160

"Here at the fortress? Really?" Theo leaned forward, and Myrah smiled as she answered.

"It's a large structure, and it's where we already house the library. It would be easy to hold classes."

Theodynn nodded, tapping is chin with a quill as he thought. "How many scribes do you have that are comfortable teaching?"

"Several who could. But it seems that many of them find it demeaning to teach common people."

"They probably just need the right incentive."

Myrah looked surprised by Theo's suggestion and he grinned sheepishly.

"It's one of the things I've learned working with leaders over the years. There's always a proper incentive."

"I suppose," Myrah admitted, leaning forward. "What would you think? Monetary?"

"Not everyone's after money," Theo mused. "Some people would rather have prestige. Maybe some kind of title that sets them a little higher in the hierarchy than they were before?"

Myrah couldn't help but smile softly as she watched the future Ruler in action.

"That could work," she admitted. She turned to the next item to figure out on the agenda. "Now…are there materials that would make mass teaching easier? Because we only have so much in the library that's simple to read…"

The door to the library opened, and Myrah and Theo glanced over. Even Tolan raised an eyebrow from where he was sulking against the wall, seeming both bored and irritated.

Bula came into the room and made the Western Leader stiffen. It was the first time they had seen each other since their last conversation, and Myrah didn't like the glint in her Senior advisor's eye.

"Someone here to see you, Leader Myrah," she said respectfully, but there was the hint of smugness in her smile. It made Myrah immediately defensive for whatever would come through the door next.

The threat came in the form of a short, curly-headed woman with a look both hateful and furious. Myrah tried to remember why the woman looked familiar. Behind her, Theo stood in surprise and his bodyguard spoke. "Syn…."

"Where is my brother?!" The woman wasn't addressing the heir or the bodyguard; her murderous expression was fixed on Myrah alone. It finally clicked who this intruder was.

"Your…"

"Where is Hershel!?" the Healer shouted.

Tolan came over to stand next to his wife. "Syn, what's going on?" he murmured as he grabbed her arm. She ripped it out of his grasp, but otherwise ignored him as she continued to yell at the Western Leader.

"He's gone…I got home today and he was gone. You're the last thing he mentioned. What's happened to him?!"

Myrah just stared, trying to process what was happening as a feeling of unease immediately settled over her.

"Isn't he with…" Theo started, seeming stunned. But no one was listening to him; it seemed everyone in the room had forgotten that the Heir was even there.

"I haven't seen Hershel in weeks," Myrah stated calmly, all too aware of her advisor watching like a hawk from across the room. She wouldn't make that mistake again; she would give Bula no reason to target the Master Healer.

"Then where could he be?"

Syn's eyes were filling with tears, and Tolan tried once again to talk with her.

"I'm sure Hersh is fine," he tried. "But you're making a scene…"

"Ancients know I have a right to make a scene, Tolan!"

She finally addressed her husband. She turned to him as she pulled out of his grasp again, her voice raising.

"My brother is blind…powerless. He's hurt or lost or worse somewhere out there with no way to protect himself and it's all her fault!"

She threw an accusatory arm toward Myrah, and Bula raised an eyebrow.

"Should I call in the guards?" she asked smugly, and the leader gave her advisor an angry glance. At the threat, however, Tolan grabbed his wife's arm more forcefully.

"Syn…"

"If he's dead, it's on your head!" Syn yelled at the leader, and Myrah took a step backwards. A horrible feeling was causing the room to spin.

Don't say goodbye…

He had seemed desperate, sure. But surely not…

"This isn't Myrah's fault!" Theo cut in, coming around the table. "Why would you even say that? Last I heard, Hershel was…"

"You betrayed him!" Syn screamed, still fighting her husband as she glared at Myrah. "What could you possibly have to gain from leading him on?! Making him think you loved him…tricking him into loving you. All so you could have him blinded! You deserve every punishment you inflicted on Hershel…"

"Allow me, Myrah," Bula said calmly, heading to the doorway to alert the guards. Theodynn was standing frozen, at a complete loss as to what was happening. Tolan was still trying to wrangle Syn in while Myrah's fists clenched at the other woman's accusation.

"How dare you." she finally murmured coldly, drawing herself up as she glared.

"It's all your fault!" Syn sobbed. "You've crippled him…tortured him…"

"I love him."

