Born of Magic (Channeler Series) Page 9

  His stories of the East made the day go by far easier, as it kept my mind focused on something other than the burning sensation in my lungs and legs. Each breath of air that was sucked into my chest became more difficult, and provided barely enough air to make it to the next one. We arrived at a thick concentration of heavily branched trees where Aton said we would make camp for the night. Never before had a bed of pine needles and a thick wool blanket seem so appealing.

  My body felt sensations of pain that I had never considered possible before. This is what death must feel like, if it were dragged out over a cruel, long period while you watched your life drain away one drop at a time. I found his tireless attitude beyond annoying and a little careless, but I reminded myself that he was motivated by a great cause.

  "How are you holding up?" The woman in my mind said. Her soft, graceful voice danced around in my mind, bringing me some comfort. She was a nice little secret to have at the end of the day.

  I had reached the point where I was too tired to sleep and found her conversation very inviting. "I‘m so tired, is it always this difficult?"

  "No, he pushes you too hard. Where are you going?"

  "I don't know really, and how can you tell he pushes me so hard?" I noticed she picked up on far more than someone who was nowhere near me should.

  "I can not only communicate with you, but pick up a bit on your emotions. Your heart seems drained. You are clouded with confusion and frustration. He gives you so little and pushes you so hard." Her words seemed very concerned but I remained skeptical.

  "He has given me so much as well. Before this, there was no hope in my life, no ambition or meaning." While I did not entirely trust her, I did find it relieving to speak how I truly felt with her. Before this I felt like there was no direction in my life other than the next meal or pile of hay to curl up on.

  "We were about to come looking for you shortly after he had found you. One of our mages detected you were in the area. The energy flowed as if it was being influenced in that town. It has been a long time since there was a channeler, but we recognized the signs."

  "A long time?" I knew this was some ploy to make me want to trust her more but for the time decided I would consider the idea. "Aton said there are a usually at least a few channelers out there."

  She snickered. "It figures that he would tell you something like that. No, your kind are extremely rare, there hasn't been one for hundreds of years. The last time there was a channeler, she shaped the course of history and turned the tides of a devastating war that ripped through the lands. Channelers have the ability to decide which side will win. It is my job to make sure you are on the side of good. A force which has lain dormant for years is starting to churn once more. The times are changing, and you will be needed for things greater than petty thievery."

  The idea of being just that important was very appealing in some ways. However, I found the notion of being the shaping force of a war or battle terrifying.

  She must have been able to feel my fear. "It will not be for some time until the world calls onto you to save it, dear. For now, we need to ensure your safety. First I see I still need to gain your trust. I will not force anything on you or ask you anything you do not wish to answer. In return, all I ask is that you consider what I have to say. Does that seem fair?"

  Lying or not, she was fair. She gave me more respect than any adult had before. She treated me as an equal. "Okay. First, what’s your name?"

  "I am Helendra, and if your friend Edgar was telling the truth, you are Jasminis."

  My heart stung, I couldn't breathe. "How do you know Edgar?" I said in a demanding voice, horrible ideas of my decisions bringing harm to my friends came into my mind like a violent thunderstorm.

  "We wanted to know what had happened to you. All he told us was your name was Jasminis and that you were the kindest little woman alive. He seemed to be only concerned for you. It was relieving to hear what sort of woman you are."

  The storm of images in my mind cleared and was replaced with a slight wave of laughter that managed to escape my lips. Aton rustled around in his sleep. "Me, a woman?"

  "Jasminis, you will face many great challenges in your life, hard decisions that will affect millions of lives. If we wish for you to be the woman that we need to save us, we must begin treating you as one. I will never speak down to you, only guide you."

  I found it amusing. In a very short period of time I had gone from a nobody to a sought after channeler, a woman of magic with the potential to one day shape the world. I knew I should be curled up in a little ball, hiding my head from the big world that would look upon me to save it, but the only feeling I felt right now was completion.

  Helendra probably sensed the warm feeling that was in my heart. "With that thought rummaging around in your head, I will let you rest, my dear."

  ~6~

  The morning came to greet me with exhaustion and sore muscles. The wonderful smell of cooked fish, a meal I had grown to adore during my stay with Aldred, drifted into my nose. I grew a little empty inside as I opened my eyes and realized I was so far away from Laharah, and less than likely to ever see it again. I looked at Aton a little differently, considering what Helendra had said to me. Who was I to believe, the man that had been there for me for the first time in my life, or the woman who haunted my mind from afar?

  While these questions riddled me, Aton took notice of my off mood. "Is everything okay, Jas? I realize that I'm asking much of you, too much I fear. Are you holding up all right?"

  I nodded. "I've never traveled this much, and it takes a toll on me, but I’m strong." Not wanting to admit defeat, I chose to hide my pain and discomfort. I had a lot of things to think about, but I didn’t want Aton to catch wind of them.

  "That's good to hear. Today, let's try and continue at the same pace as yesterday. We'll be there soon enough and you'll be rewarded with a warm, fluffy bed in one of the inns. The beds there are far better than anything you’ve seen before."

