“Then help pack the supplies,” commanded Ardel. Fenyn grumbled something inaudible, but started to help Ardel.
During this exchange, Lisila slipped out of the armory, smiling. It would be several candle-marks before everything was packed and in order, but they would be able to leave Asery by mid-day and still make the first waystation before dark.
—-
The door to the infirmary ward opened quietly again and Najal looked up. Lisila slipped in and closed the door again. She walked over to Najal’s bed and carefully sat on the foot of the bed without disturbing the young man sleeping there.
Najal returned to watching the young man. “Who is he, Lisila?” she whispered.
“His name is Palenon,” replied Lisila.
“But WHO is he? Why does he seem familiar even though I’ve never seen him before?” asked Najal.
“He is one of Ithen’s victims. He seems familiar because he bears her marks. One of the few of her victims that has lasted any amount of time,” explained Lisila. “He is also a survivor. That storm you witnessed near Biqam? He survived it relatively unscathed. Only one of two people that did.”
Najal looked from Palenon to Lisila and back. “There’s something you’re not telling me, though. Isn’t there?”
Lisila smiled. “You are perceptive, but what I’m not telling you is something that you will have to discover on your own. My telling you won’t make it easier to accept.”
Najal nodded. “So what now?” she asked, looking up at Lisila.
“Now we wait for Palenon to wake up. Then we say the things that need to be said. And afterward, we do the things that we know must be done.”
They waited quietly together for half a candle-mark, watching Palenon sleep. Then he shuddered and sat up, yawning. Najal pulled her knees tighter to her and Lisila smiled as Palenon opened his eyes and looked into Najal’s eyes.
“Good morning, young Palenon,” said Lisila, smiling. “It is nice of you to join us. We have much to talk about.”
He wrenched his eyes from Najal’s wide emerald eyes and looked at Lisila. “Lady Oracle.” he said, sitting up straighter.
Lisila chuckled. “Palenon, relax. To you, as to the others, I am simply Lisila. To the assemblage of Kunir, I am the Lady Oracle. As I said, we have much to talk about.”
He nodded. “Yes Lady…Lisila.” He turned to Najal and bowed his head. “I’m sorry, young woman. I didn’t mean to intrude on your space. I only wished to make sure you were alright after the what happened yesterday.”
Najal smiled shyly at him. “I understand,” she said. “I am glad that you are recovered from those events as well.”
Palenon nodded and they looked at each other for a moment before Lisila cleared her throat. “That’s all well and good, but the three of us need to talk while Ardel and Fenyn prepare the horses and mules.”
Najal broke eye contact first and looked at Lisila. Palenon reluctantly looked away from the copper-haired woman before him.
Lisila looked at each in turn. “Palenon, this is Najal. Though she carries herself like a young woman, she is still a girl at heart and you must bear that in mind. A sixteen year old student is not as worldly as most. Najal, this is Palenon. His life has not been easy up to this point and this connection between the two of you does not make it any easier.”
Najal looked at Palenon from behind her knees. “Greetings Palenon,” she whispered. “I understand we had a mutual acquaintance until several years ago.”
Palenon looked at Najal and nodded. “Yes, Najal. I believe you met the woman I used to call ‘Mistress’.” He said this without a trace of hostility. “She was my world until I was eight and she had me arrested and imprisoned. Since then, she’s only been my nightmares.” he said.
Najal lifted her head and looked at him in disbelief. “You were arrested when you were eight!?” she asked, stunned.
He nodded. “I was an alley-rat in Artina. Living on the streets is the first thing I remember, begging for food or coin. When I was six, a woman walked the alleys and collected all of the children. She didn’t do anything sinister, merely asked if we wanted food and a clean place to rest. We were all desperate and most of us leapt at the chance. Some didn’t, but we never saw them again. The next two years were, um, quick. We ran errands for her, we stole for her. We did pretty much anything she asked us to. The one thing she never asked us to do was kill. One time, a guard captain was harassing her and one of the older children ambushed the captain and killed him. He said he did it because he didn’t like the way the captain was treating the Mistress. She was not very happy about that and tortured him to death. We never wanted to get on her wrong side after that. We all disappointed her occasionally and she did…things to us when we did. But she didn’t kill anyone for disappointments.” The story just flooded out of him. He didn’t know why, but it felt right to talk about it. Najal’s eyes were wide. Lisila looked unsurprised despite the fact that she had never heard the full story before.