The statement was powerful. Myrah's posture was perfectly erect as she met Syn's eye evenly. Her heart was pounding with fear at what she had learned, but she wouldn't be shamed anymore for something she had not done.

Theo's mouth fell open, and even Tolan turned to fix the leader with a guarded expression. But the Leader's strong confession only seemed to enrage Syn all the more. With her husband momentarily distracted, Syn lunged at Myrah.

Guards had made it into the room now, summoned to protect the leader. But Tolan reached Syn before any of them did. In one smooth movement, he had thrown her over one shoulder and headed to the door to remove her from the room. She immediately thrashed, furious.

"Put me down NOW, Tolan!"

The guards instantly surrounded the couple, a few standing in front of Myrah and even Theo in an effort to protect them. The Heir immediately put his hands out, not sure how everything had descended so quickly into chaos.

"Woah…calm down…"

One of the guards grabbed Tolan's arm, and the bodyguard's eyes flashed angrily. Aura winds were whipping around now, his exit blocked by the entourage Bula had brought in. Theo turned to Myrah in desperation.

"Myrah…"

"Let them go," she ordered, but her tone was wooden. She found that she was shaking with adrenaline and fear…but not for anything occurring in the library just then. In her mind's eye, she was reliving those final moments in Hershel's tent. Was that truly only last night? What had happened since then? And the worst thought of all…was he missing now because of what she had done?

The guards backed off. With Syn still fighting and yelling on his shoulder, Tolan disappeared out the library door. The guards seemed wound up, and Myrah suddenly didn't have the strength to stand.

"Leave," she ordered as she sank into a chair. The guards looked like they wanted to argue, but Theo shot a look of his own. Seeing the Heir caused them to finally nod respectfully at their leader before heading back to guard the door. It closed behind the last of them, and Theo rubbed his face with one hand. He seemed to still be processing, but Myrah hardly noticed as she leaned forward.

"So…" Theo finally said. She pressed her hands to her face as Theodynn smiled awkwardly. "I guess I do know the guy…huh?"

"Theodynn…" she murmured in a way she hoped he would understand meant she didn't want to discuss this. She had hoped to avoid ever having the conversation, but she especially wasn't in the mindset to explain herself right now.

"I've got to go talk with them…Hershel's fine."

Myrah looked up in surprise and hope.

"He is?" she breathed. "How…"

"I dropped him off this morning at a Healer meeting," Theo explained, running a hand through his hair. "That's what I was trying to say earlier; I just saw him. The meeting must have gone long…"

"What kind of meeting?"

The dreadful feeling still wasn't leaving; something felt wrong about this entire situation.

"I…don't know. He said Imgloss could help him get his sight back. But…"

"But what?" Myrah demanded, and Theo looked conflicted.

"He was kinda acting strange. I thought it was just because he was, you know, blind…but now I'm not so sure."

Myrah had pushed herself to her feet, the worry gnawing at her suddenly demanding that she act.

"We have to go find him. If his own sister doesn't know where he is…"

"It is weird he wouldn't have told Syn," Theo admitted. He headed to the library exit after another moment. "I'm going to go tell them, and then I'll transport back to Imgloss's to see if he's still there."

Myrah's fists were clenched; she suddenly felt so useless.

"I'll put together a search party," she finally decided. She glanced up as Theo turned to look at her, her expression determined. "If he really was trying to come here and became lost in the Western Province, we'll find him."

Theo scanned her face and finally nodded.

"One of these days you'll have to tell me the whole story," he finally said, raising one last questioning eyebrow. Myrah held his gaze for a moment before looking away, a sense of shame entering her chest. By the time she looked back up, Theo had disappeared.

"PUT ME DOWN!"

Rather than take Syn all the way outside, Tolan ducked into the nearest empty room in the fortress. She was still thrashing. He finally lowered her to the ground, and she slapped him across the face. In the next moment Tolan had her hands in his. He held fast while she struggled.

"Enough, Syn!" he snapped, but she didn't stop fighting.

"Don't ever do that again!" she sobbed as she glared at him, and he just shook his head.

"Calm down…"

"Don't tell me what to do!"

Tolan pulled her in then, wrapping her in an embrace that was as much as a way to immobilize her as it was to comfort her. One arm was around her waist, the other holding her head against him.

