Devan Chronicles Series: Books 1-3 (63 page)

“What’s it like?” Darnath said interrupting his thoughts.

“What do you mean?”

“You know, being apprenticed to the Eldest.”

“I don’t know what you’re asking, Darnath. Surely your life with Duren is no different to mine with Kerrion.”

“You even sound like a shamen now,” Darnath said in accusation. “Don’t you realise how much you’ve changed since that day in the council tent?”

“I
am
a shaman, Darnath, but I haven’t changed… unless you mean I’m taller now.”

Shelim knew that Darnath wasn’t referring to his greater height. He truly hadn’t realised how much his training had changed him until he met his parents again and saw the wary respect in their eyes rather than the more familiar smile of parent to son. Nevertheless, he had only known Darnath for short periods at the Gathers. How then could Darnath say he had changed?

Darnath stopped him with a hand. “You
have
changed, Shelim. You seem more… well, like the Eldest. You look serious all the time now, and… I don’t know. It’s like when I’m alone in the tent and Duren walks in. I know without looking it’s him.”

With relief Shelim realised his friend meant he could feel his magic. “Oh that’s nothing, Darnath. That’s just the magic. I can feel you, or any shamen for that matter. Kerrion says I’m just sensitive to it. You must be the same.”

“No, it’s
not
that,” Darnath said impatiently. “You know the secrets now, but Duren says I’m useless. I will never be a shaman as he is… or like you’ve become.” Then in a weak voice, “He said I should join the Lost.”

Shelim was boiling with anger. “That’s disgusting!” he almost shouted, and then guiltily looked around to see if anyone had noticed. They hadn’t, or they were too polite to show their regard. “No shaman should ever say that to one of the people,” he whispered angrily.

“Maybe he’s right though. I was a good warrior, but when I try to be a shaman I can’t do anything right!”

They walked on again.

Shelim couldn’t believe how outrageous Duren had been to say that to Darnath. To push someone toward the Lost was disgusting. To push a shaman away when they were needed so desperately was enough to make Duren a renegade and criminal. Darnath was in turmoil, but what could Shelim do about it? Duren was a full shaman and Darnath’s mentor. Kerrion couldn’t interfere with that relationship without evidence of some crime.

“Are you going back to your tribe after the Gathering?” Shelim said with a vague notion how he might help. It was risky, but Darnath was a friend of sorts and a brother shaman.

“I suppose so,” Darnath said listlessly.

Shelim stopped Darnath with an outstretched hand. Clan folk made a wide detour around them making him feel like an island in a river of the people. “Would you be willing to stay with the Night Wind if I could arrange it?” he said quietly while watching to see if anyone had overheard.

“I suppose so, but why bother… I’m useless.”

“
I’ll help you to learn the lessons that’s why!
” Shelim hissed keeping his voice low.

Hope sprang into Darnath’s eyes along with a great deal of gratitude. It made Shelim feel uncomfortable, but the responsibility also made him feel like a true shaman.

“Come on, we’ll be late!” Shelim said and they rushed off toward the council tent.

“You will ask Kerrion today won’t you?” Darnath said as they loped along.

“Yes.”

“You won’t forget will you?”

Give me strength!

Mastering his initial reaction to snap at the worried man, Shelim said that no, he wouldn’t forget. As they ran, people scurried out of their way. That is they did until Shelim slammed straight into a group of young warriors. His heart sank as he recognised Dehaan. Dehaan was a Dragon Clan warrior who had made himself an enemy a few years ago when he tried to bully a much smaller warrior named Shelim.

“Well, if it isn’t little Shelim,” Dehaan said sneering and making his friends laugh. “Where are you off to in such a hurry little shaman?”

The warriors, all from Dragon Clan, laughed at Dehaan’s words and jostled each other like children.

“I’m on my way to the council, Dehaan. Let me by please.”

“
Let me by please!
” Dehaan said in a silly voice and laughing with his friends.

Shelim could see Darnath bristling and quickly signalled him to stay out of it. Dehaan saw the hand signs and turned his attention to Darnath.

“I don’t know you,” Dehaan said after a quick assessing look. “If you want to put yourself forward, I’m willing.”