Palenon continued “When I was eight, the Mistress asked me to steal a bauble from this one merchant. It was an enormous ring that the merchant favored. The Mistress had asked the merchant if she oculd purchase but he didn’t want to sell it, so I was asked by her to get it for her. I stole his coin pouch to get him to chase me. And chase me he did, right into an alley. I knew there were guards coming because he started yelling as soon as I grabbed his coin pouch. Anyway, when he ran into the alley I stepped out behind him and hit him with a blackjack. He fell to the ground and I grabbed the ring and ran. Unfortunately for him and me, he was unconscious and fell into a puddle of muck in the alley and drowned.” Palenon shuddered and Najal cringed. “The Mistress was very angry with me. Not only had I killed the merchant, but now she didn’t want the ring anymore because she couldn’t wear it or sell it. It was the first and only time I ever actually saw her. She dragged her nails over my arms as she looked into my eyes and the next thing I knew I was in chains in a work gang. That was sixteen years ago.”
Palenon fell silent. Lisila looked at him warmly. “Palenon, thank you for confessing that to us. Knowing that will help us remove her influence over you,” she said, laying a hand on his shoulder.
Najal simply looked at him. “You were a thief and a prisoner? How long were you a prisoner?” she asked.
Palenon chuckled. “I suppose I am still a prisoner. I was never released. While working on a bridge near Biqam, the work gang was caught in a sudden storm. We were pelted by rain and hail and intense winds. I watched prisoners and guards alike get blown into the ravine or beaten to death by enormous hailstones. Somehow, I was caught in just the right place to avoid most of it. When the storm passed, I found a guard had survived as well, but barely. I helped her to Biqam and pretended to be a guard. There, they gave me some money, clothes, and a horse and I left. For some reason, I came here where the Lord Commander tried to kill me. And you. I’m very sorry about that.”
Najal just looked at him. “So, you’re a criminal?” she said, scared.
Lisila glared at her and snapped, “Najal! Palenon is no more of a criminal than you are.” Najal looked Lisila, stunned. She shook her head. “No, Lisila. Please don’t.” Lisila glared at her. “Then you tell him. Otherwise, I will.” Najal put her head down on her knees. “Do I have to?” she asked, pleading. Lisila simply looked at her and nodded. “Yes Najal. You must. Otherwise it will tear at you until both of you are at each other’s throats. Speaking of it now, alone, will be easier than in front of everyone.” Najal looked up, pleading with her eyes. Lisila stared back, “Now, Najal. We must get this over with before we leave.”
Najal heaved a sigh. “I don’t remember my real mother. She left me and Papa when I was less than a year old, or that’s what Papa told me. I grew up with a nurse, my Papa, and his mistress.” Palenon’s eyes widened at that and Najal saw fear creep into them. “No, Palenon, this was a woman who had started out as one of my nurses, but after several years, she was comforting Papa in all sorts of ways and Papa insisted she be called my ‘mother’. I knew she wasn’t my real mother though and she had no issue of reminding methat my real mother left me and Papa.” Lisila looked down at the bed she was sitting on as tears formed in her eyes. Najal continued, “I was six when I first used magic. I was so excited because all I ever wanted was to be a mage like in the stories Papa told me. Anyway, when I felt and used magic that first time, I was so thrilled that I ran and told Papa. He thought he understood and tried to convince me that I had used magic the way the Empire teaches it, pure force without the elements. But I know now that he really didn’t understand what I was telling him. Even his mistress was happy for me, though it was a sick sort of happy. Several days later, Ithen visited for the first time. I don’t know what happened between her and Papa, but after she left, Papa wasn’t quite the same. He still loved me, but he was scared. He dismissed the nurse the next week. Ithen visited at least once each month for the first year. After the first several visits, Papa’s mistress left also. I don’t know what happened, but one day she was there and the next, she and all of her stuff was gone.” Najal paused and looked from Palenon to Lisila and back.
Palenon smiled, reassuringly. “That sounds like it was very hard for you, Najal. Thank you for sharing it.” Lisila kept looking at the bed.
