Beyond the Boundary Stones (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 3) Read online

  Master Dabiel had died in Kevessa’s arms. She’d been helpless to do anything but offer the comfort of her presence as the Guildmaster’s life slipped away. Tharan had watched, prevented from doing further harm by the crippling injuries Dabiel and Buttons had inflicted with their last burst of strength, but gloating all the same. She’d seen it in his eyes.

  Tharan was dead, his plot to prevent a wizard coming to Ramunna foiled. But those who had sent him on his deadly mission would surely strike again. Kevessa burned with a cold and ruthless determination to stop them. She would pursue the truth relentlessly, no matter what personal risks that entailed. She was a wizard now. The Mother’s justice was her responsibility every bit as much as her mercy.

  If she couldn’t get Gevan’s cooperation, she’d find some other way. But the first stage of her investigation would be simplest with his help.

  Gevan rubbed his forehead. “I suppose a short time aboard the ship will be safe enough. Captain Yosiv will be leading the fleet back to Tevenar, so I can justify walking through the Verinna with the steward while we discuss what it will carry. But you may not remain after I leave. I want you safe in the palace tonight, under the protection of the Matriarch’s guards.”

  Kevessa had her doubts about just how safe the palace really was. They knew the Purifiers had agents here. But she knew better than to remind Gevan of that. “Thank you, father. If you can give us an hour, I think that will be plenty of time for Nina and me to do everything we can from the ship.”

  Gevan eyed Nina with dislike. During the journey Kevessa had tried hard to soften his attitude toward her familiar. She’d spent many long hours playing with Nina under Gevan’s watchful eye and frequently urged him to hold and pet the squirrel. Nina had done her part, plying Gevan with the delightful charm she exuded so easily. They’d succeeded in winning his grudging acceptance, to the point Kevessa no longer feared he might try to do away with Nina in the misguided belief he was saving his daughter from peril.

  Gevan had come to treat the other wizards’ use of the Mother’s power as a fascinating natural phenomenon. But even after all the times he’d watched Kevessa and Nina move wind into the ship’s sails or lift weights for one of his carefully measured experiments, he still wasn’t fully reconciled to the idea of his daughter as a wizard.

  Gevan shook his head and resumed his stride down the corridor. “Come along, then. We need to hurry if we’re going to get much done tonight.”

  Kevessa kept her expression only mildly pleased as she followed. Inwardly, though, she exulted. Nina, he agreed! Sudden doubt assaulted her. You’re sure you’ll be able to look that far back?

  Easily. It’s only half a year. Our range won’t even be affected much. I’ve learned a lot about the limits of the Mother’s power from your father’s experiments.

  In the course of those experiments Kevessa, too, had developed a solid feel for the extent of their abilities. She’d often looked through windows Nina had opened to a full year in the past, though that far back they could only see a few feet away from where they stood. But she’d never used that ability to look for anything really important.

  Gevan had been thrilled when his extensive experimentation had confirmed that the Mother’s power followed natural laws. Kevessa understood the carefully drawn graphs that showed how it fell in strength with the square of the distance, just like light and several other natural forces, but they didn’t excite her the way they did Gevan and Josiah. She shared Master Elkan’s opinion that their conclusions, while potentially useful in the way they quantified things the wizards had always done by feel, were far too obvious to be considered real discoveries.

  Do you think you have enough energy left to keep a window going for a full hour?

  Nina considered for a moment. If I get a nap. And a snack?

  Kevessa grinned at the eager pleading in Nina’s mental voice. To hear her talk, the squirrel was constantly on the verge of starvation. I’ll see what I can do about food. Until then you’d better work on the nap.

  Nina heaved a mental sigh. All right. She burrowed into Kevessa’s arms, tucked her head under her tail, and was effortlessly asleep within moments.

  Kevessa would have dearly liked a nap herself, but she pushed aside her weariness. She still had sufficient energy for the task at hand. She’d have time soon enough to rest from the day’s labors.

