Freewalker (38 page)
“G
REETINGS,
S
AINT
. I
TRUST YOUR NEW MOTORCYCLE IS UP TO STANDARD
?”
“Y
OUR GENEROSITY IS LEGEND,
M
ASTER
D
ARIUS
. I
AM HONORED
.”
“Y
ES
. T
HEN WHY HAVE YOU SECRETLY KEPT FROM ME THE VERY BOY FOR WHOM YOU KNEW
I
WAS SEARCHING
?”
“I
F
I
HAD KNOWN,
K
EEPER, YOU WOULD HAVE HAD HIM
. W
E FOUND ONLY THE GIRL THE NIGHT OF THE RAID
. T
HE BOY
I
DISCOVERED LATER, FAR FROM THE VILLAGE
. H
E CLAIMED HE'D BEEN WANDERING
. H
E SAID HE COULD READ AND
I
THOUGHT HE MIGHT BE USEFUL
.”
“W
HAT WOULD YOU DO WITH A READER
?”
“D
OCTOR
A
RCANTHAS HAS REQUESTED THAT MEDICAL BOOKS BE SALVAGED
. I
THOUGHT THE BOY MIGHT HELP IDENTIFY THOSE BOOKS
. W
E SEEK TO SERVE THE
M
ASTERS
.”
“Y
OUR GOVERNANCE OF THE FARLANDS HAS BEEN, FOR THE MOST PART, IMPECCABLE
.”
“T
HANK YOU
.”
“Y
OU ARE MY PRINCE
.”
S
AINT LOWERS HIS HEAD.
“Y
OU HONOR ME,
S
EER
.”
T
HERE IS A SLY GRIN ON
D
ARIUS'S FACE
. H
E MOTIONS FOR
S
AINT TO COME NEARER.
“I
WANT TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING
.”
A
PANEL OPENS IN THE WALL AND A GLASS SHELF GLIDES OUT
. U
NDER A BELL JAR A HUGE HAND REACHES UP INTO A SURGING CORAL SKY
. T
HE BASE OF ITS ARM SITS DEEP IN A SILVER POOL
.
“O
NE DAY SOON THIS STRUCTURE WILL BE COMPLETED
. B
UT, LIKE THE MOTORCYCLE, IT REQUIRES FUEL
. T
HAT BOY, HIS SISTER, THE CHILDREN YOU ARE ABOUT TO FETCH IN
F
AIRVIEWâIT IS THEIR DESTINY TO POWER MY MACHINE
.”
I
S THAT ALL WE ARE TO THE
M
ASTERS
? F
UEL
? R
OAN WOULD LASH OUT AT
D
ARIUS IF HE WERE MORE THAN A MEMORY
.
S
OMETHING FLOWS UP FROM THE SILVER POOL THROUGH THE ARM
. T
HE SKIN SEEMS TO BE KINETIC AND AS
S
AINT LOOKS CLOSER
R
OAN DISCERNS A MULTITUDE OF SHAPES, WRITHING, SCREAMING, TWISTING IN TORMENT
.
“W
HAT DOES IT REMIND YOU OF,
S
AINT
?”
“M
AY THE
F
RIEND SAVE US ALL
.”
“V
ERY ASTUTE
. Y
OUR FRIEND IS, OF COURSE, FRIEND TO US ALL
. M
Y DEVICE HAS BEEN CREATED TO HONOR HIM AND TO BENEFIT HUMANKIND
. H
ELP ME AND YOU HELP THE
F
RIEND AND THE WORLD
. Y
OU MUST EARN MY FAITH AGAIN,
S
AINT
. T
O DO THAT MEANS DELIVERING THE BOY AND THE CHILDREN
.”
“I
WILL FIND THEM
.”
“I
SHOULD BE VERY DISAPPOINTED IF YOU DON'T
. N
OTHING VEXES ME MORE THAN WASTE
. B
UT IT IS MY CURSE AS A LEADER TO HAVE TO, ON OCCASION, ERADICATE EVEN A PRINCE IF HE VEERS OFF COURSE
.”
“I
WILL NOT FAIL
.”
D
ARIUS SMILES, TEETH FLASHING, AND HIS VISAGE MOVES FARTHER AND FARTHER AWAY
.
B
ACK ON THE PRECIPICE, THE BADGER IS HURLED FROM
S
AINT'S EYE
. T
AKING HIS HUMAN FORM,
R
OAN FACES THE KILLER OF HIS FAMILY
.
“C
OULD YOU SEE
?”
PLEADS
S
AINT.
“D
ARIUS SEEKS TO CAPTURE SOULS AND IMPRISON THEM IN HIS MACHINE
. I
DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW HE WILL USE WHAT HE STEALS, BUT HE LIES WHEN HE SAYS IT WILL HONOR THE
F
RIEND
. H
E MEANS TO TAKE THE
F
RIEND'S PLACE, THE VERY PLACE OF
G
OD
. H
E IS EVIL,
R
OAN
. Y
OU COULD SEE IT, COULDN'T YOU?
