The Eynan Page 16

  The stranger laughed with pure pleasure. Even as the mage was laughing, Ninian was drawing himself up, delving deep inside to bring out his anger. He knew from experience that anger was the best catalyst for magical fire, but he'd never called it up before. He'd never had such need. His hand felt ice cold, but the fire that flew from his fingers toward the other mage was white hot. The mage shot both his hands out in front of himself and when the fire reached about three inches in front of him, it spread out against an invisible wall before dissipating.

  Amired had fought his way to the sand below. He couldn't have made it so far without help from Jhond, who used his talent to create an invisible force that knocked men out of their way. Some fell and didn't rise; others just shook off the effects and came after them again. Mathias was still fighting two men on the path above. Their knives were out now and they were thrusting and parrying for all they were worth. Mathias was just managing to hold his own, keeping them at bay, calling for Jhond to come to his aid. However, Jhond was busy with the remaining four who had hidden themselves behind large boulders and were pelting him with rocks. Jhond was having to duck and dive and was having difficulty concentrating sufficiently to send bolts of energy powerful enough to do more than powder small rocks around where the sailors were hiding.

  Suddenly, there was a cry from Mathias, as one of the sailors finally managed to get through his defense and slash him down one side. He lost his balance and fell from the path to crash onto the beach below. He didn't fall far from where Amired was struggling with his foe. Amired didn't have time to spare his man a look, but prayed he'd landed on the soft sand and not hit the nearby rocks.

  Jhond was distracted by the cry and turned to watch as Mathias fell. One of the sailors took the opportunity so afforded to rise from his hiding place and take aim at Jhond with one of the rocks. His aim was perfect. The rock struck Jhond on his right temple and he crumpled like a rag doll.

  Amired didn't realize Jhond's predicament as he had at last managed to slip under Captain Endar's knife and rend his opponent's lower arm, making him drop his knife. He then slammed his other fist into Endar's abdomen, knocking all the wind out of him before giving the captain an uppercut, lifting him clear off his feet to fall unconscious on the sand. Amired then rushed over to Mathias, who had just missed landing on the rocks. Amired carefully rolled the stricken man onto his back from his left side where he had landed. Blood smeared the sailor's clothes where he has been injured, and he was unconscious. Amired breathed a sigh of relief and it was then he heard a sharp cry from above.

  "Preceptor, we have a mage!"

  "What? You are certain?" came the gruff response.

  "Yes, Master Suvran, we are."

  Ninian heard these words with dread, but he couldn't spare a glance to look. Whoever this Suvran was, he was a master of magistry. Ninian had used virtually everything he knew and he'd only managed to hold his own. He was exhausted with the effort. He'd never before had to call on his power so much in such a short time. It wouldn't help Jhond if he, too, were taken. He used his one last chance. When Suvran was distracted, Ninian drew a swift, complex sigil and silently mouthed two words in the long lost language of the Magi--invicto esvanir--and he disappeared from view.

  Suvran was looking down the hillside toward his compatriots when he saw, out of the corner of his eye, his opponent drawing a sigil, but before he could react, the man vanished. He recognized the charm for what it was and knew that the mage was still there, simply disguised into the surrounding scenery. An ancient and difficult charm to remove or see through. Suvran could still sense the man. He knew he'd moved, but was still somewhere nearby. Suvran smiled. He was sure he could eventually find him again.

  The preceptor moved down toward the other mage, the one his men had taken. Even as he walked toward him, Suvran quickly wove a spell around the man to keep him from moving and holding his powers at bay behind a shield. Approaching his fallen enemy, Suvran watched the man return to consciousness and slowly open his eyes. Even though he'd known one of the magi on the island had to be the young stranger he'd watched all these years, actually to see the man face-to-face was still something of a shock. Especially when the light hit the young man's face and his eyes clearly were that unusual violet color. Suvran had always wondered if his eyes really were that color or if it was just an effect of his magistry, but now he saw them, there was no doubt.

