Soulguard (14 page)

Chapter 30

“Oh my God, Colin,” Kyra held her head in her hands, “This is bad. The Archmage will be after blood.”

I stood up, “I didn’t ask for any of this. I’ve just tried to do what I was told. I don’t understand why they did this. What did I do?”

“You were just there, Son,” Kharl answered. “Sometimes that’s all it takes.”

“They’ll try to put this on you at the hearing,” Jack Riordan said, “Make sure your story is straight.”

“It can’t get straighter, I’ll tell the truth. I didn’t start this and they died because they were frigging stupid. Not because I had some nefarious plot to do anything.”

“The question is, who taught Mage trainees to do a Source Block?” Kyra asked, “Only senior Mages know how to do that. The Archmage is, conveniently, overseas.”

“They’ve planned this since my visit to the Archmage’s office. Even the timing was planned.”

We were interrupted by Gregor entering Kharl and Kyra’s quarters.

“This is a little beyond ‘interesting times’, I’m beginning to regret those words,” He said, “They sent for Guilefort, the truth seer.”

“Who’s that?” I asked.

“He’s the Mage who’s a lie detector. He can always tell if someone is telling the truth.”

“That’s good news,” I smiled.

“What?”

“No matter how they try to play this,” I explained, “The truth is the truth. I didn’t attack those Mages. They tried to block me from the Source and failed. Pure and simple. If there is a person there who can see the truth, then I’m not worried about this hearing. If they want to charge me with abuse of power, or even murder, the last person they want to be there is a truth reader.”

***

“Ye stand accused of abuse of power and murder Colin Jaegher, How do ye plea?” the accent was a thick Scottish brogue.

This was the opening from the presiding Mage in the council, Lennox Flynn. He had flown in from the Scotland Academy, so that the presiding Mage would not be biased.

“Innocent on both accounts.”

“Do ye’ ‘ave someone ye wish to stand as yer defender?”

I pointed at the Truth seer, “He’ll be defense enough.”

The Mage nodded and I saw respect actually flow through his aura, “As it should be.”

“The way this works, the Council will ask ye questions and the truth seer will tell us if ye speak the truth. Do ye accept these terms?”

I nodded, “Yes I do.”

“Ye may begin, prosecutor.”

“We will start with some simple questions to let the Truth seer get a feel for you. Is your name Colin Jaegher?”

“No.”

“Truth.”

The prosecutor looked at me strangely, “What is your name?”

I stared at him for a minute, “None of your business.”

“Truth.”

The prosecutor turned to the judge, “This is outrageous. Require him to answer.”

“He did answer and it was the truth. Continue questionin’ ‘im and don’t ask wat isn’t any of yer business.”

I could see amusement roll through his aura. That had been a new one to him and he thought it was funny.

The prosecutor turned back to me with rage in his aura, “Did you hate Gavin Price?”

“Not until he blocked Paige Turner, an innocent Mage, from the Source. After that, yes.”

“Truth.”

“Did you kill Gavin Price and three other Mages three days ago?”

“No”

“Truth.”

The prosecutor stepped back in surprise. “Then how do you explain to us what happened to the Mages?”

“They tried to block me from the Source and failed, this is on them, not me.”

“Truth”

I was beginning to see amusement in the aura of the Truth seer as well as the judge. They were getting the idea by now that this wasn’t a trial, it was a way to get rid of a problem, me. They’d brought the wrong person here if they wanted to dispose of me.

“Do you know how their attempt to block you failed?” The prosecutor was pacing back and forth in front of the Council.

“Yes.”

“Truth.”

“How did that happen?”

“I untied the knot.”

“Truth.”

The Council members turned to each other in amazement and several exclamations were heard.

Flynn slammed his gavel down, “Silence!”

Everyone stopped talking, and the prosecutor turned back to me, “How did you untie the knot?”

“With my hands.”

“Truth,” the truth seer said in amazement.

After a moment of silent amazement he continued, “What happened after that?”

“The best I could tell, they were trying to tie into the source when I managed to get free. A backlash flowed back into them and they died.”

“Truth”

“According to a Guard you called up Soulblades as soon as you broke free. Is this true?”

“Yes.”

“Truth.”

“Guilefort, just pipe up if ‘e lies,” Flynn said, “Yer ’avin too much fun with that.”

“Yes sir,” Guilefort answered sadly.

“And what were you going to do with those Soulblades?”

“I was going to cut off their frigging heads.”