Najal bowed her head. “But that’s not all Palenon,” she continued. “After that first year, Ithen only visited once or twice a year. I hated those visits, not because she did anything to me, but because Papa hated them and feared them. He always looked a little more worn after each visit. After that first year, my grandparents visited more often too, usually several months after one of Ithen’s visits. They also came, with my great-grandfather, on my birthdays. It was on my tenth birthday that Ithen showed up also. She arrived first and started harassing Papa about some pact he had made with her. Then my grandparents showed up, but she just laughed at them and continued demanding that Papa pay his debt right then. It just made me mad. I stomped through the foyer like only an angry little child can and yelled right back at Ithen. And then I hit her with my magic. I don’t think she was really expecting it because it caught her flatfooted knocked her clear across the yard. I think I surprised everyone really because none of them moved when I stormed out of the front door and over to her unconscious body. I was about to rip her to shreds with fire and wind when my great-grandfather stopped me and showed me how to use pure force to bury her. I almost did, but Grandpa Corus, my great grandfather, couldn’t maintain my control long enough and lightning struck Ithen just as we buried her. I fainted at that point.” Palenon’s eyes grew wide as he heard Najal’s story of coming into her magic and defeating his Mistress. He shuddered and felt ill at the sheer power that the story implied.
Najal watched his reaction and a wave nausea swept over her quickly and left just as fast. “When I woke up, I was given a candle-mark to say goodbye and pack and then Grandpa Corus took me to the Imperial Academy. I spent the next six years there and was miserable for most of them. Between teachers that punished me every chance they got and students that bullied me when teachers weren’t looking, I really didn’t like being there. The biggest pleasure I got was reading the histories in the library. When I read them, I always imagined Papa reading them to me. I also enjoyed the magical theory classes. I didn’t have to worry about accidentally pulling on elemental magics in the theory classes so I felt safe there. But then one group of students found me in the courtyard after curfew one night and threatened to beat me. They were the worst bullies and I got scared and angry. I called fire and scared them half to death. I don’t know what would’ve happened if Grandpa Corus hadn’t stopped me, but after that I knew I couldn’t stay. I ran away the next day.” She paused there watching the pity and sympathy show on Lisila’s and Palenon’s faces. She frowned. “I don’t want pity. It happened. It’s who I am.” she snapped.
Palenon drew back. “I’m sorry. In some ways, that sounds worse than what I went through. Once I was in prison, the guards didn’t treat me too badly. The other prisoners were worse than the guards, but even then I was a kid so they weren’t to mean. On the streets, the kids stuck together because there was safety in numbers, but we still had to deal with the older ones that preyed on us,” he said.
She nodded. “Well, I got a dose of what you must have gone through on the streets because I didn’t plan well and within two days I was out of money and desperate. A small gang of bandits tried to grab me but I managed to get away. I was looking no different from the other street urchins in Relaith when I tried to steal Ardel’s coin pouch.” She laughed softly. “Somehow he saw through the grim and tatters and took pity on me. I didn’t really want it, but he offered to buy me food and a room to sleep in. I couldn’t say no. And the next day, he decided to accompany me home. He was, I don’t know, he was like a gallant knight. I had nothing and wanted to show him my appreciation, but every time I threw myself at him or gave him an opportunity or excuse, he would bring up his dead lover and the moment would be over. After we dealt with a bandit ambush, something changed though and I didn’t feel the need to do that anymore. We were friends, equals and that was it.”
She looked at Palenon. “And now we’re here. You and me, Palenon. I don’t know what it is that ties us together, but I don’t like it. And at the same time, I don’t want it to stop. Can you understand that?”
Palenon nodded. “Yes, Najal. It’s sort of like the tie between the Mistress, Ithen, and me. I hated the feel of it, but I didn’t want it to leave. The only difference is that tie felt very wrong despite the need I had for it. This, whatever it is, feels much more right. Good, not evil. I don’t like the feel of being tied to someone, but at least it doesn’t feel wrong.”
Najal smiled. “Thank you, Palenon. You do understand,” she said.
Lisila finally looked up. Her eyes were red, but she smiled. “Good. Palenon, let us, you and I, get you to the armory. I know armor and weapons are not particularly your area, you will need them. And this will give Najal a chance to get dressed and join us all for a brief meal before we leave.”