"Calm down," he murmured again into her hair. Eventually her anger dissolved into more sobs, and Tolan exhaled in relief as Syn finally sagged in his grasp. When it seemed that the fight had left her, he gently released her. He cupped her face in his hands. Tolan went to explain to her that she couldn't just march into fortresses and threaten leaders. Didn't she realize how badly that could have gone…even with Theo standing right there? All it would take was one guard thinking he was protecting the leader…

But his words died in his throat as he got a better look at his wife's expression. He sighed.

"We'll find him, Syn. We will."

Her expression twisted further as she shuddered.

"Anything could have happened, Tol…" he managed between gasping breaths. "He's lost…or hurt…or the Healers took him…or maybe he just gave up."

"Gave up?" Tolan murmured, and as Syn sobbed again it dawned on him what she meant. "Oh…Syn…"

"I should have done more…been more understanding…" she cried, and Tolan pulled her close again.

"It's not your fault. If Hershel made the decision to leave and get lost…or whatever happened…that's his decision. Being blind doesn't mean he isn't free to make his own decisions."

She buried her face into his shoulder, now clinging to him rather than attacking him. Tolan couldn't remember the last time he had seen Syn this distraught. Had he ever seen Syn this distraught? He wasn't really sure what more he could do or say, but he was angry at both Hershel and Myrah for bringing her to this point. It had been a while since his internal emotions had built up like this, and he took a moment to try to calm himself down. But with Syn sobbing into him, control wasn't coming easily.

"There you are!"

Tolan looked over as Theo came into the room.

"I've been looking all over…someone said they saw you come in here."

"Not a good time, Freak…" Tolan started through clenched teeth, but Theo just scoffed.

"I know where Hershel is."

Syn looked up, and Theo folded his arms as he fixed them with an unreadable expression.

"I…dropped him off at Imgloss's this morning. He had a healer's meeting; I'm sure that it just ran long. I just wanted to let you know before I went and checked…"

He trailed off as Syn blanched and Tolan cursed.

"Why would you take him there?!" his bodyguard demanded.

Theo took a step back at his bodyguard's abrasive tone. "He asked me to take him there!"

"Why?" Syn's voice was hushed with horror. Theo's eyes flicked between the two of them, seemingly unable to figure out why they seemed unnerved.

"He said that if anyone could do something about his blindness, Imgloss could. They had some kind of meeting planned, but Hershel said that he couldn't get there being blind, so he asked if I could…"

Tolan cursed again and immediately headed to the door, and Theo stepped in the way.

"What's going on, Tolan? I know there's way more to this than anyone will tell me, and I feel like I got blindsided back there with Myrah. Why haven't you told me any of this stuff!?"

"Wouldn't have mattered if I did," Tolan snapped. "You never listen to me anyways."

Theo narrowed his eyes, not moving, and Tolan tried to push him out of the way.

"Move…"

"Where are you going?"

"To Imgloss's, Freak! You've gone and left Hershel with the man who blinded him in the first place!"

Theo froze, and Tolan finally made it around him. Syn was moving to follow her husband.

"How was I supposed to know?"

Tolan paused and glanced back to see that Theo was glaring at him. "Stop treating me like I should have known all of this! How am I supposed to know what you don't tell me?!"

Tolan just scoffed.

"Try using your brain, and not just trusting everything anybody tells you. People lie…"

"I know people lie," Theo snapped.

"Obviously you don't!" Tolan turned to fix the teen with a serious expression. "You're too naïve to recognize the people lying to your face. That's why you still won't see Myrah for what she is."

"This isn't me being naïve; this is because I'm uninformed. And Myrah hasn't ever lied to me; just because she didn't feel comfortable telling me about Hershel, that doesn't…"

"I wasn't talking about Hershel," Tolan snapped, his eyes flashing. "Maybe you should ask the Western Leader what her real intentions have been with you this whole time."

Theo's expression darkened.

"What are you talking about?"

"Use your brain, Freak; she isn't paying attention to you because she thinks you'll make a good ruler. Myrah's getting close to you because she thinks she'll make a good Ruler."

Theo looked like he had been slapped. He opened his mouth, but the words wouldn't form for a few seconds.

"You have no idea…" he finally blurted, and Tolan's glowing eyes narrowed.

"See? Just proving how thick you are. You realize you're trusting her over me? I've never once lied to you!"