“Truth,” Guilefort popped out, “Sorry.”

The prosecutor stood back and smiled, “I’ll take that as a confession.”

“No you won’t,” I said, “That’s exactly what I would have done if the Backlash hadn’t killed the bastard. Lucky for me I didn’t have to. You can’t convict me because I wanted to kill the stupid prick. Let me ask you a few questions. Is it not a crime, to block someone from the Source who hasn’t been tried and found guilty by the Council?”

“Yes, but...”

“Truth.”

“Why am I here, on trial when I was just defending myself? Is it because the Archmage wants me out of the picture? Or is it that you are so scared of him that you want to hang me so that you can have a bad guy to give to him when he gets here?”

“I don’t have to answer your questions!”

“I think ye do,” Flynn interrupted, “Is it one of the answers the lad put forward?”

“No!”

“Lie!”

“This is outrageous!” the prosecutor exclaimed, his face completely red, “I am not on trial here!”

“And neither is this boy,” Flynn returned as he stood up, “Every one of ye should be ashamed of yerselves. One, for lettin someting like this happen in the first place, and second for trying to accuse the victim of a crime. Yer foocking disgraceful and this hearing is over.”

I stood up and my rage was trying to escape again. I nodded toward Flynn and Guilefort, then I turned and walked out of the Council chambers. There was one more detail I needed to take care of.

I saw Daphne and Rictor talking in the hall and I walked up, “Daph, you said if I need anything just to ask. Did you really mean that?”

She nodded.

“I need a group of Guards to keep me from being interrupted while I set these matters straight.”

“You’ve got it.”

“Meet me outside in ten minutes,” I said.

“What’s going on?” Rictor asked her as I walked away.

“He’s got a crazy look in his eye,” Daphne answered, “Whatever it is it’s big and I gotta get the Guards together.”

I opened my Inner eye and looked around for her Soul. I saw her outside, behind the Guard barracks, sitting under a tree.

I paced back and forth in front of the entrance to the Academy until a crowd of Guards exited and formed up. I turned and headed for her. She looked up as I walked under the tree and the Guards formed a circle around us.

“It’s time to fix what I caused,” I said softly.

“No Colin you can’t...”

But she was too late, I reached a tendril out and untied the knot from her Soulstream. The Source poured up the tendril into me and I felt that burn like I had felt at Morndel, but I was prepared this time. I channeled it straight into the sky.

As the Source flowed through me I extended the tendril to wrap around the gentle stream of life going into the tree. As it touched, power flowed into the tree as well as me, When the power level had dropped enough, I severed my link and the Source fed the tree directly. Its bark turned darker and the leaves turned green in the Fall, and I swear it grew right in front of our eyes.

I turned around with my eyes smoldering from the power coursing through me. I saw on the other side of my Guards, almost everyone stood with awe and fear in their auras.

Flynn and Guilefort both stood out there with amazement rolling through theirs. I looked into Flynn’s eyes as I released the rest of the power into the sky. I could see his aura as he realized why everyone was scared of me. And he saw the real reason the Council had wanted to throw me under the bus.

Chapter 31

“There is one more thing I need to do,” I turned to the Guards, “We have to go up the trail.”

We all bounded up the trail to the spot where they had tried to trap me. With my Sight, I could still see two tendrils sticking straight up out of the ground. Once you tie something to the Source it stays tied to the Source.

This time I thought a little before I acted and I wrapped my tendril around the nearby tree’s stream first and extended the end to the first tendril. As the tendrils touched, Life force poured up the tendril and I cut mine before it even reached the tree. There was much the same effect in this tree as the one down at the bottom.

“What are you doing?” Rictor asked.

“Where Gavin tried to block me, there are two tendrils of Source power just sticking out of the ground. If someone were to accidentally touch one, they’d probably burn. I’m tying them to trees so they won’t hurt anyone.”

I repeated the same action on the second tendril. If I’d just done that with Paige’s, I might not have terrified half the Mage Academy. I guess you live and learn. I just wish I could learn the easy way for once.

“Done, now we can go back down. Thanks guys, I wasn’t sure if any of them would try to stop me from unblocking Paige. She didn’t deserve to be blocked.”

Daphne nodded with a strong respect flowing across her aura. I looked at the other Guards to see the same sort of reactions in them all.

We all bounded back down the trail to find several people waiting for us at the bottom.

“I see you’ve been busy,” Nora said, “I hear you made the whole Council look like fools. Then just for kicks, came outside and unblocked Paige from the Source. Busy, indeed.”

