Chapter 12. Connections

endaran had learned to appreciate sparring practice.  Aside from the ache of his body, it did help him relax and he fancied he was sleeping better despite persistent nightmares.  Ebony Starfall, his teacher now that Zhou was gone, insisted that he keep a dream journal and asked to see it each day.  The trouble was, he did not actually remember much of what he dreamed.  Teleri inevitably drew him awake and there was just the fear, some horrible sense that he was trapped and close to dying.

Ebony was looking at his entry from that morning.  Her silvery hair seemed to glow against her warm mahogany skin.  Pendaran thought of her as a friendly old lady who dabbled in dead things for she did not go in for the typical theatrics of necromancers.  She had confided in him that corsets pinched and made her itch and fishnet stockings were a pain in the rear, often quite literally.  Today she was clad in one of the bright printed caftans of her homeland, Elona.  She had traveled by sigil back to her village and returned with a mound of curious items to brighten up her new home.  At Pendaran’s insistence she had been moved into the next available room in the great hall.  She had already decorated her surroundings with vivid fabrics and curiosities from Elona.  Her two cats, Abbas and Sheba enjoyed their window sill and he could hear one of the tawny creatures purring contentedly from across the room where he and Ebony now sat at a small table.

“Do you remember anything about how you are trapped?”

“Not really.”

“Are you trapped as you were by the Margonites?”

Pendaran shuddered and swallowed reflexively.  He did not like to think about that episode.  What little he truly remembered of it was horrifying.

“The fear is similar but I do not think so.”

Everyone close to him was worried about him.  They had seen him in the throes of madness and no doubt wondered how he had come through his ordeal in Torment unscathed.  It was as if they were all holding their breaths waiting for him to crack.  Over a month had gone by now.  He felt better day by day.  He kept trying to convince Xiang Yi and Ebony he was fine and to stop worrying about him but the nightmares were their evidence that not all was well.  He hated that he had no control over the dreams.  He wanted them to stop or at the very least he wanted to remember them.

“We could find another mesmer to do a mind share with you while you’re asleep,” Ebony said, hesitating when he scowled at her, “It might help us get to the bottom of what is troubling you so much.”

“Maybe it is better to let sleeping dogs lie,” Pendaran replied, not liking where this was going.  He was not going to have someone prying in his mind, particularly while he was vulnerable, “If I cannot remember them, maybe there is a reason.  So, are we going to continue my training in curses or not?”

Ebony peered at him appraisingly and sighed.

“I do not think Master Bei would let you go on like this.”

“Well, he’s not here, is he?” Pendaran snapped, rage bubbling up within him unexpectedly.

“That will be enough, Master Caradec,” she said in a low voice, at once soothing and threatening.

As if on cue, there was a rap on the door. Pendaran was startled by it but Ebony only sighed and rose stiffly from her chair, walking past him.  He heard Lemony’s voice, earnest and high pitched with breathless excitement.

“Xiang Yi wants you and Pen to come speak to him.  It is urgent.”

He rose without a word and followed the two women out into the late afternoon sunshine to the large tent that served at Xiang Yi’s base of operations.  The large pale blue pavilion towered over the smaller tents curled around its sides, large enough to receive several guild members for meetings.  The Order of the Crystal Palm was an old organization and most of its numerous members now dwelt here variously overseeing Xiang Yi’s restoration projects or procuring the funds needed to finish them. As they ducked through the low cloth door, Pendaran stopped suddenly, surprised to see Shikai standing behind the guild leader’s makeshift desk.

Her kohl-rimmed eyes bored into him, all kindness gone from her features.  She looked drawn and exhausted, her bangles and silks loose upon her once winsome figure.  Teleri was already there sitting on a folding chair beside the desk and she rose when Pendaran entered.

“Thank you for coming,” Xiang Yi said stiffly, rising from his seat behind the desk to gesture toward the chair beside Teleri, “Please sit down, Shikai does not have long to speak.  She must rest after a long journey.”

Pendaran gazed at the doorway when another figure stepped through it, small and lithe, her movements graceful as a hunting cat.  Her strawberry blonde hair was strangely at odds with her golden Canthan features as she bowed low before Xiang Yi and moved to the side of the tent.  So Keisha Lhan had stayed with them after all.  He had often wondered what had become of the young woman after their time together in Torment.

“While you have been recovering,” Xiang Yi began, gazing upon Pendaran, “we have been laboring to find our guild leader.  As well you know, Master Bei is dear to us and we did not willingly give up hope of finding him.”

Pendaran blushed with shame.  He should have been looking for his master, as well.  Truthfully, he had made some attempts to locate him through their Lyssan bond, but Zhou would not respond, becoming evasive if he sought too hard.  He assumed, therefore, that his master was alright and did not wish to be troubled.  Xiang Yi nodded at Keisha Lhan.

