Halfstone: A Tale of the Narathlands (3 page)

“Daraki’ Anya…” he repeated mindlessly. “That’s nice. Is it… nice
there?”

“It can be, though I have not been there in some time now.”

“Well, I am glad you are here now to buy some beans,” he said,
handing her change. “I’m Aldrick by the way.”

“I’m Télia.”

“It is nice to meet you, Télia.” He offered her his hand. She took
it. Hers was warm and soft, like her gaze.

“It is lovely to meet you too, Aldrick,” she said.

A silence followed her words in which he couldn’t help but stare
at her with what no doubt appeared a gawky grin on his face.

“I think shaking hands is a strange tradition,” she continued,
letting his hand go. “In Daraki we always greet strangers with a hug. You can
tell a lot about a character from the way they hug.”

“We can do that if you like,” he said hopefully.

“Very well.”

They met beside the stand and embraced one another. What was left
of Aldrick’s heart melted. Télia’s body was warm. Her head reached only to his
chin and her hair smelt like a meadow of blossoming wildflowers. He had no
desire to ever let go, but eventually they parted. Another silence ensued.
Before it became awkward he made to break it.

“So what did that hug tell you about me?” he asked.

“That you are a kind and tender person, Aldrick,” she said,
looking deep into his eyes. “Did it tell you something about me?”

He thought for a moment. “I think it did, but I’m not sure exactly
what… perhaps that you are the same.”

She shrugged. “Perhaps… or perhaps I am horrible.”

He laughed. “I doubt that.”

“You mustn’t judge strangers too hastily, Aldrick,” she advised.
Her eyes flitted across the crowd. “I should go now, but I will be close, you
know. You live nearby, I presume?” She returned her hood to her head.

“Yes, I do—on a farm just a little way north of here against the
Mountains Rain.”

“Ahh.” She nodded thoughtfully. “Well, I am certain our paths
shall cross again very soon. Farewell for now, Aldrick.” She turned on her heel
and left, carrying the last basket of beans and all that was beautiful in the
world away with her.

“Farewell,” he said after her. He wanted her to stay. Never had
such a brief encounter with a woman made him feel so giddy, so childlike. He
had half a mind to go after her, but what would he say to her? The moment had
passed. The only cloud in the sky drifted in front of the sun.

Kaal returned. He had seen Télia leaving.

“Aldrick is in love with a mystery woman,” he teased, slapping him
firmly on the back.

“Whatever you say, Brother,” was all Aldrick found as a retort. He
knew he wouldn’t be able to convincingly deny it.

Kaal frowned in the direction Télia had left. “I wonder why she
wears that hood… maybe she’s a thief, Aldrick. Maybe your coins are missing…”

He didn’t bother checking. She was too fair to be such, and even
if she was, he would let her steal from him as often as she pleased. His mind
wandered.

Kaal looked down at the empty stand. “Everything sold I see.”

“Yes, all gone. It was a good day.”

“Let’s head home then. I’ll fetch the horses.”

After hitching the horses to the cart, they bought some chocolate
muffins to eat and were on their way. Aldrick peered back as they left the
bustling crowds, hoping to catch a glimpse of Télia. She was nowhere to be
seen. Perhaps that had been the only time their paths would ever cross, and she
had suggested otherwise out of sheer politeness. He hoped not. He thought of
her outlandish beauty. How green her eyes were. Did many people from Daraki’
Anya share that feature, or was it hers alone? He liked to think it was the
latter. He cared not for the thought of anyone else. Those short moments they
had shared together, he was thankful for.

The ride home was enjoyable. The sun had returned and drenched the
countryside in golden light. Rabbits hopped about in the fields and birds
chirped cheerfully within the blackberry vines that entangled fencing at either
side of the road. Far to the north, the peaks of the Midland Ranges were
visible, a soft blue in the distance. Aldrick and Kaal’s spirits soared and
they shared stories and songs and spoke of travel and adventure, of their hopes
and aspirations. Aldrick had always wanted to travel far away from here
someday. Often he imagined what the rest of the Narathlands might be like. From
the tales he had heard it sounded as though there were many places to be
explored, many sights to be seen and many secrets to be discovered. Thinking of
such things brought the events of last night back to the forefront of his mind.
He remembered his plan to question Braem about the ka-zchen. Who was its magic-bearing
master? Could it truly be that its appearance was linked to the faded truth
that he had been an orphan? As they ascended their winding road these thoughts
drowned out all else. Anticipation rose within. He wanted the truth.

