The Buried Symbol (The Ruins of Issalia Book 1) (57 page)

“
Okay, Talenz. You
’
re free to go.
”

Brock squinted, trying to adjust his eyes the light from the glowlamp.

“
Free? What happened?
”
Brock asked.

Eldarro shrugged.
“
Ask Vandermark. You are to meet with him first thing tomorrow.
”

Unsure of what that meant, Brock stepped out and glanced at the room next door.

“
What happened to Ashland?
”
he asked, seeing the door open and the room empty.

“
I helped her to her room. She
’
s there resting as she recovers her strength,
”
Eldarro replied.

“
Okay. Thanks, then.
”
Brock turned and left the infirmary.

He stepped into the hallway and headed toward Ashland
’
s room.

.   .   .

Brock knocked softly, his stomach aflutter.

“
Yes?
”
He heard Ashland respond.

“
It
’
s me,
”
he said through the door.
“
Can we talk?
”

“
Come in, Brock.
”

He opened the door to see her on the bed. He smiled, happy to see her. Even if she couldn
’
t accept him being Unchosen, at least she was alive and well.

He sat on the chair beside her bed.
“
I
’
m so glad you
’
re okay. I feared I had lost you.
”

She smiled.
“
I heard you. You called me back.
”

Brock nodded.
“
I just tried to do what you did when you called for me to come the Foundry. How is that possible?
”

“
Telepathy,
”
she replied.
“
It
’
s a rare ability involving
Order
. You don
’
t learn about it until your second year. It requires two highly skilled Ecclesiasts who also have a strong bond.
”

He nodded. It made sense.
Order
was in all living things, somehow connected. A strong connection between the two people must be what made it possible. Taking a breath, he readied himself for the next topic.

“
I need to explain something. It
’
s a secret I
’
ve shared only with Tipper, and that
’
s because he knew me before I got this.
”
He pointed to the rune on his forehead.

“
When you touched my head the other day, I
’
m sure you realized that I
’
m Unchosen. I wanted to tell you, but I didn
’
t know how.
”
He paused.
“
Being Unchosen leaves you with few options and no future. I just wanted to make a better life, to make a difference. I paid someone to mark me with the rune of
Order
and came here to become something better.
”

“
Brock. You don
’
t understand,
”
Ashland said, sitting upright.
“
I don
’
t care if you
’
re Unchosen. In fact, I saw runes when I read you. I even saw the rune of
Order
.
”
She shook her head.
“
But I also saw something else; something the Ministry says is evil.
”

Chills climbed his spine, fearful of what she might say.
“
What did you see?
”

Ashland stared into his eyes.
“
It was a rune that looked like a starburst with four large points.
”

A second wave of chills washed over Brock.
“
Chaos
,
”
he said.
“
That
’
s the rune for
Chaos
.
”

CHAPTER 90

Ashland stared into Brock
’
s eyes.
“
How do you know what the rune is called? We were never taught what it was or what it meant, only that it was bad.
”

Brock shrugged.
“
Benny and I have
…
been doing some research. We found an old book with that rune on the cover and have been translating it, trying to understand what
Chaos
is and how it works.
”

She nodded, her eyes downcast.
“
Well, when I divined you and saw that rune, I wasn
’
t prepared for it.
”
Her eyes lifted to meet his.
“
But I know you, and I love you. If it
’
s part of you, I
’
ve decided it can
’
t be evil. You
’
re too good of a person.
”

He smiled.
“
I love you, too. I
’
m sorry I never told you I was Unchosen. No more secrets, I promise.
”

He leaned in for a tender kiss.

Pulling away, he said,
“
But if I am Unchosen, then why can you divine runes within me?
”

She nodded.
“
That
’
s because any ecclesiast skilled in divining is supposed to look for that mark during the Choosing ceremony. If the symbol you call
Chaos
is present, the person is to remain Unchosen. It
’
s one of the first things we learn in apprentice-level training.
”

Brock thought about what she said. It seemed to make sense. That
’
s why he was skilled in
Order
though he was Unchosen. He was born with the talent, but they didn
’
t mark him because they saw
Chaos
within him as well.