  As Gevan conferred with the steward she thought back over the afternoon. For the first time she’d been called upon to fully exercise a wizard’s powers. Even though she’d had to keep her and Nina’s activities hidden under cover of Josiah’s, she’d acted as a real wizard. The Mother’s power had flowed through her to take away people’s pain and make their bodies whole. She let the marvel of it fill her mind. All her life she’d dreamed about how it would feel to wield power the way the ancient wizards had, and now it was really happening. The reality was more wonderful than the wildest of her fantasies.

  And also more difficult. She’d never imagined the tiredness that dragged at her muscles or the hunger that gnawed in her belly. And she’d certainly never dreamed of the tangled web of intrigue that forced her to keep her wizardry a secret. But those challenges couldn’t spoil her pleasure in her new role. She felt too strongly that at last she was doing what she’d been born to do.

  She’d been happy enough with her life before the ship from Tevenar had arrived. Her aunt and uncle loved her as one of their own, her cousins accepted her as another sibling, and she had many friends among the children of the aristocracy. She’d enjoyed learning embroidery and dancing and riding and household management and all the other skills a young lady was expected to excel in. The prospect of someday marrying one of the young men of their circle and becoming mistress of her own home had been pleasant, if not as exciting as most of her friends seemed to find it. There had been a certain flatness to her life that sent her escaping into daydreams of the heroic past, but nothing else had marred her contentment. If things had continued unchanged, she would never have realized how much she was missing.

  Now, though, she understood. She had no more need to daydream adventures, because she was living them. From the moment she’d learned the wizards were real she’d been struck with a deep longing. The more Nirel had told her about them, the stronger it had grown. When she’d arrived in Tevenar and seen the Mother’s power for herself, it had sharpened into a fierce ache. That’s what had led her into that tree with Josiah, peering through the window-glass into the chapel. She’d needed to see the Mother for herself. If all had gone as planned and the Mother had come at Master Dabiel’s request, Kevessa thought she might have run into the chapel and thrown herself at the Mother’s feet, begging to be accepted as a wizard.

  She’d mourned the loss of that opportunity, although it had seemed petty and selfish next to everyone’s grief for Master Dabiel and Buttons. But then the miracle had happened. Nina had come to her, and nipped Kevessa’s hand and her own paw, and mingled their blood. Everything around Kevessa had faded away, replaced by soft golden clouds. A woman had stood there, strong and beautiful and wise beyond imagining. She’d smiled at Kevessa in welcome.

  Kevessa swallowed as she remembered that moment, standing before the Mother, confused and wonderstruck.

  Nina’s heart beat rapidly beneath her fingers. Her paw was glued to Kevessa’s hand by their joined blood. The squirrel gazed on the woman before them, eager delight washing away the sadness Kevessa had always sensed in her.

  The Mother’s voice was soft and musical, her gaze direct. “Are you willing to humble yourself beneath this squirrel and allow her to use my power through you?”

  Kevessa blinked and swallowed. “Are you—are you the Mother?” she whispered.

  “I am, child.”

  “And you want me? To be a wizard?”

  The Mother’s smile turned rueful. “I’d hoped this wouldn’t be necessary. But events have made it so, and I find I’m not sorry. Your temperament is well suited to my service. Had you be
en born in Tevenar I would have been pleased to name you to the Wizards’ Guild at the proper time. If any doubt remained of your fitness, the way you remained with Dabiel and comforted her as she died showed that you could bear the burden with strength and dignity.

  “But it will be a burden, child. Consider that as you decide. You will be at the center of the storm that’s about to engulf the world. I’ll do what I can to guide events to a positive conclusion, but I’ve given my children freedom and they will use it as they please. I can’t tell what it may cost you and those you love if you accept my invitation.”

  Whatever nervousness Kevessa felt was swamped beneath a flood of hot desire. “Of course I’m willing! I don’t care what it costs! I’ve wanted to be a wizard my whole life, I just never thought—” She broke off, blinking at Nina. “Wait. What do you mean, allow her to use your power through me?”

  The Mother chuckled. “That’s the bargain I made with Gurion Thricebound, to allow my power back into the world after it had been misused. It must be controlled by an animal, who has no free will of its own and therefore can never use my power against my will.”