S
ENSE IT?
H
E MEANS TO END EVERYTHING
. G
O TO THE BROTHERS, GATHER THE ARMIES TOGETHER, AND LEAD THEM AGAINST THE
C
ITY
. D
ARIUS MUST BE STOPPED
.”
R
OAN STARES AT THE DEAD PROPHET IN DISBELIEF.
“Y
OU'RE ASKING ME TO DECLARE AN ALL-OUT WAR
?”
“D
ARIUS ALREADY WAGES WAR
. Y
OU'VE SEEN ITS VICTIMS: THOUSANDS OF DEFENSELESS CHILDREN, WHOLE VILLAGES ANNIHILATEDâHE DESTROYS ANY WHO STAND IN THE
M
ASTERS' WAY
. D
O YOU NOT WANT TO SHIELD THEM FROM FURTHER HARM
?”
“B
UT YOU HELPED HIM
. H
OW CAN YOU NOW
â”
“F
OR MY PART IN IT,
I
AM HERE
. A
ND
I
DO NOT ASK YOU,
R
OAN,
I
BEG
.”
“T
HERE MUST BE ANOTHER WAY TO DO THAT BESIDES FIGHTING
.”
T
HE DEAD MAN'S EYES CLOUD OVER.
“I
KNEW OF NO OTHER WAY
. T
HAT WAS MY DOWNFALL
. Y
OU HAVE HEARD WHAT YOU WERE MEANT TO HEAR
.”
T
HE CLIFF THEY STAND UPON BEGINS TO SOFTEN INTO AN UNDULATING MASS THAT CRAWLS UP
S
AINT'S LEGS, HIS CHEST, HIS NECK, UNTIL HIS EYES, STILL FIXED IN DESPAIR ON
R
OAN, SINK BACK INTO THE LIVING BOG
.
W
EARY,
R
OAN ASCENDS TOWARD THE WHIRLING LIGHT THAT FUNNELS FROM THIS SEA OF WRETCHEDNESS, LEAVING
S
AINT BEHIND
. T
O LEAD ARMIES, TO SEND PEOPLE TO A CERTAIN DEATH, HOW CAN HE ACCEPT SUCH RESPONSIBILITY
? H
OW CAN ANYONE
?
R
EACHING THE VORTEX, HE HEARS VOICES
. H
IS PEOPLE
. T
HE PEOPLE OF
L
ONGLIGHT
. T
HEIR SONG ENTICES HIM, BEGGING HIM TO SURRENDER TO GRIEF AND YEARNING, TO LET TEARS FALL, BUT HE DESIRES NOTHING MORE THAN TO BE WORKING BY HIS PARENTS' SIDES AGAIN, FREE OF THE BURDENS THAT WEIGH UPON HIM
.
T
HE VOICES RISE, EACH A THREAD CONNECTING HIM TO A PERSON HE LOVED
. T
HEY ENTANGLE AND INTERWEAVE, COCOONING HIM IN LAUGHTER AND LIGHT UNTIL HE IS BROUGHT BEFORE HIS MOTHER AND FATHER
. H
IS MOTHER IS DRESSED IN HER WORK-CLOTHES, A SMUDGE OF SAWDUST ON HER CHEEK
. H
IS FATHER IS IN HIS FORMAL ROBE, THE ONE HE WORE EVERY YEAR AT THE
R
EMEMBERING
.
T
HEY HOLD OUT THEIR ARMS AND
R
OAN EMBRACES THEM
. W
IPING AWAY HIS TEARS, HIS MOTHER KISSES HIM.
“W
E'RE SO PROUD OF YOU
.”
“B
UT
I'
VE FAILED
. I'
VE BROKEN EVERY RULE
. E
ATEN MEAT, STRUCK OUT IN ANGER, KILLED
.”
“Y
OU WERE TAUGHT TO REJECT VIOLENCE AND AVOID THE DESTRUCTION OF LIFE,
”
SAYS HIS FATHER.
“A
ND YOU LEARNED THOSE LESSONS WELL
. B
UT THOUGH THEY ENHANCE HUMANITY'S CHANCES OF SURVIVAL,
R
OAN, THEY DO NOT GUARANTEE IT
. Y
OU WITNESSED THEIR FAILURE THE NIGHT
L
ONGLIGHT WAS DESTROYED
.”
“E
VERYONE SAYS
I
AM MEANT TO LEAD THEM INTO WAR
.”
“T
HERE IS NO OTHER WHO CAN,
”
SAYS HIS MOTHER
.
R
OAN LOOKS AT THEM BOTH, INCREDULOUS.
“B
UT THAT DOESN'T MEAN
I
SHOULD
.”
A
LTHOUGH HE MEETS HIS SON'S GAZE WITH A STEADY EYE,
R
OAN'S FATHER'S VOICE IS BURDENED WITH SORROW.