“Son, you’re gonna give me a heart attack,” Kyra shook her head in wonder, “Can’t you just give us a little warning?”

Kharl snorted, “He’s never given us warning before, why start now?”

“Sorry guys, it was kind of a spur of the moment thing.”

“You need to go talk to her, Colin,” Nora said, “She’s not moved since you unblocked her. She just sits there.”

I nodded and went back to the tree that was now, at least, three feet in diameter at the base. Paige was sitting there looking at the tree. There was regret and sadness in her aura, and more than a little shame and guilt.

She turned as I walked up to her, “You deserved so much better from me, Colin. I was so angry at you when it happened. Then I saw you smiling as they burned and it scared me so bad. I’m sorry I blamed you.”

She reached out and touched my face with her right hand, I could see her emotions and just once I wish I couldn’t because she was still scared of me and when she touched me she remembered what she had seen. I saw from her perspective what she’d seen and I understood the feelings that went with it more than before. Seeing my face with that evil smile watching four people burn to death sent shivers through me.

“You are right to blame me, It’s my fault. My temper brought us to this and my actions will bring more grief on the people I care for. It’s best if you distance yourself as far from me as you can.”

I turned and walked away, hoping she would call out and tell me not to go. But she remained quiet and I felt a great loss as I returned to the entrance of the Dome.

Chapter 32

I walked toward the elevator, on my way to a meeting with Gregor, and everyone I met showed fear in their auras. Whether it was fear of me personally or just fear of the reaction of the Archmage when he returned, I don’t know.

The Archmage had been informed of the death of his son but he hadn’t flown straight back in like I expected. I almost figured that he would come flying back and attack me, but he didn’t.

Kurt Yarden was tried and found guilty of abuse of power two days after my farce of a hearing. They didn’t accuse Regina Worthington of anything, although I believe she was there to make sure they got it right. She got burned quite badly when Kurt released the power and her face bore the scars of it. Her outside looked much like her ugly soul now, fitting, in my opinion.

I met a group of Guards as I crossed the Dome and several nodded with respect. At least I hadn’t alienated everyone, the Guard still liked me.

I entered the Elevator and headed to the upper floor where the offices were. When I exited the elevator, there was the same woman who had been there on my first day at the Academy.

“Colin,” she said, “There is a seat outside Gregor’s office. They’re having a meeting at the moment and you can wait it out there if you want.”

“Ok”

I headed down the hallway and found a comfortable looking chair outside of Gregor’s office. I sat as I heard several voices from behind his door.

“If we leave him here, the Archmage will find some way to get at him,” I heard Nora’s voice say.

“I’m not so sure the lad is the one I’d be worried about,” came the voice of Flynn. “Ye may be worried about the health of the wrong Mage. E’s welcome to come back to Scotland wit me.”

“I don’t think he needs to be in the Academy any longer, anyway,” Gregor said, “He’s taught us more in the last three or four months than we’ve taught him. I say we graduate him and send him to a post. Maybe killing Demons will keep him out of trouble for a while.”

“I have to agree. We’ve been looking at sending him to Knoxville. We need to address some of the problems there and he should be good for the place,” Nora said, “The Council will accept it, since it’s the, supposed, worst posting. But Kharl has been arranging for some of the best Guards to be sent there, just for this.”

“It looks like ye got tings well in ‘and,” Flynn said, “I’m not lyin when I say the lad scares the bejesus outta me. I can’t ‘elp but think there’s someting more to ‘im than just bein a Mage.”

“There is,” Gregor and Nora returned at the same time.

“Tien says he’s a Soullord,” Gregor said.

“Bloody ‘ell! If the boy’s a Soullord, then the Archmage better not try to take ‘im on. I’ve ‘eard things from me ancestors about Soullords. They can wield much more power than Mages can. Looks can be decievin, The lad’s much stronger than ye think ‘e is. Much stronger than ‘e knows ‘imself.”

“He’s supposed to be here by now, I’d say he’s outside. I need to give him the news and settle his pay,” Gregor said, “If you don’t mind, I’ll talk to you later, Flynn. I want to know what you know about this Soullord thing.”

“No problem, Greg, I’m ‘ere for another week before I leave.”

“Well,” Nora said, “Let’s get out of here and let Greg do his thing. Lord, I hope he does all right in Knoxville.”

“He’ll do what he thinks is right,” was Gregor’s response, “That’s something we can always depend on. Jaegher hammered that sense of right and wrong into that kid from the day he was born. He doesn’t know any other way to be.”