  “Oh.” Kevessa considered that, but it seemed insignificant compared to the overwhelming joy of knowing the Mother had chosen her and granted her heart’s desire. “So that’s what Josiah wouldn’t tell me.” She grinned, happiness bubbling too high to be contained. “It doesn’t matter. I’m willing.”

  “So be it.” The Mother inclined her head.

  “What happens now? Will I stay in Tevenar? My father won’t like that. I wouldn’t mind, though. Will I be an apprentice wizard like Josiah? What—”

  The Mother held up her hand. “That will be for Hanion and the others to decide. But I have one very important task for you. Will you deliver a message for me?”

  Kevessa swallowed at the deadly earnestness of the Mother’s tone. “Yes, Mother.”

  The Mother’s eyes bored into Kevessa’s. When she spoke, her words engraved themselves in Kevessa’s memory. “Tell them this. The Law of Isolation is no more. The people of Tevenar may travel wherever they wish. Wizards and familiars are free to pass beyond the boundary stones if they so choose. The gift of my power is no longer given only to the people of Tevenar, but to the whole world.”

  Her voice still rang in Kevessa’s ears as she faded, along with the golden billows around them. A warm rush of power swept through Kevessa and burst from her hand in a blaze of light. The pain from Nina’s bite evaporated.

  A voice sounded in her head. Tell them.

  Kevessa stared at her hand. Her wound was gone, only a short pink scar remaining. Nina’s paw was healed as well. It was real. She was a wizard.

  Nina squirmed in her arms. Go on. Tell them. What the Mother told you.

  Kevessa blinked at the squirrel, then looked around. Everyone was staring at her. She couldn’t quite keep her voice from shaking as she repeated the Mother’s words.

  Gevan was shocked, Elkan was quietly elated, Josiah grabbed her in an enthusiastic hug. But most of Kevessa’s attention was focused on the warm bundle of fur in her arms. As soon as people quit talking to her she sank into her chair. Experimentally she thought, Nina?

  Yes, Kevessa?

  You’re my familiar now, right?

  That’s right. Nina sat up and peered into Kevessa’s face.

  But I don’t control the Mother’s power. You do.

  Yes. Like I just did, to heal us. Do you want to try something else?

  Maybe in a moment. Kevessa stroked Nina’s back with shaking fingers. This is kind of a shock to me.

  Me too. It thought it would be Springtide before I’d bond again. But then I knew what I had to do.

  Josiah had told her that Nina had been bonded before, but he’d been oddly reluctant to talk about the circumstances. What happened to your last wizard? Did he die?

  Nina’s body went tense. I broke our bond.

  Oh. Kevessa didn’t want to upset the squirrel further, but she needed to know. Why?

  Nina pressed herself hard against Kevessa’s body. He took bribes from people so we would heal them. I didn’t know! When I found out, he tried to force me—The squirrel’s whole body was shaking. Please promise me you’ll never do anything like that. It was horrible! I didn’t want to break our bond, but I had to. I couldn’t do anything else. Please, please, don’t ever ask me to go against the Mother’s will. Promise me!

  Of course not. Kevessa lifted Nina to her face and pressed her cheek into the squirrel’s trembling side. I promise. I would never hurt you that way. I don’t think very much of your last wizard if he did.

  I loved him, and he betrayed me. We should have been bondmates my whole life. Nina’s shaking was gradually easing. But that’s over. Now I am yours, and you are mine.

  I am yours and you are mine, Kevessa echoed, before loud voices around them broke into their reverie and she became aware of the conflict between Master Elkan and Guildmaster Hanion over her fate.

  Kevessa came back to the present with a start. Gevan had finished his discussion with the steward and was gesturing for her to precede them out of the room. She did so, surreptitiously stroking the sleeping Nina. In the two months since their bonding Nina had never again mentioned her former wizard. Even after they’d encountered Mathir and he’d fought to grab Nina from her, she’d refused to talk about him. Kevessa hoped the close relationship that had blossomed between them had helped heal the emotional wounds Nina had suffered at Mathir’s hands. If she ever came face to face with him again she’d tell him what she thought of him for abusing Nina’s innocent trust.

