Beyond the Boundary Stones (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 3) Page 15

  Kevessa put a hand on the window sill to steady herself. “No,” she whispered.

  “What I need from you is very simple. I want a demonstration of your beast’s demonic nature. If you give it to me, I’ll release both you and your father. If you refuse, I’ll have my colleague subject Gevan to a series of persuasions, increasing in severity until you see reason and grant my request.”

  “Nina’s not a demon!” Kevessa squeezed her eyes shut to suppress tears of helplessness and outrage. “It’s impossible for us to give you what you want.”

  “I suggest you figure out a way, if you value your father’s life.” Yoran glanced at the hourglass. “You have about two minutes before Gevan pays the first penalty for your stubbornness. Ample time to show me the truth.” He gestured toward the door. Kevessa whirled to see.

  A robed and hooded Keeper entered carrying a locked metal box of the type merchants used to hold money. He inserted a key and twisted it, but continued to hold the lid shut as he came to stand before Kevessa.

  Nina!

  I’m here. Her familiar’s voice was distinct in her mind.

  Yoran moved next to Kevessa and gripped her arm. “Remember. If I’m unable to send the next signal, your father dies.”

  Kevessa longed to lunge for the box and throw it open to release Nina, but she held back. “None of this makes sense. If what you believe were true, and Nina really were a demon and I her slave, she wouldn’t care if you killed my father. We’d kill you and your accomplices and anyone else who tried to stop us from leaving.”

  Yoran nodded. “If she does, that will be proof that you are her slave and have no influence over your master. But if I die tonight, tomorrow every Purifier in Ramunna will launch a full-scale war against the demons and their slaves. Everything is ready; unless I send word in the morning to suspend the attack, it will go forward.” His eyes went distant, and his lips curved into a slight smile. “I will rejoice to stand before the Mother if now is my time to return to her.” He focused on the box holding Nina, and his smile grew wider. “But I believe she has further work for me. Surely even demons will act in their own self-interest, so I offer this bargain. Reveal your true appearance as the holy Yashonna described you: vicious and cruel, eyes glowing red. I will release both of you and withhold my followers’ wrath until the shipments of food for Tevenar depart. If all three demons and their slaves board the ships and return to your home, I’ll neither pursue you nor seek to persuade the Matriarch to do so.”

  He nodded to the other Keeper. “Release the creature.”

  The man lifted the lid of the box. Nina exploded from within, flying to Kevessa’s arms in a single leap. What do you want me to do?

  I don’t know! Only a few grains of sand remained in the upper chamber of the hourglass. Desperately she begged Yoran, “Please, what you ask, it’s impossible—”

  “Time’s up,” he said with a nasty smirk, as the hourglass emptied. He raised the fan and flashed a series of signals. “You can observe what happens through the window-glass. Or I believe they should be just within range if your demon would prefer to open a window.”

  Sick at heart, Kevessa longed to bury her face in Nina’s fur and refuse to look. But she owed it to her father to face what her carelessness in allowing herself to be captured would cost him. She extended one trembling palm, and Nina popped open a glowing sphere.

  Gevan’s captor raised a short wooden club and swung it hard into Gevan’s stomach. Kevessa cried out; Gevan only grunted. He remained silent as further blows rained onto his torso and shoulders, his face a hard mask of anger. Kevessa’s vision blurred, but she couldn’t look away.

  At last the Purifier set the club down, picked up a signaling device, and flashed Yoran a code. Yoran sent an answering message and flipped the hourglass back over. “Three more minutes. Next time will include more lasting damage than bruises.”

  Kevessa clutched Nina and dropped her forehead to press against the squirrel’s. I wish youwerea demon so you could destroy him! She took a deep breath. Will the Mother let you kill him?

  If it would save your father’s life, but it won’t. And he hasn’t threatened to kill us.

  Then what can we do? Kevessa pressed her eyes shut in despair.

  Nina’s voice was hesitant. You could tell him what he wants to hear. Lie and admit that he’s right, familiars are demons. Then at least he’ll let us go so we can warn the others. The ships won’t leave for a week; we’ll have that long to get ready to fight them.