  Amired had turned from Mathias to realize Jhond was down and now a prisoner. He could no longer see any sign of Ninian, though he had been there only a second ago. He was wondering what he should do next when he felt a sharp prick in the small of his back and glancing over his shoulder, he saw the enemy captain with his knife pressed firmly against him. The man was grinning evilly, obviously relishing getting his revenge.

  * * * *

  The sailors picked up Jhond, who was now as stiff as a statue. His eyes were open, but he couldn't even move them.

  Jhond had never felt so helpless. He could feel his power surging through him, the nausea rising. He understood now that was because he wasn't able to release the energy building inside him. He was fully aware of everything, including the fact he had no control of his body. He remembered the times he'd used his mind to make things happen and wondered if he still had that power available to him. Part of him doubted he had. The mage had to know of such power, but still Jhond felt he had to try.

  He concentrated on trying to do something small, a kind of test. Then he realized he could see Amired on the beach just below. He also was a prisoner, a knife pressed to his back. Jhond honed his energy, trying to remove the knife from Amired's back, hoping the captain could attempt an escape. Jhond felt beads of sweat break out on his forehead. He even noticed the man holding Amired prisoner glance in his direction, but he had no awareness of any result. And the knife was still in place.

  As they approached the two captains on the beach, the enemy one spoke up. "Suvran, what of the other mage? You intend to go after him?"

  "Not now. He's of no consequence at the moment. This is the one who matters. He's going to tell me everything I want to know. Aren't you? Oh, sorry, you can't answer me, can you? Let me just adjust your restraints somewhat." He flicked his wrist and murmured a few words, and Jhond found he could move his eyes and he could speak, though he still couldn't move his body. "Now, don't get any ideas, my fine young friend. I know you are fairly new to your talent, but I can assure you, I most certainly am not. I have more power than you can possibly imagine. I don't want to hurt you, but if you don't tell me what I want to know, then believe me, I will."

  As he was speaking, Jhond tried again to use his mental power, but in such a way that if it worked, Suvran shouldn't know. He concentrated on moving a rock behind a boulder out of sight of the evil mage. It moved, but only a tiny bit. His power was there, but greatly restricted. He would bide his time. He knew what Suvran must want and whatever happened, he couldn't be allowed to have it. He wondered where Ninian was, but at least he was free and, Suvran didn't care about him. As Ninian was the one carrying all the artifacts, it must stay that way.

  Suvran must have realized his mind was elsewhere as he snapped his fingers, and Jhond felt as if his arms were on fire. "You must pay attention, young man. Jhond, is it not?"

  How does he know my name?

  "Now, where are the strands of time?"

  "The what?" Jhond replied, speaking with difficulty.

  "Don't play games. I know you came here to find the strands."

  "I don't know where you get your information from. I came here to research magistry, I admit that. As you said, I'm new to my talent and I wished to learn more about it. I believed there was a library of sorts here." Pain shot through him again and he clamped his mouth shut to keep in the scream threatening to spill out.

  "You think I'm stupid? I advise you...don't lie to me. I've had you under surveillance for a long time, my young friend. I know you went to Tandera to the Temple of the Magi. I know you found out how
to get to this island, the Isle of Truth. You came here for one reason only--to collect what prophecy says is your birthright. But prophecy is fluid, ever changing, one prophecy linking to another and another.

  "You were meant to find the strands, and I was meant to use them! I am the future of mankind. I'll recreate the power of the magi and I'll use that power to control the future of the world. It is written. The future will be mine!"

  Jhond was aghast. This was even worse than he'd imagined. If he'd believed before that this man shouldn't have the strands, now he knew, whatever the cost, he must not have them.

  "Never!" was Jhond's simple reply, all pretense gone.

  "I think perhaps you need to see how serious I am." Suddenly, Suvran shot out an arm in the direction of Amired. The captain gasped and clawed at his chest. Suvran's mouth was a narrow slit as he drew his fingers very slowly into a fist and, as his fingers began to come together, Amired fell to his knees gasping for breath.

  "Stop it!" Jhond yelled, as the captain pitched forward into the sand.

  "You will tell me?" Suvran demanded savagely.