“Leave Darnath out of this,” Shelim said interposing a shoulder between them. “I have no quarrel with you Dehaan, but you seem to have one with me. I would love to challenge, but Kerrion has forbidden it.”

“How convenient! The old fool as Mentor to the young fool.”

Kerrion had made it plain he was not to challenge anyone at this Gathering… at
this
Gathering. Thinking fast, Shelim made his decision. “Are you man enough to accept a bargain Dehaan, or are you too cowardly?”

“What bargain?”

“I will accept your challenge at the next Gather. Kerrion will allow it, this I swear.”

Dehaan sneered. He was really good at it. His face seemed to lend itself easily to that kind of expression. “Fine by me little shaman, but remember this—if you try to escape like the cowardly shaman you are, I will challenge to the death.”

Shelim blinked in surprise. To the death was almost un-heard of! Dehaan’s friends backed away trying to distance themselves from their friend’s folly. He could hear them muttering about Dehaan’s lack of honour. A challenge to the death was like warfare. There were no rules. Dehaan didn’t realise it, but he had no more chance of surviving a challenge to the death against a shaman, than he did of sprouting wings and flying. Shelim couldn’t resist a taunt.

“If that is what you desire Dehaan, I accept, but I must warn you that there are reasons why challenging a shaman is considered without honour. I suggest you think hard before taking that course.”

Dehaan looked at his backing friends worriedly, but he shook off his sudden doubt and sneered. “I stand by what I said. I challenge you Shelim, and we shall fight on the first day of the next Gather. If you fail to appear, it’s to the death.”

“I accept,” Shelim said simply and shouldered Dehaan out of his way.

Shelim and Darnath trotted toward the council tent. They were the last two to arrive at the meeting, but Kerrion hadn’t started yet. They separated to join their mentors. Shelim sat next to Kerrion, and tried to ignore the glare he received.

“Sorry Eldest. Something happened—something very important. I would appreciate your help with it.”

Kerrion’s glare disappeared. “What happened?”

“I don’t want to say in front of so many, but will you trust me and request that Duren and Darnath stay with us after the Gathering?”

Kerrion frowned at Shelim in silence and then nodded slowly. “I will do as you ask, my boy. You have a good head on your shoulders, and I
do
trust you as you know.”

“I do know, honoured Kerrion, and thank you.”

* * *

3 ~ A Long Journey

It was good to be home, Julia thought. They had ridden into the fortress minus the wagons just yesterday. It was a tiring trip, but at least she wasn’t seeing double anymore. Dergan had been ecstatic when he saw the bricks, but even more so when she told him of her deal with Stefn. He was almost dancing for joy when Kev told him he could keep the wagons for as long as he needed them. The money Stefn owed her would supply Dergan half as many bricks again as she had made. Dergan had gone from a man desperate for supplies to having abundance in one stroke! It was all she could do to stop him going to his knees in gratitude. Talk about embarrassing!

“What do you think?” Jessica said.

Julia studied herself in the mirror. She certainly looked different. Jessica had promised to style her hair as soon as it grew enough to work with. What had taken her attention now though wasn’t her new style. It was the streak of white over her left eye. It had appeared when her hair grew back after the war. She quite liked it, but she wasn’t sure if Keverin did. Correction, she knew he didn’t, but it was the cause and not the white lock itself he didn’t like. It happened when she entered Camorin to fight the Hasians. Keverin didn’t like to be reminded of that time.

Julia turned this way and that studying the problem from all angles. “I don’t know. Do you think Kev will like it?”

Jessica tapped a finger against her lips in thought. “I think any style you wear pleases him, but perhaps we could bring some over to your left shoulder like this.”

Jessica re-arranged Julia’s hair to drape over her shoulder. She had spent a long time loosely curling and arranging it already, and it seemed a shame to undo all the work, but as soon as Jessica showed her what she had in mind, Julia agreed that it was better. By moving her hair off centre, it obscured most of the white until only a hint remained.

Julia watched the transformation and smiled. “I think he’ll like that better don’t you?”