  We packed up once we had finished eating, and we started on our way again. I chose to remain quiet for most of the day. It took less energy to communicate with Helendra, as I expended no precious oxygen talking to her and she kept my mind occupied.

  "Are you there?" I called out in my mind.

  "Of course, dear. You are my main focus right now. How are you holding up?"

  "Let's keep the conversation off of that, it goes by easier, if you please."

  Her short burst of warm laughter danced around my heart. "Of course. I can already tell you will do great things, Jasminis."

  As she praised my good nature, a horrific memory popped into my mind, and I felt I could confess it to her. "I don't know about that—"

  "You're so kindhearted, what could you have possibly done to make you think otherwise?" Her question was filled with only disbelief, as if there was no underlying reason to her question as I had grown to expect from others around me.

  "When I was in Laharah, I met a boy—" She waited patiently as I hesitated, ashamed of myself. "He was a mage as well. A young one like me. He was showing me his power and I wanted to see what he could do if I channeled more energy into him."

  "That's nothing bad my dear, you were simply curious."

  I knew she would not be concerned with me testing my magic; it was what it did to him that may change her opinion of me. However, if she really did place so much hope and faith in me, it would be best if she at least knew more about me. "Yes, but when I did that, it hurt him. It overwhelmed him, and he blacked out."

  She gasped. "It's not your fault, the man you are with has taught you so little of magic. Mages who do not know the true nature of their magic can sometimes be overwhelmed by it, especially when a channeler is introduced. I admit that I wouldn't be entirely sure what to do if you were to channel magic into me."

  "So, is it dangerous for me to do such things?"

  "Only on those who aren't entirely trained. If we are ever to meet, which I certainly hope is the case
, we will show you the true nature of magic. There is much more to your magic than just your ability to increase the flow into another mage. The last channeler was not born hundreds of years ago, she merely died that long ago. Her age is unknown, but it is said she was saw the rise and fall of many kingdoms in her time."

  "The energy that we use is much more than just magic, and it is said that a channeler can use it to increase the span of their life. I won't lie, everyone's magic is different and works differently, I cannot teach you how to use your magic but more so guide you along the way. How you use it you will discover for yourself."

  I found it interesting to learn that both Aton and Helendra had spoken of magic in this way. "Then how is it there has been more than one of what I am?"

  "While your magic may have the same effect as the last channeler's, how you do it is different. Your method may open up grand possibilities extending far beyond that of channeling, or it may be very simplistic and limited. It is a journey of discovery. Rarely does a mage ever truly master their magic."

  As I walked, I focused greatly on my conversation with Helendra, which was proving to be very interesting. I was so focused on the topic at hand that I stopped paying as much attention to where I was walking and tripped over a root that stuck out of the ground. While I was able to respond fast enough to save myself from a painful tumble, I was not quick enough to save my pride, as Aton looked back at me and shook his head.

  The tumble scratched my shin, leaving a small bloodstain on my pants. However, I noticed that after that, Aton slowed his pace. I justified my clumsiness with the thought that some good did come from it. Helendra sensed this change in my attitude, "Always such a positive attitude?"

  "It's the only way one makes it, living on the streets. You have to make the best out of the worst." It was true, I thought. The only way I was ever able to make myself content with eating out of the trash, or sleeping under a cart piled with fertilizer at night, was to be as optimistic as possible.

  I continued to talk to Helendra for the rest of the trip, spending my days speaking with her to take my concentration off the pain I experienced. I spent my nights talking to Aton a bit about the remaining portion of our journey, during which I would pass out. This routine went on for two days until we reached the city.

  We stood atop a hill that overlooked the city. A long path to one of the many entrances to the city lay before us. There were no gates or guards visible at the entrances—it was an open city. The city stretched to the horizon with buildings far greater in size than I had ever seen. There seemed to be no center of the city. There were markets in every portion that I could see, with people crowded in almost every street. Stacks of smoke rose from buildings and extended to the skies. Just outside the city were gigantic fields of what Aton said was rice, with farmers casually tending to them.

  "Here we are," Aton said. "Let's find one of his inns and check in for the night. It’ll be best if you lay low at the inn while I try and get some information. And Jas, there are many mages in this city. It’s best if you try to avoid displaying your ability to anyone."

  I nodded, and followed him as we made our way down the long path. The rice fields had a weird smell and the air was more humid than Saltren got on a rainy night. The farmers that tended the field were covered to their knees in water while little green plants floated around them. There were dozens of other travelers entering the city from some of the other paths that went parallel to ours. Most were carrying large sacks with them, or led donkey-pulled carriages.

  Just past the entrance we found a large inn that wore the logo of the man we were looking for. Aton pointed to the small picture on the bottom right corner of the sign. It was of a snake with a flower in its mouth. I found the logo to be rather unusual—there was no signs or designs like that in Saltren.

  "The snake with a flower in its mouth is the sign of Sir Caspere, the man that we’re here for."