  "No, don't..." gasped Amired. He could speak no more, but he shook his head, even as his face twisted in pain.

  Suvran moved to shove his clawed hand under Jhond's nose, drawing it closed even tighter. "One more fraction and it will be too late. I will squeeze the last drop of blood from his heart. Tell me!"

  Tears spilled from the corner of Jhond's eyes as he looked at Amired, a man he'd come to admire, dying at his feet. Amired's very expressive eyes locked with Jhond's. Jhond was surprised at the captain's determination not to give in to the man, until he remembered Amired had been the one to call Suvran evil.

  "No," Jhond said softly, firmly, cursing Suvran in his heart and soul for making him an accessory in his friend's murder.

  Chapter 20

  Ninian, listening nearby, was proud of Jhond. Jhond was keeping his nerve, answering the questions with the truth as far as it went. It was much easier to keep to the story if it was basically the truth. He hoped the time Jhond could buy would be enough for Ninian to come up with some way of rescuing both Jhond and Amired. While disguised by the invisibility shield, he re-built his energy, gathering every bit of it he could draw in to himself.

  Even as an idea of what might work materialized, Ninian caught movement out of the corner of his eye. Mathias was stirring and lifting a shaking hand to his injured side. Ninian realized Suvran and his minions had all their attention centered on Jhond and Amired. Ninian was at Mathias' side in an instant, quickly creating a spell to envelope the two of them.

  "Mathias, don't be afraid. It's Ninian. I'm holding you in a spell so your movements don't alert the others to your presence. You've been unconscious for a little while and we're in deep trouble. I've made myself invisible so I can fight the evil mage who has both Jhond and your captain in his grip. I'll release you, but you must keep still until I say otherwise. Do you understand? You can move your eyes and look to your left and I'll know you agree."

  Mathias glanced in his direction, and although Ninian saw fear in Mathias' gaze, he also saw determination. With a wave of his hand, Mathias was free. He didn't move so much as a fraction, still staring where the invisible Ninian was crouching. Ninian looked back to the tableau slightly below them and saw things had deteriorated. If he didn't act immediately, Captain Amired was going to be very dead.

  "Mathias, I need you to create a diversion, just enough so I can get closer to Suvran."

  "But you're invisible," Mathias whispered.

  "Yes, but a mage as powerful as Suvran will be able to sense me. If he's distracted, I have a chance to save your captain. I know from what your crewmates say that you're very good with a knife. In your present state, can you throw it accurately enough at the mage?"

  "The dizziness I felt on waking has faded now, and my wound is shallow. Yes, I can do it."

  "Move as soon as you've thrown it. Get to cover if you can. Suvran will be angry and lash out at you."

  Mathias nodded. "Captain Amired has been good to me, time to repay my debt."

  Ninian gripped his shoulder and Mathias jerked at the contact. "Count to ten and then throw your knife," Ninian instructed and before Mathias had a chance to answer, Ninian was moving away, closer to Suvran.

  * * * *

  Jhond's anger was rising within him. He could feel its heat beating at him. His stomach was twisted in knots with the need to use his power against the evil that was Suvran. If he'd been free, he'd have loosed every iota of it directly at his enemy. He screamed with frustration as poor Amired clawed at his own chest.

  "Your friend has but seconds left to live," Suvran gloated. "Tell me where the strands of time are."

  Jhond closed his eyes; he couldn't bear to see Amired die. He couldn't help but accept his own share of guilt for the man's impending death and he was unable to do anything about it.

  Abruptly, there was an angry roar from Suvran, and Jhond's eyes shot open. He was shocked to see a knife hanging in the air a mere inch or two from Suvran's face. The mage was no longer looking at Jhond. Instead, he was looking toward the rocks at the edge of the beach, where the path up the hillside began. Jhond followed his gaze and thought he saw movement, someone darting for one of the larger rocks. A blast of energy, deep red and twisting, hit the rocks near to the running man, and Jhond glanced back at Suvran in time to see him launch a second attack.