  You think he was telling the truth about releasing us? Kevessa’s mental tone was scornful.

  Maybe not, but it’s the best chance we have.

  I hate the thought of confirming what he thinks of us. If we tell him it’s true, nothing will ever persuade him to believe anything else.

  Nothing will persuade him of the truth anyway. And I don’t think it would matter even if something did. He wants power for himself and the Purifiers, and we’re in his way. Demons or servants of the Mother, he’s got to get rid of us.

  Kevessa knew Nina was right. Nothing she said to Yoran could either weaken his hostility to the wizards or strengthen it. So if she could save her father and win their freedom by lying to him, she should do it. No one would hear except Yoran’s Purifier underlings, and they were already committed to his cause.

  Even so, she felt like she was committing an act of ultimate betrayal. With a wordless plea for forgiveness to the Mother, she raised her eyes to Yoran’s. “You win. It’s all true. Nina is a demon, and so are the other familiars. Let us go and we’ll tell them the Purifiers are too strong, we can’t defeat you after all. We’ll go back to Tevenar and leave Ramunna to you.”

  “Very good.” Yoran’s breath quickened, and he licked his lips. “Tell her to let her eyes glow, and I’ll be satisfied.” He glanced at the hourglass. “You’ve got one minute.”

  Kevessa bit back a renewed protest of the impossibility of his demand. Everything depended on him believing their lie. She didn’t know what he planned for Gevan next, but she was horribly certain it would be something not even the Mother’s power could put right.

  Nina, can we fake it somehow? She remembered the experiments they’d conducted aboard the ship. Josiah and Elkan had been fascinated by what the magnifying lens of the window-glass could reveal about tiny structures within the human body. They’d spent hours peering through the lens at windows showing various interior parts of their bodies. Strong sunlight could penetrate flesh and give enough light to see by, especially if the window was opened in a darkened place. She’d gotten used to seeing the dim areas belowdecks lit up by the eerie red glow thus produced.

  She sent a swift image of the memory to Nina. If we used the Mother’s power inside your head, right behind your eyes, would the light shine out? Would it look red enough to make him happy?

  Maybe.

  Will the Mother let us use her power that way?

  Yes.

  Kevessa looked at the sand slipping through the narrow glass neck of the hourglass and gulped. We have to try. Do it. And try to look ferocious!

  Nina hesitated a moment. Then she twisted in Kevessa’s arms, arching her back and baring her teeth. Kevessa held her out to give her more room for her display. Her fur stuck straight out all over, making her seem twice as big as usual. Her tail fluffed into a bushy mass.

  Energy drained from Kevessa into Nina, but no power flowed out in return. Instead, it pooled behind the squirrel’s eyes. Even though Kevessa could feel through the Mother’s power that the area was perfectly healthy, Nina poured intense healing energy into it, alternately slowing and speeding the natural life processes in the tissues there.

  Kevessa forced herself to ignore her enhanced vision and see through her physical eyes. It was working. Light poured from Nina’s eyes, distinctly reddish in tone. She snarled and lunged for Yoran, though she was careful not to break contact with Kevessa. If Kevessa hadn’t known better, she could easily have believed a demon had revealed itself.


  Yoran jumped back with a curse. He stared at Nina, fear and triumph mixed on his face.

  Kevessa clutched Nina as Yoran’s eyes remained locked on the squirrel’s. The last few grains of sand fell into the bottom of the hourglass. “There! You’ve seen what you wanted. Let my father go!”

  Yoran shook himself and raised the signaling device. Without taking his eyes from Nina, he twisted it back and forth.

  At Kevessa’s urging Nina let the light in her eyes fade. With a final menacing hiss at Yoran she shifted the Mother’s power into a window over Kevessa’s open hand. Gevan’s captor lowered a knife and released his grip on Gevan’s earlobe. Kevessa swallowed hard, dizzy at the narrowness of her father’s escape.

  She watched the Keeper lead Gevan to the door of the building and cut the ropes around his wrists. Gevan looked ready to fall on the man and return the earlier beating, but the Keeper’s brandished knife dissuaded him. “Return to the Matriarch’s palace,” the man ordered.