“I sent Master Bei into the hands of Ama Svenka.  My friends Kalydri and Angelo agreed to help me do this and I have since located them and heard their description of what might have befallen him.”

“Ama was an old lover of Bei,” Shikai said coldly, “in the days when he cared not about his soul and gave himself to the darkness with abandon.  When his eyes were opened, he left her, but she vowed revenge.”

“I sent spies to find out if Bei was still with Ama since we know through you that he still lives,” Xiang Yi said, “One of them did not return and the other narrowly avoided death.  Ama apparently has a wide network of friends and associates in Cantha and asking too closely about her invites their wrath.  We were unable to learn what became of Bei while he was in her hands.  As far as we know, he may still be her captive.”

“But there is evidence that he is no longer there,” Shikai continued, “I, too, have a strong connection to my husband, and although it has been weakened, I do not sense that he is in Cantha any more.”

Pendaran felt their eyes upon him and an expectant silence pressed over him.

“Zhou is dying,” Shikai said finally, “I can feel it.  If we do not find him soon, I fear we might be too late.  Pendaran, I cannot find him alone.  One of the claws was destroyed.  Your connection, however, remains intact.”

“No!” Teleri said angrily, standing up, “You will not endanger my husband.  He has a family now and he has been through enough.”

“Teleri,” Pendaran said gently, clasping her hand and drawing her back down to her seat, “He is my master.  If I can help him, then I must.”

“I will not have you used like this,” she protested.

Xiang Yi gazed upon her thoughtfully for a moment, raising his hand when Pendaran sought to answer her.

“The Order of the Crystal Palm has been more than generous in protecting this island and restoring your home.  Had we the means of finding our beloved leader without Pendaran, do you think we would have troubled your husband?  And now that we know of only one means of reaching Master Bei, do you expect us to turn away?”

“I don’t want to lose him,” Teleri wept, “So many want him dead… Don’t you think I’ve seen the wanted notices?  Leave him be.  He is safe here and my children need him.”

“Those who are Chosen are not content to hide from danger,” Xiang Yi replied, “Your fear is justified, but you are asking your husband to betray his master and his birthright.”

Pendaran squeezed her hand, glad that Xiang Yi had asked her to come and had spoken on his behalf.  He did not want to imagine how she would have reacted otherwise.

“I need to do this,” he said to her and she nodded, her head bowed in resignation.

“Just come home, alright?”

“Of course, my love.”

“Then it is decided,” Xiang Yi said, his face grim even though his voice had lightened with relief, “At dawn, we make preparations to travel and perform the rite that will guide us to Master Bei.  In an hour we shall have our last meal together until Master Bei is restored to us.  Let us celebrate and have no regrets.”

Pendaran rose when it was clear the meeting was adjourned.  He placed an arm around Teleri and drew her close, sensing her fear and grief.  As they strode back out into the golden sunlight of late afternoon, she yielded and embraced him, her tears staining his black silken blouse.  He held her, kissing her crown and then her lips as she sought him, losing herself in his love.

“So long as I draw breath, I’ll come home to you,” he whispered.

“I know,” she murmured, resting against his breast now as they stood in the courtyard, “I love you, Pen.  I just can’t bear the thought of anything bad happening to you.”

“I have three good reasons to come back, my love. Trust that Xiang Yi and Shikai will make provision for my safety.  After all, I am no good to them dead.”

Teleri chuckled sadly and squeezed his waist.

“My brother offered to apologize to you.  He wants to talk to you this evening.  Perhaps you could take a few moments from the celebration to meet with him.  It would put me at ease knowing that the enmity has died between the two of you while I am awaiting your return.”

Pendaran frowned, knowing how much Teleri loved her brother.  A little knot of doubt hardened in his gut.  He could not imagine all the hatred and anger Morisedd felt for him evaporating over night.  Her beautiful blue eyes gazed up into his face expectantly and he stroked her cheek, his heart swelling with love for her.  She wanted so badly to believe Murdi was redeemable.  Pendaran had never had the heart to tell her about the man’s threats and attacks, or how he had desired exile and resented Pendaran’s intervention.  Of what value would it have been to wound her with that knowledge, and yet because of that he could not explain his reservations.

Still, there was no harm in doing his part to mend the rift.  If Morisedd actually was honest in his desire to make amends, Pendaran would not stand in his way.  He would know soon enough what Morisedd’s intentions were and he could easily defend himself from the man and depart if they came to blows.

“Of course I’ll speak to him, my love.”

“Thank you, Pen.  I know it must be hard.”

He squeezed her hand fondly.  Yes, it was difficult, but Zhou had warned him that the past would always be with him for good or ill.