"You haven't exactly been honest lately!" Theo spat back, clenching his fists. He was realizing what exactly Tolan was insinuating, and it made him sick to think about it. There was no way that Myrah…

"I don't have time for your blind optimism right now," Tolan retorted icily. "I've got to track down my brother-in-law before he or Imgloss do something that can't be fixed."

He fully left the room after that, with Syn and Theo just staring. Syn shot Theo one last hard-to-read glance before moving to follow her husband.

"Wait, Syn!" Theo called, and she paused. The Heir wasn't even sure what to think, and he was definitely still reeling from the last twenty minutes. But he shoved those feelings aside to try and hone in on what was most important in that moment— finding Hershel. As the curly-headed Healer turned to look back at him, his expression hardened with resolve. "I can get us there faster."

161

"Hold very still."

Hershel tried his best to obey as he felt Imgloss's gnarled hand wrap around his thin forearm. A moment later, the Master Healer could feel the aura winds stirring around them. And suddenly the nauseating feeling of post-transport overpowered him. His view hadn't changed at all, of course, but he was dizzy now…and the temperature around him was significantly colder. Hershel shivered as the air itself seemed to lap at his skin, making him feel clammy and exposed. They were here, then. Unless the Ancient had taken him to some other forsaken place.

"Last chance, boy."

Imgloss's words were soft…barely audible. Hershel could feel the Ancient's hot breath on his neck as the Ancient Oni murmured into his ear.

"I will take you home now if you wish for it…but it's your last chance to back out. Are you sure…"

"I'm sure."

Hershel's own words were quiet, but determined. The air around him seemed to buzz with anticipation…he had an uncanny feeling that the Island itself was listening to him…and that it was eager. What the eagerness would pan out to be was a different story, but the Master Healer's heart began pounding at the thought.

Imgloss scoffed softly. His grip on Hershel's arm disappeared. "So be it. Till we meet again, foolish Master. If this Island ever decides to release you…"

And suddenly Hershel was alone. He hadn't even felt the winds spin for a transport, and he turned as he tried to sense where the Ancient had gone.

"…Imgloss?"

There was no answer, and suddenly the weight of his decision hit Hershel hard. If he had his sight…his powers, he would stand a chance. But as it was, he was stumbling on a misty, chilly plane with nothing but his ever-present blackness to guide him. Panic rose in his throat as he suddenly remembered the stories Tolan and Syn had told him. How would he survive if he was pitted against a deadly worm thousands of feet underground?

He froze in the true fear of not knowing where he was going. He could be moments from careening over the edge of some cliff. He swore softly under his breath, cursing Imgloss, his situation, and his own stubbornness at insisting on this course of action. But he couldn't remain like this; he needed to be free.

Hello

He nearly jumped out of his skin at the sudden voice. It sounded female. Hershel clenched his jaw as he looked around sightlessly.

"Who's there?" he murmured, and he thought he heard the slightest chuckle.

Do not fear me, Master Healer. It has been a great many centuries since we have been visited by one of so high a rank. Though…it seems you are missing some of who you once were…

Suddenly there was a hand on his face; warm, solid fingers brushed his cheekbone under one eye while he felt another hand tracing the aura shackles at his wrist. It took him aback; the voice seemed disembodied, like it was carried on the breeze. But the touch was far more physical than he was expecting.

"Who are you?" he asked, trying to shy away from the mysterious personage.

I am called Lunise.

"Are you an Ancient?"

I am a guide…here to help travelers who seek the council of the Ancients.

"What are you?"

She didn't answer, and he moved one hand to tentatively reach out and touch her. His fingers brushed a solid arm.

You possess the ability of Aura Sense.

Her voice had a glimmer of an impressed tone, and he frowned.

"I…don't possess any powers at the moment."

They are within you…merely blocked. Whether or not you are able to call up aura power does not mean that you have been robbed of your innate abilities, Master Healer.

He pondered that, not sure he understood.

"What is Aura Sense?"

The ability to sense the emotions within others…only those who possess this skill have the ability to sense me as strongly as you do.

Sense her as strongly? How did other people generally see Lunise? Well…they probably were able to physically see her, he realized bitterly.