  At that precise moment a bolt of energy, blue, sparkling and straight as an arrow came from slightly behind Jhond and to his left. Suvran was bathed in the blue energy for an instant and the shield holding Jhond prisoner exploded in a shower of sparks.

  Ninian appeared at Jhond's side, still firing blue energy like arrows directly at Suvran until the mage was completely enveloped. With relish, Jhond released the anger roiling inside him straight at Suvran. He was shocked to see a deep green ball of swirling light dive through Ninian's blue energy and slam into the evil mage, knocking him off his feet and throwing him three or four feet away.

  The sailors backed away without any attempt to interfere with them or to aid Suvran. Only Captain Endar looked uncertain until he caught Ninian's eye and hurried over to join his crew.

  Ninian shouted, "Mathias, here, now!" as he kept his attention firmly on the downed mage.

  Jhond was already leaning over Amired, who was struggling to his knees. "Thanks to the Lords of Light you are still alive. I was so afraid, but I couldn't tell him. I couldn't."

  "I know, my friend," Amired croaked. "I understood. What that man could do with such power doesn't bear thinking about."

  Mathias was almost with them, when Ninian shouted, "Again, Jhond, again."

  Jhond frowned until he saw Ninian send his blue energy toward Suvran, who was, trying to get up. Jhond gathered his strength, drawing again on the fury for what this man was willing to do to his friends, was willing to do to the whole world, and sent another ball of energy into the fallen mage. Suvran was flung aside again to land flat on his back, unmoving.

  Ninian turned to the sailors, an arm raised threateningly, and the men scattered and ran to the boats, leaving Suvran where he lay.

  "Now," he said, "we have to get out of here. I don't know how long he'll remain unconscious."

  Captain Amired was back on his feet and he looked in better condition than Mathias. He pulled the sailor's arm across his shoulder and wrapped his arm around Mathias' waist to help support him. With Jhond in the lead and Ninian keeping an eye to their rear, they ran toward the beach.

  Off to one side, Suvran's sailors were piling into their boats, but their captain was looking anxiously to where the incapacitated mage lay.

  Jhond glanced at Ninian, but saw he was ignoring the enemy sailors.

  "Where would the first mate have taken the ship?" Ninian asked Amired.

  "Out of the bay, but hopefully he'd have found a location where he could keep an eye on what's happening."

  "So if you use your flash flare he'l
l bring the ship in?"

  Amired shrugged. "He'll likely to bring it in as close as he thinks safe and then send in a boat." The captain unclipped the flash flare from his belt, pulled the cord to prime it and aimed it skyward. The small orb sailed high up before it exploded with a dull thud, sending out arcs of yellow flames that dissipated very quickly.

  "I'll try to let Aldous know it's urgent," Ninian added, closing his eyes.

  "What?" asked Mathias, but Ninian didn't explain. His face had taken on a tense expression.

  Jhond guessed this was another talent his mentor hadn't yet displayed.

  After a minute or so, Ninian's eyes opened and he said, "There. He saw the flash flare and is already heading in."

  Amired shook his head. "I'll never understand you two, but I'm grateful you're on our side."

  Mathias murmured something under his breath, and Ninian said to him, "Care to repeat that?"

  Mathias nibbled at his lip, took a breath and said, "I just said, if I'd known the trip was going to be so dangerous, I might've stayed at home."

  "Can't argue with that," Ninian admitted.

  "But the fact is," Amired said, looking at Ninian, "we signed papers that bind me and my crew to fulfill the contract." He looked directly at his crewman, a question in his eyes, and Mathias nodded.

  "And it binds us to look after you and the ship," Ninian said.

  "Yes," Jhond spoke up. "And here it is now," he added, pointing to the eastern headland where the Horologue could be seen turning into the bay.

  "Thank the Lords," Mathias murmured.

  "Indeed," Amired said with obvious relief. "We have to get that chest removed from here. Away from that monster, Suvran."

  "Where will we be safe from him?" Mathias asked. "He said he could follow you anywhere, Jhond."

  Jhond had the same fear. "Ninian, what can we do?"

  "Get as far away as we can while I--we--study the contents of the chest."