First Comes The One Who Wanders (19 page)

How she was actually supposed to hold the balance and how long it would take and who she would be had been the subject of many scholarly conventions since the time Greyan had written the book.

There were only two copies of the book of prophecy, one book for the masters of light and one for the masters of dark. They guarded them religiously. No one knew the exact location of either book. All reference to the keepers of the books had disappeared, or was kept silent intentionally. There were copies of segments. Some had been copied in this book. There were a dozen interpretations for each segment.

The only piece that no one seemed to disagree on was that the Chidra would name the Champion and proclaim the time at hand. Leilas closed the book in frustration and pushed it aside. She’d spent her whole life on the outside watching, never able to use her power to affect change. And now it seemed, if what the scholars and the prophecy said was true, it was her destiny to spend the rest of her life watching and not acting. She'd hoped that once she became a master, she’d be given the opportunity to make a difference. But it seemed fate had destined otherwise.

So why had Solein spent the time to teach her so much if her lot was to do nothing? Leilas had a brief moment of hope. And why would Rengailai be interested in her if all she was meant to be was a signal vane?

Leilas reached for the book again then changed her mind. Perhaps it was better she didn’t know what the prophecy said. Perhaps she would be more content to live each day if she wasn’t anticipating the events prophesied and wondering when they would happen.

Leaving the book Rengailai chose for her on the table, Leilas began browsing through the many volumes. She finally stopped in front of a section that called out to her with power. Reaching her hand out, Leilas let the power guide her. When she pulled her hand back, she held a scroll covered in ancient runes, which seemed to glimmer gold when she looked at them.

Knowing that this was an important document, Leilas brought it back to the chair and attempted to decipher it. When she looked up again, the shadows had replaced the sunlight and the fire and lamps cast an eerie glow around the room. Leilas wasn’t sure when Rengailai would come, so she returned the scroll to its place and then returned to her seat. Opening the book Rengailai left for her, she feigned interest in it until she heard the lock being turned to open the door.

"My dear lady, I’m sorry I left you alone for so long. But I did have some matters that needed my attention." Rengailai bowed slightly in her direction as she rose. He was still in the crimson and black of the School of Fire. Leilas wondered if it was a tribute to his father Crog.

"I managed to entertain myself in your marvelous library. There are so few these days. I’m surprised I haven’t heard of this one before."

"Not many know of its existence. I'm certain Gidron Frey isn't aware of it. I'm amazed the masters at the School of Sky allowed him to tutor the Chidra."

"Perhaps they didn’t know I was to be the Chidra."

"Ridiculous. They've known as I've known. I wonder what game they're playing."

"You mean you don’t know? The great Rengailai?"

"I know what games they play," said Rengailai arrogantly. "I wonder if you do, or if you still believe the lies that you've been taught."

"I suppose that depends on what teachings you're talking about. I believe all they taught me about Jovan and the light magic. I believe in the power of the light magic. I believe that truth, justice and goodness will prevail."

Rengailai’s thin veneer of a smile became strained. Clapping his hands, he turned away from Leilas and waited for Marlette to enter the room. He didn’t have to wait long. "We're ready for dinner, I think."

Offering his arm for Leilas, he waited until she had reluctantly taken it and then led her into the dining room. The dinner table was laden with venison and vegetables, cheeses and wine. Despite her sense of danger being here with this man, Leilas was delighted with the feast she saw set before her.

Rengailai held her chair for her to the right of the head of the table. Once she was seated, he sat at the head of the table. Servants appeared mysteriously and began serving them. As soon as they placed the food on her plate, Leilas began to eat. Rengailai was slower to join her.

"No thanks for the food this time?" he asked, as he watched her eat.

Leilas put her fork down, guiltily. "I always thank the Creator for all he gives me."

Rengailai sneered. "You thank him for what? Letting people go wanting while you feast?

"I thank him for giving me the food I need for the day. I thank him for letting me live."

"You believe he cares whether a person lives or dies? When is the last time anyone has seen Jovan intervene in the lives of crafters or humans? No one has seen or heard from Jovan since the Cataclysm. If he is even still alive, he has no interest in the people of Preterlandis."

"He has set the laws in place that guide Preterlandis and lets the people choose how they will live."

"Even when they choose to do evil things? He does nothing for the people who say they believe in him. He lets those good people die at the hands of the people who chose to do evil. He lets them want for food and clothing. He could reach out his hand and save them, yet he does nothing."

"He gives all people the freedom to choose. With that freedom come the consequences of their actions. Sometimes innocent people suffer because of the choices of others. One day, he'll return Preterlandis to its unspoiled condition and those who serve him will live in peace and prosperity."

Rengaliai shot her a probing glance then replied. "You don’t really believe that drivel? He's deserted Preterlandis. He cares nothing for it. He's left the people to fend for themselves. It's for us, the ones with power, to shape the destiny of Preterlandis now."

"Even those with power are subject to the laws that have been set in place. We should be careful what we do with the gifts we're given."

"I find it hard to believe you've never wanted to do more with the power that you've been given, to help your people, to make Preterlandis a better place."

"I have wanted to do more. I hope that in the future I'll be able to make a difference." Leilas wondered where this conversation was leading. It was the second time in less than two days that someone had posed this question to her. Was it so obvious to others that she chaffed against the restraints of the master crafters and the rules they imposed on those who were born with power? Or was there something more sinister in the question, something that she wasn’t seeing?

"You could save Preterlandis, if you chose to use the power that is within you, if you chose to defy the masters of light and their restrictions."

"That way leads to destruction and chaos," replied Leilas. "You of all people should know the consequences of defying the Creator and the laws. You, who were cast out of Jovan’s land and stripped of any honor he may have bestowed upon you."