“Tis the way ‘e should be. The way we all should be,” Flynn returned.

The door opened and I tried to look as innocent as I could, but Nora chuckled and said, “I’ve seen that look too many times to be fooled, young man. Eavesdropping, were you?”

“I would never...”

“You don’t lie very convincingly, either,” she said, “Gregor is ready for you.”

I stood up and entered his office. Flynn had held the door open and nodded at me as I passed. He pulled the door shut behind me, leaving me with Gregor.

Gregor smiled, “Well, Colin, since the Council couldn’t hang you, we’re gonna promote you instead. We usually have a ceremony for graduation but no one has ever graduated in less than a year, we’re just gonna skip that part. Will that be a problem for you?”

“No sir, I hate ceremonies anyway.”

“Good,” He relaxed in his chair, “We’re sending you to Knoxville, Tennessee. I’m sure you’ve heard it’s a sorry post, but it really isn’t. The Council thinks it’s a lousy post for Mages, because the Guards there really don’t like inept Mages. I have a feeling you’ll fit right in, considering how you feel about inept Mages,”

I laughed, “I really don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Sure, keep telling yourself that,” he returned, “By my calculations, we owe you ten months of trainee pay. But we decided, after the innovations you’ve taught everyone here, that we will pay you as a posted Mage while you were here. It’s not as much as you deserve, but it will show, at least, some appreciation on the part of the Academy.”

He handed me a large envelope, “This has your check and your written and signed orders to report to the Guard post in Knoxville. The address is in there and you have two weeks to get there. You can hitch a ride on the Guard jet, but you would have to leave today if you use it. There are ten Guards being sent to Knoxville today and a new Guard Captain. I think you’ve met him, Rictor Hughes.”

“There are also a set of orders for the Mage Captain in Knoxville that I’m not very happy with. But the Council has the right to do it, so I have to let it go.”

I looked at him worriedly and he sighed, “They are recalling the Mage Captain and three Mages for ‘retraining’. This leaves you as the most powerful Mage in Knoxville. Which also means, you are left in charge as the acting Mage Captain. Rank in the Mages is rated by power, not experience, as you well know.”

“That’s a lot for a new recruit to handle, so try to work things the best that you can. They probably look for you to make mistakes that they can penalize you for. For some reason, the whole Council dislikes you greatly. It might be because you made them all look like fools in front of one of the most respected Mages in the world. Personally I don’t think they needed help looking like fools but there is always someone else to blame, if you know what I mean.”

“Yeah, I think I do.”

“Good luck, Colin, and remember, you’ve made quite a few Mages very proud and we’ll be doing what we can to help you. And the Guard will always back you. Never underestimate what that support means.”

“I understand, Sir.”

“Go spread your news, and try not to blow up Tennessee.”

***

“...keep him alive for a year and he’ll be the best you’ve ever seen,” I heard Kharl’s voice as I came around the corner from the elevator into the Dome.

“I’ll do my best,” Rictor Hughes answered with his back to me. Then he laughed, “This might be fun.”

He turned to walk off and saw me and greeted me with a smile, “Blown anything up today?”

“It’s only ten o’clock,” I answered, “I’ve got plenty of time.”

He snorted and walked on past me, “See you in Knoxville, Colin.”

“I’ll be there in a few weeks, don’t kill all the Demons before I get there.”

He laughed again, “There’s plenty to go around, believe me,” He waved as he left the Dome for the elevator.

“I guess you knew already, huh?” I asked as I turned back to Kharl.

“Yeah,” He answered, “Been making preparations for the last few weeks. I sent some good Guards there to back you up. Not that I think you can’t do the job, but it will help to have some people you can depend on until you get set. I really didn’t see the move by the Council coming, and it’ll make things harder on you. But I have a feeling you’ll surprise every one of em.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

“I’m proud of you, Son. And, no matter what anyone says, if you hold those convictions and morals that you’ve shown here, you’ll always have the loyalty of the Guard. If you need anything at all while you’re there, just holler.”

“Thanks, that means more than you could know.”

“I have a present for you as well,” He smiled broadly, “You never once asked what happened to your truck back at Morndel.”

“I parked close to the gym,” I said sadly, “I didn’t need to ask.”

He pulled something out of his pocket and handed it to me. It was a set of keys to a Chevrolet.

“It’s a few years newer than the last one but I think you’ll like it.”