  “Every Purifier in Ramunna will pay for what you’ve done,” Gevan snarled. He spun on his heel and strode away without a backward glance.

  Kevessa gulped a breath and tightened her grip on Nina. Now that her father was no longer a hostage, they were free to use the Mother’s power against Yoran without restraint.

  Yoran seemed well aware of that fact. He stepped back, making a sweeping gesture toward the door. “You’re free to go. My carriage waits below; if you wish it will take you to the palace. Or you may walk where you choose.”

  “We’ll walk,” Kevessa said shortly. She didn’t trust Yoran or his carriage for a minute. She cocked her hand, wishing he’d give her some excuse to have Nina blast him with the Mother’s power. Her familiar would never agree to harm him when he wasn’t posing an immediate threat.

  Yoran nodded, but his gazed narrowed. “Remember, you have until the ships depart for Tevenar. If any demons remain after they leave, we’ll spare nothing to destroy you.”

  “Understood.” Master Elkan would never agree to break his bargain with the Matriarch and leave before she’d produced an heir, but that was up to him. Right now Kevessa would like nothing better than to sail back to Tevenar and leave Ramunna to the Purifiers. If so many of her people were willing to follow a man like Yoran, they deserved to lose the Mother’s power just as the ancient wizards had.

  Kevessa raised her chin, straightened her back, and strode toward the door with as much arrogance as the Matriarch at her haughtiest. The other Purifier fell back and let her pass.

  All the way down the stairs her back prickled, but she refused to either look around or hurry her steps. The door of the building was unlocked. She pushed through it, ignored the waiting carriage, and set off in the direction she hoped would take them to the palace. Only when she rounded a corner did she let her steps quicken. We did it, Nina! We fooled him! Father’s all right, and so are you, and we’re free.

  Nina burrowed into her arms. I was afraid I’d never see you again.

  I was terrified they’d kill you. Kevessa fought the shaking that threatened to seize her. I’m not letting you out of my sight from now on. And I’m not trusting anyone. Can you believe Fiv was working for the Purifiers all along?

  Your father was always certain they’d sent a spy on the voyage.Nina’s thoughts hesitated. But Tharan…

  Kevessa had almost forgotten Gevan’s treacherous aide and what they’d discovered immediately before their capture. I guess this means he was a Dualist after all.

  Maybe. We’ll have to finish tracking him to know for sure.

  Yes, but not tonight. We’re going back to the palace. Father’s going to be worried sick until we get there. Kevessa set her face resolutely forward. She wasn’t familiar with this part of Ramunna, but if they kept going downhill they’d eventually reach the docks, and she knew the way to the palace from there. The dangers of the night streets seemed insignificant compared to the danger they’d just escaped. The Mother’s power could easily protect them from common criminals.

  She only hoped it would prove as effective against the rest of their enemies.

  Eleven

  Vigorre focused on his fists, peeling them open one finger at a time. With stiff motions he pulled out his handkerchief and dabbed the bloody half-circles where his fingernails had cut into his palm.

  His father looked at him. “Are you alright?”

  Vigorre nodded. Even though he was free to speak now, he felt as if the struggle to remain silent through all he’d just witnessed had rendered him permanently mute.

  When Keeper Yoran had conveyed Vigorre and his father from his temple to this building and settled them into the waiting rows of chairs in the darkened room, he hadn’t told them what they would see. He only stressed that they must not speak or make any other sound if they wished to receive incontrovertible proof of the demons’ existence. So when several other men were escorted in by Purifier Keepers they exchanged nods but didn’t greet each other. Vigorre recognized them as some of the Matriarch’s most trusted advisors. Shortly thereafter a few more Keepers, ones high in the Temple hierarchy, arrived as well, along with a number of wealthy and influential citizens. By the time the lanterns were lit, turning the portion of the room beyond the filmy curtain into a stage, all the chairs were full.

  Only a supreme effort of will kept him from exclaiming aloud when Yoran led Kevessa into the brightly lit space. The difference in illumination that rendered the fabric transparent from their side must have caused it to be opaque from the other, because Kevessa gave the curtain only a quick, unseeing glance before focusing her attention on Yoran.