Jessica nodded her agreement. She had been overjoyed when Keverin finally declared his love. She had wanted to set a wedding date straight away. Gideon had been delighted at the prospect, but Julia had been still recovering from the fire and the craving for Tancred. The wedding was put off. Julia’s smile wilted as she remembered screaming for what seemed like a tenday. She would have died without Keverin sitting by her side and holding her as the pain shook her to the core. She was still amazed that she had come through it sane. Well, as sane as she had ever been.

She shook off the bitter memory for a much more pleasant one. Keverin had declared his love almost three seasons ago, but Jessica was still in shock. After all the years of trying to get him interested in marriage, he had found love on his own. Julia wondered if Jessica saw the parallel between Keverin and his father. Probably not, she decided.

Kevlarin’s mother had gone through similar pains as Jessica. She had schemed to wed her son to the daughter of a Chulym master crafter, but Kevlarin was set against it. Hoping to make Kevlarin meet the girl and fall in love with her, his mother had arranged a banquet. It backfired badly when Jessica boldly ignored Kevlarin’s dark mood and asked him to dance with her. Kevlarin fell passionately in love, and his mother could say nothing to change it.

It was no bad thing that Athione had remained aloof from Chulym, especially since that once prosperous city had fallen on hard times. While living in Malcor Town, Julia had learned a lot about Chulym and how the common folk lived in Deva. In her opinion, the lords had failed in their duty to protect the people and that unfortunately included Keverin. Of course Keverin didn’t see it that way. His lands were prosperous and his people happy. Keverin had no authority outside of his own lands except in time of war. In theory, his position as Lord Protector of the West gave him leadership of the entire Western Marches including the western lords, but in practise he ruled only those towns and villages within his own borders. If Keverin tried to pressure the other lords he would have to fight them all. Keverin wouldn’t be the cause of civil war, and although the King was failing the country, he wouldn’t try to depose him. If it were up to Julia, she would take the old man off the throne and put Gylaren in his place. Keverin would be better, but she knew he would never accept it.

Jessica made eye contact with her in the mirror. “You’re quiet. What are you thinking about?”

“Is there a procedure for choosing a new King when the old line ends?”

“Pergann is an only child with no family left alive. One of the lords will have to take—” Jessica stopped what she was doing. “Oh no you don’t. Keverin will
not
take the throne and you know it—or you should.”

Julia shrugged. “I do know it, but someone has to take control and start trade going again. The people are suffering all across the country. I was thinking more of Gylaren than Kev.”

“Gylaren is a good choice. He has three boys, but don’t forget there are three score lords and any number of those may not agree with you.” Jessica inserted the last pearl encrusted comb into Julia’s hair and stepped back. “There! I think that’s better don’t you?”

Julia turned her head to look at both sides. “It looks great. Thanks.”

They left Jessica’s bedchamber to sit in the other room chatting about their friends and how the new recruits were shaping up. They discussed the wedding plans again and finalised the invitation list.

“Have you and Kev decided on a day yet?” Jessica asked eagerly. “I just need the day and I can have the couriers deliver the invitations.”

Julia grinned. “We
have
talked about it as it happens.”

“And?”

“And we thought mid-summer’s eve might be nice.”

Jessica jumped up and hugged her. “Oh this is wonderful! It’s the most romantic time of the year.”

Julia hugged her friend—her future mother—and grinned. “You don’t think I’m rushing into this do you?”

Jessica snorted. “Tomorrow wouldn’t be too soon for me, though I doubt Purcell and Gylaren would appreciate missing it.”

Jessica was bubbling with excitement. She wanted to see Elise about the wedding arrangements right away. Julia shook her head and followed Jessica out into the corridor.

“Summer is a season away yet.”

“I know, I know!” Jessica said. “But time goes so fast. It will be here before you know it. Gideon will be so pleased…”

Julia watched Jessica hurry away and chuckled in amusement.

There was a while to go yet before dinner. Julia decided to make her way down to the library to find Mathius. He had changed a great deal since she had first met him. Gone was the inexperienced young initiate, to be replaced by a serious yellow robed journeyman mage. Mathius had gained confidence since his promotion to the yellow robe. Consequently he was more serious about his studies now. Mathius was her friend and he was still fun to be around, but if she wanted to find him these days, she would need to drag him out of the library rather than prowl the walls hoping to find him the way she used to do.