Interphase (12 page)

"Forgive me, my lord, but I must confess some uncertainty. There was a…" David thought back to Analara's comments about sages. "I somehow opened a gateway from my home. When I stepped through, I found myself near here." He hoped his explanation would suffice.

Silence fell across the courtyard, and David could almost feel his soul being judged. Shalaron's gaze speared into David's eyes before falling to his bare chest. Even in this light, the scars of the past day's attack could barely be seen. "It has been reported to me that you were brought here last night, severely injured."

David hesitated, then nodded. "That is true."

"What was the cause of your injuries?"

"I was attacked by a wild creature. I am told it is called a feranal."

"You have healed quickly." Suspicion was thick in his voice.

"A skilled healer tended to me." David touched Analara's arm. She glanced at him meekly, then quickly lowered her gaze.

"I recognize you," Shalaron said, looking at Analara. "Nathalion's apprentice. The one who enjoys wandering in the wilderness near nightfall."

Analara's eyes widened, and David thought she might faint.

"Stand up, Analara." Shalaron waited until she had complied, then pinned David again with his stare. "Can you verify the words of this stranger?"

"M-my lord Sage, I…" She squeezed David's hand. "While I did not witness his arrival, I found David in the woods yesterday, badly injured. His wounds were consistent with those made by a feranal. In the short time I have known David, I have found him to be truthful."

Shalaron opened his mouth to speak, but a strange look crossed his face. He frowned, shaking his head and closing his eyes. When he opened them again, he was glaring. "Follow," he commanded in a tone that compelled obedience. David and Analara chased after him through the square.

He led them to the nearest section of the city wall, where pulsing tendrils covered the gray stone. The battlements were full of movement, guards running and stabbing at the large vines that whipped at them.

"It's the Rethkor," Analara gasped. "But it's attacking. Screaming!"

"What is it saying?" Shalaron demanded.

"I don't know! It's so loud I can't make any sense of it."

As they watched, more guards were either swept from the walls or seized by the clinging tendrils and hurled to the ground. A loud shout rang out, and a man dashed up the stairs to the wall and buried his arms within the vines.

"Master!"

Analara started forward, but Shalaron gripped her shoulder. "He is trying to subdue it. Do not interfere. Both of you, stay here!" He ran swiftly toward the wall, his robes swirling behind him. Before he could reach the stairs, one of the vines broke loose of Nathalion's control and grasped the Artisan around the waist, dragging him off the wall.

Shalaron leapt onto the battlements and braced himself. He raised his arms, and a vine seized his wrist. Turning his head toward it, he frowned. The vine flared and shattered into fragments. He opened his hands, and a field of white spread through the air in front of him. Even from several yards away, David could feel the blast of cold air. The tendrils recoiled, then lashed around Shalaron's chest and arms. Light blazed, and ice flowed over the vines. It raced from tendril to tendril, coating leaves and thorns, running all the way to where the Rethkor held Nathalion trapped. As the vines froze, they lost their grip on the Artisan. Shalaron snapped the plants that clung to him, leapt off the wall, and caught Nathalion in mid-air.

Analara grabbed David by the wrist and dragged him with her. "Master, are you all right?"

Nathalion was bleeding and winded, but very much alive. Shalaron set him back on his feet, and he clapped Analara on the shoulder. "The Heartroot. We must calm it while it is stunned." The two of them ran toward the center of the city. David trailed after and emerged in a wide circle surrounded by fountains. The flow of water converged around a thick knot of vines that towered into the air. Analara and Nathalion placed their hands against the Heartroot, while David kept his eyes on the battle at the walls. Slowly, the writhing tendrils quieted and finally grew still.

When it was over, Shalaron gave orders for Nathalion to be tended. He turned back to David. "As you can see, now is not the time for visitors in Ilinar. Have the remainder of your wounds seen to, and then leave our walls before sunset. If you wish to return, you
will
bring an introduction from your Sage, Vera."

Analara's lips tightened, but she didn't dare oppose Shalaron's decision. She bowed her head, and Shalaron gave David one final glance before he turned and left.

Chapter 11

In spite of Analara's protests, David insisted that he needed to leave before the mid-harvest bell. After he retrieved his weapon and some supplies from Varlath's house, she reluctantly agreed to escort him beyond the last watch post. Those they passed offered their greetings, but suspicious whispers followed in their wake. Soon they were free of the confines of the city, and the grasslands stretched endlessly before them.

Roanan groves dotted the hillside ahead, branches waving as the pair slipped into the shade. Even walking beneath the sheltering boughs did little to improve Analara's gloomy spirits. She watched David out of the corner of her eye, calmed by his presence, and pondered the possibility of never seeing him again. Though she'd only known him a short while, he'd somehow become a part of her life, and she felt a pang of loss at the thought of his absence.

Analara recalled how she'd found him this last time and started worrying about what further dangers he might encounter. If nothing else, perhaps she could arm him with knowledge on his journey home. "There's something you should know about feranals or eldranals, just in case." She looked away before continuing. "When our warriors hunt them, they attack weak points in the tail. Promise me that you'll remember."

David nodded and looked as if he were committing the information to memory. "My thanks." He smiled wanly. "Though I'd much prefer
not
to encounter another of those anytime soon, it is comforting to know how to face them."

Analara gazed at David's smile, and another pang pricked her heart. There had to be more she could do. What Shalaron had done to him was not fair!

An idea popped into Analara's head, and she gasped. It would mean defying the will of her elders, but—

She looked at David and grinned mischievously. "You know, Shalaron said that you needed permission to return to Ilinar."