At the top of the road they unhitched the cart from the horses,
led them to the shade of the stables and generously fed and watered them. They
then proceeded into the house to find it cool and quiet. The rest of the family
were still outdoors. Aldrick was willing to be patient. His questions could
wait until the evening. Besides, there was much to be done in the meantime.
Fences needed mending, tracks needed maintenance, wood needed cutting and
arrows needed crafting. He chose to make arrows as it was the job that would
stress his shoulder the least. Although it was a fairly simple task, given the
parts were purchased in bulk from a trader in Rain, he enjoyed crafting each
arrow with loving attention, particularly when it came to fletching. By
carefully trimming the pheasant feathers, the accuracy of a long-distance shot
was increased by a significant amount.

The sun was setting when Aldrick finished. He had crafted
twenty-three arrows, claiming ten for his own quiver. The encounter with the
ka-zchen had inspired him to put more time and effort into archery. Braem had
made a target for him and Kaal to practice on a few years earlier which he
planned to put to good use. He seldom hit the centre mark.

Aldrick heard Phelvara and Bree making their way inside through
the back door and went to them. “Hello you two, how did the day treat you?”

Phelvara smiled at him. “Well, thank you. We have been very busy.”
She began to help Bree take off a dress which had been dirtied in the garden.
“How was the market? Did you fair well?”

“Yes, we should have coin enough for the month.”

“Lovely, though we ought to be saving for the winter now.”

“That’s a good idea… you don’t happen to know where Braem is, do
you?” he asked.

Phelvara did not reply immediately. The brightness in her face drained
away. She appeared wary—reluctant to speak. The expression reminded Aldrick of
the state she had been in for much of last night after learning of the
ka-zchen’s brand.

“Your father is away for a few days, visiting Jon,” she said
finally, avoiding Aldrick’s eye.

This came as a surprise. Jon was an old family friend who had not
visited the farm for a number of years now. He resided deep in the Midland
Ranges, far more isolated than they were here. Aldrick held many fond memories
of Jon. He had once visited regularly, bringing with him enthralling news and
tales even more wondrous than Braem’s. Many were difficult to believe. Indeed,
they made everyday life feel rather mundane. It was odd that Braem would travel
so far to see the old man after such a long period without sharing words.

“He’s gone to Jon’s? Why?”

Phelvara shrugged. “He was just a little concerned about that
ka-zchen, that’s all. He thinks Jon will know more about it.” She glanced up at
him with a forced smile that offered little reassurance.

“About it or about who sent it?” he asked pressingly, hoping for a
more elaborate explanation. It was a mistake.

Phelvara sighed irritably. “Ask no more of it. If there is
something to know Braem will bring the news when he returns. Until then let us
forget all about that ghastly beast. It’s dead.”

He let it go, but knew there was more to this story. Phelvara
would not have let Braem travel so far on such short notice unless it had been
very important, and what insights could Jon offer? As far as he remembered, Jon
wasn’t someone whom his parents considered a guiding figure. Braem had often
referred to him as a ‘wild old dog’.

Again Aldrick was left to mull over such things in his own head.
He sensed things were in the process of changing somehow. For better or for
worse, he did not know. Only time would tell.

When he fell asleep that night he was met by dreams not of the
ka-zchen or the enveloping mystery, but of the astonishingly beautiful woman he
had met at the market that day. Télia was her name. Télia.

3

THE
WIELDER’S AERA

It was near closing time. She sat at a small table as close as
possible to the open fire. Cold and loneliness harried her. She was irritable.
She didn’t want to be here. Had she been in Galdrem at the time the contract
became available they might have hired someone with more experience, someone who
knew these parts. It was solely because she happened to be nearby that she was
assigned the job. Having to be so far from home wasn’t what annoyed her though.
In fact, she loved travel, but this time the details were given to her on too
short notice and had been exceptionally vague: ‘Make haste to Rain and be aera
to the young wielder Aedimon. Reinforcements to follow’. Supposedly this
wielder was in imminent danger.

Rain had proved to be a busy place and she had found no one of,
nor anyone who knew of the name Aedimon in the village. It hadn’t been until
today that she had sensed the close presence of a wielder, a very powerful one.
In the market place he had been—a young man, near her age. His name was Aldrick.
He had appeared to be completely unaware of the fact he was a wielder at all.
It was a curious thing. Never had she met one so oblivious to it. In the north,
wielders were proud and often arrogant, but Aldrick… he was nice, kind hearted.
It had been a breath of fresh air and she felt rather inclined to keep
knowledge of his powers from him, at least for the time being. There was little
doubt in her mind that he was the wielder she was assigned to protect; he just
wasn’t known locally by the name Aedimon. The chance of there being another
young wielder this far south was decidedly slim. Outside of the capital
province they were few and far between.

While talking with him she had noticed that he sported an injury,
and more alarmingly, he had the faint scent of ka-zchen upon him. After
learning from him where he lived, she had hastily bought a map of the province
and found the exact location of his farm. It was important she venture there
tonight. She must ensure the ka-zchen posed no ongoing threat and discover who
its master was. If she knew the enemy, she could hunt them. With any luck the
reinforcements would find her soon. They were likely pitted against a very
dangerous adversary.