“T
HE WAR WILL HAPPEN WHETHER YOU LEAD OR NOT
. R
OAN, THE GIFT YOU POSSESS WOULD BRING A VISION OF PEACE INTO THE CONFLICT
. T
HAT WAS THE LEGACY OF
L
ONGLIGHT
. H
OW TO USE IT IS A DECISION ONLY YOU CAN MAKE
.”
F
OR A BRIEF MOMENT,
R
OAN LOWERS HIS EYES
. H
E HAS SO MANY QUESTIONS, BUT HE KNOWS NONE OF THEM WILL BE ANSWERED, THAT THEY CANNOT BE ANSWERED, AND PERHAPS HE DOES NOT WANT THEM ANSWERED
. H
IS PARENTS MADE THEIR CHOICES, NOW HE MUST MAKE HIS OWN
. H
E LOOKS UP TO FIND HIS SURROUNDINGS TRANSLUCENT, HIS PARENTS SHIFTING INTO LUMINESCENCE
.
“W
AIT, PLEASE
!”
“W
ALK FREE,
R
OAN OF
L
ONGLIGHT,
”
THEY WHISPER AS THEIR SHIMMERING LIGHT ENVELOPS AND SOOTHES HIM
.
Lumpy, his face fraught with worry, looms over Roan. “Are you alright?”
Roan smiles. “Yes,” he says. And for the first time in years, he truly believes it.
WHEN THE MOON DIES IN THE EYE OF TAURUS, SET YOUR VIGIL TO THE EAST. AWAIT WITH PATIENCE ITS APPEARANCE UPON THE JOINED HANDS OF GEMINI, FOR IT WILL PRESAGE THE COMING OF THE NEW AGE.
âTHE BOOK OF LONGLIGHT
R
OAN'S SHOULDER TINGLES,
the same sensation he had when Willum touched him, and a brown-speckled rat appears. Roan follows it as it scurries across a verdant landscape and onto Willum's knee. Willum sits cross-legged, staring at his empty palms. Behind him, in the distance, a tree burns. Flames leap from its outstretched branches, cracking and spitting, an angry dance of shifting color. Roan can almost hear the screams in the frigid night air, the pounding of horse hooves, the roaring of warriors. The tree, Roan understands, is Stowe. He can see her face, the tears streaming from her eyes.
He rushes to her, desperate to smother the blaze, but the fire repels him.
Beneath the whispers of crackling light, Stowe's voice is unmistakable. “Don't worry. It is what's meant to be but couldn't be. I have been waiting for this. The future waits for you, Roan. I will meet you there, I promise.”
The crimson flames shift to a brilliant blue, then in a burst of white light they engulf Stowe, leaving only a mound of golden dust. As Willum kneels to carefully collect the gleaming powder, a wolf howls. When Roan seeks out the source of the cry, he's transported over the landscape to the crest of a hill. There, a huge bull stands, the setting sun a robe of red incandescence on the beast's glistening black coat. The wolf holds Roan's hook-sword in its teeth and drops the weapon in his hand. With great reluctance, Roan grips the hilt, the bull kneeling on its forelegs before him.
The ground beneath him shudders and the earth peels open at the bull's hooves, plunging them to where the rusting Novakin are stretched to breaking point across the fathomless abyss. Blood drips onto the iron forms like balm on a wound, the metal itself sighing with relief.
Roan sees that the blood is coming from his sword. Stumbling back, he tries to drop his weapon, but it has become part of his hand and he can do nothing to dislodge it.
Stepping past him, Willum lets the golden dust that was Stowe drift from his fingers onto the children, then turning to Roan, he smiles. “We have until the bull rises in the east. After that comes the end of all possibility.”
Roan wakes with a start. The white cricket's song lulled him to sleep while he waited here, on the edge of the volcano. The gentle noon sun still glints through the mist. How much of what he saw came from Willum? How much from himselfâfrom his hopes, his fears?
As if in prayer, he says their names out loud. “Lona. Bub. Jaw. Jam. Gip. Runk. Sake. Dani. Beck. Anais. Tamm. Korina. Geemo. Theo.” They have not left his thoughts for a moment. He has until the bull rises in the east to keep his promise. Next spring, six months away. He will not let them down.
Roan's musings are broken by wild laughter. Lumpy is hunkered down with Kira and a few other women, and he's said something that's amused them. They're drawing out a map on a piece of parchment. The sight is like a great wind blowing the future inexorably toward Roan.
As if he too senses its inevitability, Lumpy catches Roan's eye. He points to the cliff edge. There, climbing up the trail, are two men. Warriors.
Breathing deep, Roan lets the crisp air fill his lungs and steady his emotions. He rises to meet Brother Wolf and Brother Asp, sword in hand and Longlight in mind.
I
WOULD LIKE TO THANK
Pamela Robertson, Susan Madsen, and Barbara Pulling for their effort and support. This book would not have been possible without the contribution of Elizabeth Dancoes, who is responsible, in good part, for whatever grace this book achieves.
Be sure to read the first book in
The Longlight Legacy,
The Dirt Eaters.