"Yeah," said David. A look of frustration passed across his face. "That's a problem. My leader isn't someone that I can simply speak to."

"That's quite a problem," Analara echoed coyly. "But he said nothing about needing permission to visit the woods."

David stopped and stared at her. His expression shifted from amusement to concern to hope. "I'm sure that if he had thought of it, he would have specified."

Analara's eyes shone with excitement. "But he didn't."

David folded his arms across his chest. "I'm already on his bad side, Analara. I don't like the idea that you could get in trouble on my account."

Analara smirked. "Trouble and I are close acquaintances. I can not stand back and watch you be cast out of my home like this. And I just…" She stumbled, her heart pounding fast. "I want to see you again."

David smiled, and Analara knew her point was won. "Only if you'll promise me to be careful?"

She nodded. "Can you meet me at my grove in, say, two days?"

"I will be there." David's smile widened. "Until then, my lady. And this time I'll try not to injure myself again."

He took her hand, squeezed it, and started back on the trail. Analara turned toward Ilinar, but could not resist taking a final glance behind. He gave her one last smile before slipping through the trees.

Once Analara was back within the walls of the city, she checked on Nathalion. Thankfully, his wounds were not serious. They discussed the attack, as well as David's presence, and while Nathalion scolded her for not letting him examine her patient, he said he was very proud of all that she had accomplished. Blushing at the compliment, she promised to come back in the evening for her lessons and returned home.

In the garden, children swarmed around Analara like insects, clamoring to know where David was and if she knew the walls had been attacked. She managed to disentangle herself and escaped into the house. Lemna was at her usual place in the main room, mending a torn shirt.

Analara gave one of her sweetest smiles. "Lemna, have you seen your son recently?"

"Yes, dear, he is in his room."

"Thank you very much."

Rupu was lounging against a floor cushion, studying a piece of parchment when she entered. Analara grabbed a pillow and hurled it at Rupu's head. It bounced off, and he looked her way, grinning. "There you are, 'Nala. I wondered where you had disappeared to. Quite an eventful day, wouldn't you agree?"

"Indeed," she replied coldly. "In large part, thanks to you. Would you care to explain just what got into your head?"

Rupu set the parchment aside and sat up, wearing an impish grin. "You seem troubled. Is something amiss?"

"You could have hurt him, Rupu. And for what? Did it bother you that much to have a stranger in the city? Have you become that distrustful?"

"Oh, is that why you like him, 'Nala? Because he is a stranger? Because he is new?"

Analara glowered. "I like him because he is a kind and courageous person. He traveled all the way from his home, braving the wilds of a distant land, just to thank me!"

"Would you have done the same?"

"What is that supposed to mean?"

Rupu calmly looked her in the eyes. "If your positions had been switched, and he had been the one to render service, would you have risked yourself just to thank him?"

"Without hesitation! Any decent person would do that."

"There you have it." Rupu grinned triumphantly. "David is a decent person!"

Analara gaped at him, and Rupu burst out laughing. "Just what is so funny?"

"Oh, forgive me, 'Nala. It was completely worth it just to see that look on your face."

"What was worth…? Wait, in the square, that was a
ruse
?"

Rupu finished chuckling and smiled. "A test. From your first meeting with David, it was obvious that he had attracted your eye. I wanted to know if he was worthy of you."

Analara wasn't sure whether to laugh or hit him. "How was challenging him to the game a way to test him?"

"It told me what I needed to know." Analara frowned, and Rupu shrugged in response. "People reveal their true selves under pressure and during conflict. He played with honor and poise, in an unfamiliar place, against several opponents. Having met him myself now, I think I rather like David, although I doubt the feeling will be mutual for some time."

Analara finally broke down and smiled. "When did you become so smart and mysterious?"

A faint blush touched Rupu's cheeks, and he opened his arms to her. Giggling, Analara crouched down to hug him. "You have always been my little sister, 'Nala," he whispered into her hair. "How could I do anything less?"

Analara sat down next to him on the floor and leaned against his shoulder. "In that case, maybe you can convince Shalaron that David is no enemy."

"What do you mean?"

"He seemed very suspicious and questioned David harshly. After the Rethkor attacked, he told David to leave and only return with permission from his Sage." Analara sighed.

"That is strange." Rupu frowned. "There is something about David that is… different. He has a power within, though I don't feel it is dangerous." He made a thoughtful sound and shrugged. "Shalaron must have other matters on his mind. He is a sage, and their ways are quite mysterious. The only thing we can do is wait and see what the future brings our way." He eyed Analara warily. "Knowing you, you've already set your own plans in motion. Just try not to be too obvious about them."

Analara merely grinned.

***

"What exactly does that mean, sir?" Detective Smith's nervous little assistant asked.

David continued to stare out of the third-story window at the lamp-lit streets below. A light rain fell on the city, driving men in hats and trench coats indoors. He liked this place, this era of Earth history. Whenever he needed to ponder something, he always came back to this module.

Turning back to his assistant, David ran down a mental checklist. "Let's review the facts, Neville. First, the phantom from Analara's module can create and control a strange energy. Second, this energy seems to be of the same type that caused my injury during the first Storm. Third, it appears to warp whatever it comes into contact with, be it air, code, or flesh. Are you with me so far?"

Neville winced, incomprehension apparent on his face.

David sighed. "It means, Neville, that whatever this phantom is, it is related to the Crash Storms. Whether it is a byproduct, or the creator of the Storms, remains to be seen." He sat and propped his feet on his desk, pleased with his deductions.