  They rode in a closed carriage down to the docks. Kevessa eyed the conveyance thoughtfully. Perhaps she could hide in a vehicle like this while she tracked Tharan. If she drew the curtains no one would be able to see the glow of a window. Although it would look suspicious if a carriage stopped in the middle of the road or inched along at a walking pace. Maybe if she had the driver circle a block they’d go unnoticed.

  The Verinna swayed against the dock. The sight of her struck Kevessa with nostalgia. The ship had been her home for the first two months of her new life. She’d learned so much aboard her. But after this brief interlude she’d probably never set foot on the ship again. Captain Yosiv was excited about the prospect of pioneering the new trade route between Ramunna and Tevenar. The Verinna would ply the seas back and forth for many years to come.

  At some point Master Elkan and Josiah would sail home on her. Would Kevessa be left alone to found a whole new Wizards’ Guild, or would other wizards native to Ramunna have joined her by then? She shivered and put the question aside. She trusted the Mother not to abandon her to a task too great for her to accomplish.

  Gevan maneuvered the steward into conducting an inspection of the Verinna, just as they’d arranged. After they crossed the plank, Kevessa tugged at Gevan’s sleeve and put on a pleading expression. “Father, may I go to my cabin? The servants will never pack my gowns properly if I leave it to them. It won’t take me long.”

  He waved at her magnanimously. “Go on. I’ll send one of the crew to fetch you when we’re done.”

  Good. She wouldn’t have to worry about someone who wasn’t in on her secret intruding while they had a window open. “Thank you, Father.” She curtsied and headed toward the ladder that led to the cabins below.

  Once safely in her cabin she shut the door and latched it. “Wake up, Nina,” she said, giving the squirrel a shake. Nina chittered grumpily and curled into a tighter ball. Kevessa deposited her on the narrow bunk. Once she’d displayed a sufficient amount of pique at having to wake up, Nina would revert to her normal cheerful self, ready to go to work.

  To fulfill her purported reason for being here, Kevessa grabbed an armful of gowns from the tiny wardrobe and dumped them haphazardly into her trunk. Before her journey she’d never have been so careless with her beautiful, expensive clothes. Even now she had a pang of guilt for mistreating the gowns she and Mama had chosen so carefully, that Pap
a had worked hard to be able to afford for her. But she’d only brought a few from her extensive wardrobe, and this wouldn’t hurt them. At most it would cause a few wrinkles the servants could easily iron away.

  Packing done, Kevessa plopped on the bed. “Ready now, lazybones?”

  I’m ready. Nina’s mental voice held only a trace of annoyance.

  Nina leapt to Kevessa’s shoulder and settled into the position they both found most comfortable for extended working, pressed tight against Kevessa’s neck. Kevessa liked how the contact let her keep both hands free. She held out one hand with the palm open upward. Start just as we pulled out of the dock on our way to Tevenar.

  Nina sent power surging through her. A spark sprang to life over her palm and swelled into a ball. Since only the two of them needed to look into it, Nina kept it about the size of Kevessa’s head.

  The shimmering gold light cleared to a rim of sparkles around the window’s edge. Within, Kevessa saw the Verinna being towed away from the dock by a pilot boat, the approaching dawn washing everything in cool gray light.

  Now find Tharan. He’s probably in his cabin.

  Sure enough, the aide the Matriarch had assigned Gevan was seated on his bunk, studying a sheaf of papers. Nina zoomed the window in close enough for Kevessa to read the small neat text. Just a list of the trade goods we carried. The Matriarch had sent all sorts of valuables for her ambassador to offer Tevenar in exchange for a wizard’s help. She hadn’t known food was what they needed most. Gevan had sold some of the goods to Tevenaran traders for a modest profit, but most had returned in the Verinna’s hold. As they’d boarded she’d seen the crew unloading the crates and bags, preparing to take on a new cargo of foodstuffs.

  Go forward until we catch up to the last time we watched him. All the way across the ocean Master Elkan had opened windows and observed the assassin’s actions. They hadn’t traveled exactly the same route, so there were times the ship was out of the mile or so range of a window from where it had been before, but they’d been able to see a fair amount of Tharan’s time aboard the Verinna. They’d found nothing to indicate he was anything but the competent, reserved aide they’d all believed him to be until he’d revealed his true purpose in a sudden flash of steel.