  "What does that symbol mean?"

  "Caspere is known for being a little different in how he views the world. He likes to make people think. It could mean nothing, I honestly don't know." Aton the back of scratched his neck, his head cocked upward as he stared at the symbol. He then shook his head and we walked into the inn.

  Inside there was a short, old woman whose head barely popped up over the counter. Her voice was high pitched and she spoke in short bursts of words. "Awww, how cute, father and daughter, how long you staying for?"

  She sounded almost condescending when she spoke, but I also found her quirky. Aton paid no attention to her unusual personality. "At least a week. I’d like one on the top floor with two bedrooms, if you please." Aton spoke with a very sophisticated tone, as he usually did when he spoke to someone in any manner of business.

  "Okay, okay, we have that. You need to pay upfront for the first week at least, though." She said. Her eyes kept darting upward, as though she was adding up the totals in her head. She then wrote the sum down on a piece of paper. "Here's your total, so pay now."

  I almost laughed at how amusing she was, intentional or not. She was very direct and demanding, yet short and seemed harmless. Aton paid her and we set out to climb the four flights of stairs to our floor, where our room was at the end of a long hallway. The idea of a comfortable bed and a few days of rest was something I was growing to become very fond of.

  From the window in our room we could see a very large portion of the city, just as Aton had intended. I paid little attention to the view and more to the bed in my room, plopping down and letting the feeling of my weightless body on the soft mattress lull me to sleep. Every muscle in me was relaxed and I nearly fell into a very deep slumber but just as soon as I had fallen into it, Aton awoke me.

  "I'm going to grab us some food from a restaurant down the street. Stay here while I'm out. I'll pick something out for you."

  Too lazy to speak, I nodded, and he walked out of the room, locking the door behind him. I found this a good time to ask a question that had been in the back of mind for some time, one I felt more comfortable asking Helendra than Aton.

  "I don't mean to bother—" I started, a little unsure of how to start our conversations—the idea was a little weird to me still.

  Her soft, welcoming voice came into my head once again, "You are never a bother, dear. A lot has been dedicated to you and your safety. Now what is it?"

  I found her unrelenting dedication to me a little unusual. Why would she be so concerned with me? Was her story about channelers true? "What do you want from me exactly?"

  She sounded surprised, "Want from you? We don't really want anything from you. We want you to work with us, to be one of us. You have great potential for this world and there is so much that you could learn and gain from us."

  One of them, the very prospect was confusing. She had answered my question, but had replaced it with even more questions. I could tell this conversation may take some time, I chose to start with the most pertinent question, "What do you mean by one of you?"

  "A member of the guild. You would become an apprentice at first, and taken into the care of another, more experienced mage. You would be around other apprentices at the guildhall, and learn with one another, as well as go on occasional missions. You would be free to spend your time honing your magic and learning more of it, and learning more about yourself as well."

  An apprentice seemed very similar to what I was now. Although we had little time to really work on my magic, I was learning about the outside world. The idea of practicing my magic even more seemed appealing. However, it frightened me as well, given what had happened the last time I practiced on someone other than Aton. "Who would I be an apprentice to? Does everyone get an apprentice?"

  I could hear disappointment in her voice, "While I would love for you to be my apprentice, you have been reserved for Tevon. While every master has an apprentice, not every apprentice receives a master. Very few of our students do, unfortunately, as there are presently not enough masters."

  All of this a
ttention I had been receiving lately was beginning to make me a little confident with myself, but I knew I shouldn't let it go to my head. I had seen the way Aeden acted with the little bit of fame he had received from his ability, and knew that I did not want to become anything like that.

  "I can see that you are still torn. I am here for you, Jasminis, and I will stay with you however long it takes for you to learn to trust me."

  "Thank you." With that, our conversation ended.

  The idea that I had been taking advantage of her toiled around in the back of my mind. She had been here for me, regardless of my resistance to trust her. Aton had earned my trust with ease. Just a couple promises and a warm smile was all it had taken him. But he rewarded that trust as well, by training me, taking me to wonderful places, and taking care of me more than anyone else had before. He had done nothing to betray my trust and loyalty yet, aside from a couple reckless moments, and until he did otherwise, I decided that I would not betray him.

  A little later, Aton returned with something that smelled delicious. I recognized the scent—it reminded me of what I had eaten in Laharah. There was a very distinct scent to fish that made my spine shiver as it reminded me of the cold nights in Aldred’s hospital. I wondered if I would always have this association. Aton threw a wad of paper with something heavy wrapped inside of it. I caught it, looked at him with a small grin, and threw it back at him. He caught it and laughed. Being difficult at times seemed to amuse both of us.

  We threw it back and forth again. When he caught it again he shook his head. "This is just as bad as knocking on a door with you. Now, eat." He smiled and threw it back to me one last time. "I'm going to be gone for most of the night. Stay in here and get plenty of rest. If all goes well tonight, you might to need it. If it doesn’t go well, you’re definitely going to need it.”