“
There
’
s something else, Brock.
”
Ashland looked down at the floor.
“
I also am Unchosen.
”

He was surprised, never imagining that he wasn
’
t the only one at the school under false pretenses.

She continued.
“
When I was ten summers, my parents used everything they had to pay for me to be marked. They then sent me off to live with a distant uncle to train for the Academy.
”

Curious, Brock leaned in and placed his hand on her forehead. When he drew upon her, he saw symbols appear. The first was
Order
, but
Chaos
and four others followed.

His eyes opened to see her staring at him, fear reflecting in her eyes. When he nodded, her eyes dropped to stare at the floor.

Softly, she said,
“
It
’
s
…
what I
’
ve feared since I first learned about the rune they call evil. That I was Unchosen because it was part of me.
”

He put his fingers under her chin, lifting it until their eyes met.
“
Ashland, I refuse to believe a rune marking some ability within you is evil. You said it yourself about me.
”

She nodded, smiling.
“
How do you always know how to make me feel better?
”

“
I don
’
t know. Maybe a book that I read told me what to say,
”
he said, smiling.

.   .   .

It was late when Brock stepped into the boys
’
lounge. Benny, Cam, and a dozen others were in the room, talking in small groups. One by one, they noticed him standing in the doorway. The conversations stopped as they stared in his direction. Benny was the last to notice.

Benny stood and exclaimed,
“
Brock! You
’
re free! Are you okay?
”

To the room, Brock announced,
“
I
’
ve been cleared of any charges. I don
’
t have details yet, but I
’
m to meet with Vandermark in the morning. And, yes, I
’
m fine.
”

Those in the room gathered around him, patting him on the back, stating that they were glad to see him. Some asked about the incident with Corbin, but he explained that he wasn
’
t to discuss it until meeting with Vandermark. They soon dispersed, and Parker pulled him aside.

“
I
’
m glad to see you
’
re free, Brock. When I heard that Corbin was dead, I went to find the headmaster to tell him of Corbin
’
s obsession with you. I convinced most of the others to do the same. I hoped it would help your case.
”

“
Thanks, Parker,
”
Brock replied.
“
I appreciate the support. I just hope they let me stay so I can put the whole thing behind me.
”

Parker nodded.
“
By the way, you missed the archery contest while you were out.
”

Brock had forgotten about that.
“
That
’
s right. I
’
m sure I wouldn
’
t have qualified anyway. At best, I
’
m average with a bow. How did you do?
”

Parker smiled, pulling a medal from under his shirt.
“
First place with the longbow,
”
he said, proudly displaying his prize.

Brock flashed a smile.
“
Good show, Parker. I heard you were skilled, but I guess I didn
’
t realize how well you handled a bow.
”

“
Effects of a misspent youth,
”
Parker grinned.
“
I
’
ve been competing with a bow since I was ten summers, winning the Sol Polis Tournament two of the past three years.
”

“
That explains it,
”
Brock said.
“
Congratulations.
”

Brock patted Parker on the shoulder and left to join Cam and Benny.

“
Hi, Benny. Have you made any progress?
”

Benny smiled.
“
I finished the book on the Wailing War.
”

Brock raised a brow.
“
What did you find?
”

Benny sat forward eager to share his findings.
“
Well, you know how the Banished Horde was an unstoppable force, destroying any army it opposed until the final battle?
”

Brock nodded.

Benny smiled.
“
When the Ministry got involved, things changed.
”

“
Okay. Spit it out,
”
Brock said.

“
In order to combat the might of the Horde, the Ministry unleashed a secret weapon. They don
’
t ever name it in the book, but there are hints and clues. Apparently, the use of
Chaos
turned the tide. The armies of man decimated the Horde and returned to Fallbrandt, where they agreed to form what is now the Empire.
”

Brock nodded.
“
Interesting. That makes sense. According to Byland Hedgewick
’
s note, the Ministry decided to erase any mention of
Chaos
from the histories. But, what happened to the
Chaos
users who helped to defeat the Horde?
”