When the last few patrons had left the tavern, Télia went upstairs
to her room. She put on her coat and cloak, then equipped herself with her
crossbow and a number of light daggers that she had stowed under the bed.
Fortunately, her window was at the rear of the tavern just above the roof of
the ground floor and was an ideal passage for one intending to exit in secret.
She had been trained to take such precautions. An aera could never be too
careful.

Once on the ground, she made her way from shadow to shadow to the
stables where her horse awaited.

“Hello De’ama,” she whispered softly. “We ride tonight.”

De’ama shifted excitedly, but soundlessly. As an aera’s horse she
too had been taught to move with stealth when necessary. Télia led her down
back streets all the way to the village gates before mounting. In the north,
the full face of Solemn graced the sky, bathing the surrounding countryside in
pale blue light. After glancing back to be sure they had not been followed, she
patted De’ama gently on the neck and they were on their way.

In less than half an hour they arrived at the farm’s entrance. She
dismounted, offered De’ama words of comfort, then began to make her way up the
slope. Because there were livestock in many of the lower fields that might stir
in her presence, Télia stole toward the edge of the forest. Here, she found a
rocky, dried-up stream bed that provided her with a sheltered path upwards.
Soon enough she was nearing the farmhouse. She climbed out of the stream where
she was able and peered around. A small bridge lay ahead of her that offered
passage to the fields beside the house. She stopped and thought for a moment.
She did not want to get too close and risk waking anyone inside, nor did she
wish to leave evidence of her presence. So, she continued past the bridge and
up the edge of an arching cliff which separated the farm from the mountain
forest. Beneath a blanket of trees she found a suitable vantage point to
examine the area below.

There was a foul whiff on the air—the scent of ka-zchen. One was
very close. She readied her crossbow and lowered her figure to the ground. For
a while she didn’t move, only listened. The creature couldn’t be in the forest,
otherwise it would make noise. She looked down upon the farmhouse and
surrounding fields. There was no movement there either. She was about to turn
her gaze when she noticed fresh tracks in the field nearest her. They led her
eyes to a black mound at the base of the cliff. It was the ka-zchen! It was…
dead. She let out a small gasp. Dead? Maybe Aldrick was aware that he was a
wielder after all; how else had it met such a fate? Eager to investigate the
creature’s corpse she made her way to it, treading with less caution than
before.

Solemn’s light made the animal’s features easily distinguishable.
She sought only to locate its brand. Soon enough a glint of blue caught her
eye. It was a drathen butterfly. Fear stole her. This was far worse than she
had anticipated. Aldrick was in grave danger!

“Don’t move.”

Télia was already more alarmed than she had been in a long time.
The voice behind her did not heighten this. Accepting she was compromised, she
calmly placed her crossbow on the ground, raised her hands and turned around. A
tall young man with dark hair stood ahead of her, an armed bow ready in his
hands. She recognised him.

“You’re the girl from the market, aren’t you?” he asked sharply.

“Yes I am. And you, you are Aldrick’s brother?”

He hesitated for a moment. “Yes… tell me why you are here. Are you
here for him? Did you send that thing to kill him?” He nodded toward the
ka-zchen.

“Yes. Yes I am here for Aldrick. I am here to protect him. I did
not send the ka-zchen.”

He looked taken aback. “Protect him? From whom?”

“From someone very bad.” She had not the time for this
conversation. “Look, I must speak with your brother. Will you trust in me to
meet with him in the morning? The hour is already late tonight.”

He stepped closer.

“How do you know who hunts Aldrick? Tell me!” he demanded
fiercely.

“The brand. I know from its brand,” she hissed.

“Why do they want him dead?”

“Now is not the time. You and Aldrick will meet with me at the
entrance to your farm at sunrise tomorrow,” she stated bluntly.

Aldrick’s brother looked irritated but his decision was wise.

“Very well,” he said, lowering his bow and taking another step
forward. “But know that if you bring harm to my family, I will have your life.”

“You have my word.” Télia picked her crossbow back up. “Remember—tomorrow,
at sunrise.”

She left him standing there and made to retrace her steps down the
streambed. Her mind was humming. Selayna? How was it possible? Hadn’t she died
many years ago? Télia knew now why it was so important she protect Aldrick, why
reinforcements were being sent—word of Seleyna’s return had reached Galdrem.
The Synod was responsive to her manoeuvres. Why was Aldrick a target though?
Télia thought hard upon this. The name Aedimon… it suddenly felt familiar. Why?
No answers came to her. There were many pieces to this puzzle and she could not
fit them together herself. She needed somewhere safe that she could take Aldrick
and search for the answers they now both sought. She knew exactly where to go—where
she had originally been going—to the wielder Jon’s.