Rengailai’s eyes flashed red and he slammed his fist down on the table, knocking the wine glasses over with the force. "You know nothing about me. You would be wise not to listen to old wives’ tales. As you have said, I was and am free to choose my destiny and I have chosen."

"You've chosen to follow the Dark Lord and to do his bidding. In doing so, you've become his slave."

Rengailai’s hands were around her throat before she knew he'd moved. "Do not presume to know me or assume I'm not the willing servant of the Dark Lord." His hands tightened around her throat. "I hold your life in my hands this very moment. You're no match for my power. You're supposed to be the best, great hope for Preterlandis, to set in motion some great destiny. Yet, this night, all that will end. If you don’t choose to join me, I'll kill you."

"I'll never join you, Rengailai. I'll never serve the Dark Lord." Leilas choked out the words.

"Then you will die," said Rengailai, squeezing tighter. "I'll take great pleasure in killing you, bringing you to the edge over and over before you finally slip over into the darkness of death."

"Death will not be darkness, but light," Leilas choked out. Rengailai squeezed tighter so she couldn’t reply.

"There is no Jovan’s land, no beautiful valley, no wonderful magical creatures. You'll soon see how mistaken you've been."

Sparkles began to float before Leilas’ eyes and she began to struggle to loosen Rengailai’s hold. She'd let him lull her into a sense of safety and now she was going to die due to her laxness. His hands were like steel bands and she couldn’t find a way to loosen them from her neck. She'd expected some battle of magic, to die in a maelstrom of enchantment. She hadn't imagined that her life would be ended in such a mundane and human manner as strangulation.

Just as she was slipping into unconsciousness, Rengailai loosened his hold and Leilas took several deep, gasping breaths.

"Join me or die," he whispered in her ear. "You'll have wealth, power, honor. What more could you want?"

Leilas tried to talk, but her throat was swollen from Rengailai’s choking. She simply shook her head and prepared for the next round. Rengailai’s hands tightened. Leilas could see the savage pleasure he was taking in her torture. She wondered if he would content himself with just killing her or if he would savage her as well before he took her life.

It didn’t take as long for her to slip toward the darkness this time. Once again, just before she slipped over the edge into oblivion, Rengailai loosed his hold. "Join me." Once more Leilas just shook her head. "I'm growing tired of this game. "If you want to live, if you want to have a chance to save the world, to use your power for something, join me now." He pulled her body next to his. "I could give you pleasure beyond your wildest imagination. I could teach you all the ways to pleasure a man and all the ways a woman can be pleasured." He rubbed his body against hers and took her mouth with his. "I would give you the time to explore these pleasures you have never known."

Leilas ignored the voice screaming in her head to choose life, to choose the right to experience pleasure at a man’s hands, to have her life mean something. Instead, she just tried to pry his fingers away from her throat, so she had a chance to fight him on more even footing, though she knew even in a fair crafter fight, she would be no match for his strength.

"Goodbye Leilas Leyson, Jovan’s Chidra. You were really rather a pathetic choice. Perhaps next time, Jovan will choose better."

The steel fingers tightened once again around her throat. Leilas had no idea if he was still toying with her or if he would kill her this time. It didn’t really matter; in the end he would kill her. Each time he brought her to the edge of death, she grew weaker, less able to fight. If she hadn’t been able to get away in the beginning, what chance did she have now? As she slipped toward the blackness of unconsciousness, she heard a voice, or at least she thought she did. For a moment she thought it was Jovan, but soon realized it wasn’t.

"It is not for you to kill her, Rengailai Crogson," said a familiar voice, a voice that seemed to float in the air, a voice she’d heard before in her vision. "I have promised that pleasure to another. We'll see what Jovan has planned and have our ultimate victory over him then." These were the last words Leilas heard. The room began to darken as her oxygen starved brain began to shut down. She didn’t know what would be her ultimate fate this night, but with her last coherent thought, she made a rune of protection in the air, gasping as she moved her hands, "Jovan, protect me." Then the darkness overcame her.

She wasn’t in the dining room when she awoke, but then she hadn’t really expected she would be there, although she hadn’t expected to be in the dungeon either. To be honest, she hadn’t expected to wake at all. She’d expected to meet her Creator when she opened her eyes. Leilas rattled her arm chains in frustration. Not only were they locked but they were sealed with magic. Rengailai seemed to be taking no chances that she would bother him again.

At this point, she wondered why he’d gone to the effort of binding her. She hadn’t been any challenge to him. In fact, he'd thought that she was a pitiful example of a crafter. He'd said as much. Had the voice she'd imagined been real after all? Had Rengailai’s plan to stop her now been thwarted? If so, why? If she died, then none of the prophecy would take place. The plan to save Preterlandis would have failed before it had even begun. Clearly, there was more going on here than she understood. But then, what was new with that?

She sat back and spent a few moments calming her mind while she assessed her injuries. Her throat was swollen and sore. Her body was battered and bruised as if she'd been thrown against the wall, or down the stairs. Rengailai had spared her honor, though why was also a question that had no answer. She'd been helpless against him. He could have done anything he liked to her, except the one thing he’d wanted to do, which was to kill her.

She'd been an idiot to agree to come here. Although she had to admit, she didn’t know she was coming to face Rengailai, not until the last moment. Instead of giving her word to Leodaemon, she should have run as fast and as far as she could, as Joshuas had told her. Solein had tried to warn her, as well. She just hadn’t understood his admonitions.

The meeting wasn’t at all what she’d expected. Why had Rengailai been so intent on having her join him? What use could he have for such a young and inexperienced crafter? He was far more capable of using any magic he needed. What would be the point of having her join him? Leilas shook her head. She didn’t have any idea. In the end it hadn’t mattered. She’d refused him and if it hadn’t been for the intervention of a higher authority, she would be dead.