  Vigorre had heard, of course, that Kevessa had returned with her father from Tevenar. Among their circle of friends her unexpected departure had been a source of much gossip and speculation. Eventually they’d concluded she must have been so tempted by the prospect of traveling to unknown lands and seeing real wizardry at work that she’d run away from her aunt and uncle’s house and stowed away on the ship. She might successfully hide her obsession with tales of the ancient wizards and their adventures from the adults, but when you grew up together in a tight group like the children of Ramunna’s aristocracy, you knew such things about each other. Privately, Vigorre had been sure she’d love the whole thing. He’d even envied her.

  Why in the Mother’s name had Keeper Yoran brought her here? And even more shocking, why was he making threats against her father? Vigorre hadn’t been able to see what Yoran indicated out the window, but from the look on Kevessa’s face as she lowered the window-glass, he knew she must have seen Gevan captive, just as Yoran had said.

  But when the squirrel leapt into Kevessa’s arms and the golden sphere appeared above Kevessa’s palm, he understood. Again he’d smothered a cry.

  Kevessa had been enslaved by a demon. He knew all too well how it must have happened. Unaware of the truths contained in the Purifier’s secret text, she must have found the offer of the power she’d always dreamed of irresistible.

  He didn’t approve of Keeper Yoran’s methods, but he could see why they were necessary. The beating Gevan received was surely painful, but would do no lasting harm. And he was certain the rest of Yoran’s threats would never be carried out. The Keeper had known they wouldn’t have to be. The prospect was enough to make Kevessa use the influence she had with the demon to persuade it to reveal itself.

  Vigorre wasn’t the only one who’d forcibly restrained a gasp when the creature transformed from a fluffy, charming, harmless-looking pet into a ravening monster. It swelled to double its former size and threatened Yoran with razor-sharp teeth, its eyes blazing red. Just as Yashonna had described. Even Vigorre’s father stiffened and drew in a breath.

  What was Keeper Yoran thinking, letting the demon go? Vigorre wanted to shout for the Purifier to kill the horrible thing and free Kevessa from its clutches. But he could see how vulnerable Yoran was, now that the demon’s power was restored by contact with its slave. The Keeper had risked his life to demonst
rate the truth. Vigorre doubted the demons would abide by Yoran’s bargain, but it bought them a little time before open battle must be engaged. Time for Vigorre to discover the demons’ weaknesses.

  If they had any.

  Keeper Yoran watched out the window for many long minutes. But at last his shoulders relaxed and he turned to face the audience beyond the curtain. “Does anyone have any questions?”

  Emirre rose and went forward, pushing aside the transparent curtain so he could face Yoran directly. “You’ve proven your point beyond any doubt, Keeper Yoran. Whatever our other differences, the Temple is united in this. The Tevenaran animals are demons, the so-called wizards their slaves. They must be defeated.” Murmurs of agreement from the other Keepers punctuated his words.

  Yoran clasped his offered hand. “Thank you, Keeper Emirre.” As Vigorre moved to his father’s side, Yoran gave him an approving smile. “And thank you, Keeper Vigorre, for making this possible.”

  Father’s arm tightened around Vigorre’s shoulders. “Yes, son. Thank you for pursuing the truth, even against my objections, and not giving up until I saw it, too.”

  Vigorre ducked his head, his heart swelling at their praise. “I only did what the Mother led me to do.”

  “As we all must, in the coming days,” Yoran said with a sigh. “I fear this is only the beginning of the battle. The demons won’t easily surrender the foothold they’ve gained in Ramunna.”

  Father shook his head grimly. “The people have embraced them already. It will be hard to convince them that the ones who’ve healed so many are their enemies.”

  “I have an idea of how to counteract that, at least somewhat. If tonight has convinced me of anything, it’s that the demons’s counterfeit of the Mother’s power is limited in the same ways as the genuine gift. There are a number of things it cannot do; the records are clear about that. And Vigorre”—Yoran clapped him on the back—“has brought me a document describing what the false wizards will not do. I think between those two things we can arrange a series of events which will undermine the people’s faith in them. If all works as I envision, by the time the ships sail, the crowds will be ready to drag the Tevenarans aboard.”