Do not fret, Master Healer. You will have the opportunity to ask for the help you seek. Granted that you prove your worthiness first

Something else that Tolan and Syn had shared about their own trip on the Island came to mind, and Hershel rushed to voice the fear.

"Only those with powers are considered worthy," he recited. "But mine are blocked. Am I already disqualified from the chance to do so?"

Lunise laughed again. It was a sound like the rustling of leaves.

As I mentioned before…that you possess aura power is plain to us.

Her hands were now holding his, suddenly coaxing him forward.

Come…your trial awaits…

Hershel let out one last shuddery breath as he allowed himself to be led to whatever this Island was so eager for him to experience.

Pippa hugged herself as she looked around the landscape. A cold breeze stirred up dirt, the desert around her washed in a cold moonlight. She didn't normally mind the dark…but she was alone, and the darkness had a threatening feel. It hadn't been like this, the last time she had tried…but maybe it was because she was scared.

"Pippa?"

She turned to see a grouchy-looking man staring at her. Her heart jumped and she scurried over. Before he could say anything, the child buried her face into his shirt.

"Arch-ti-phos!" Pip whimpered, and he frowned as he glanced down at her and then around at the landscape.

"What's happened?" he finally snapped. "Something must be weighing on you, to create a mind-world as bleak as this…"

"You're dead, right?"

She had pulled back, staring up at him with large brown eyes. Her blunt nature took the old Master Healer back. "…Yes."

She nodded to herself, heaving a large sigh. He fixed her with a frown and a piercing stare.

"Why have you…" he started, but then Pippa looked up with a spark of determination that immediately reminded the Ancient of Syn.

"Is Uncle Hershel dead?"

Once again, the words took Phos by surprise. He stared as the child rambled on, tears suddenly filling her eyes.

"I don't know where he is…no one does. Mom thinks he's dead. She went out to look for him, and hasn't come home. And I thought that you would know, since you're dead…"

"Hershel is not dead," Phos assured quickly, though a blanket of unease had settled on him. "As far as I'm aware, he is still in the realm of the living."

Pippa looked relieved, but she was hugging herself now.

"Then where is he?"

The Ancient knelt down to be more eye level with the young girl.

"What happened? When's the last time you saw him?"

She shrugged forlornly.

"I visit him lots…he doesn't eat unless someone comes and makes him. He just sits all day in that stupid chair…"

Phos's expression twisted with concern, but Pippa continued as if she didn't notice.

"Mom and I came this morning and he was just gone. Sometimes he goes and collects stuff with Baffa but Baffa came home and there was no Uncle Hershel. We looked everywhere! He's not in any of the collecting spots or anything. And he's blind…"

Pippa's expression crumpled.

"What if he fell in a well or something?" she finally asked in a small voice. Wells were the one thing that the child had always been uneasy about…which made fetching water one of her least favorite chores. Something about the seemingly endless expanse of cramped, cold darkness made her very nervous. The thought that her Uncle could be stranded down one of those bottomless pits filled her with a sudden terror. A gust of icy wind whipped through the world and Phos's brow furrowed.

"I'm sure Hershel is alright," he murmured, putting a gnarled hand on her shoulder. "He is a capable Healer, and he's got a good head on his shoulders. Even blind, I'm sure he knows what he's doing."

Pippa sniffed pitifully, wiping her nose with the back of her hand.

"You don't know how sad he is," she pointed out honestly, and Phos paused. He was lost in thought when the child tugged his tunic.

"Archti-phos…"

He looked back down and she gave him a pleading look.

"You'll watch for Uncle Hershel, right? So that if he does go to the departed realm…"

Her eyes filled with tears and she cried again.

"Then…he won't be…all alone…"

Phos opened his mouth, but seemed lost for words as he stared at the normally confident and fearless child.

"He hates being alone," Pip continued, wiping at her eyes as she took a shuddery breath.

"I'll know," Phos finally assured, his voice a little gruff in an effort to keep out the emotion. "If Hershel…if he comes to the departed realm I'll know."

She sniffed and seemed to calm down at that. He tried to assure her further, his tone becoming no-nonsense.

"Your mother will no doubt track him down…or he'll find his way home."

Pippa nodded, but she had too much of her father in her to take him at his word.

"I'll come back if we can't find him," she finally decided, looking back up. "And you can tell me if you did."

It was a somber thought for so young a child, but she actually seemed to feel a little better at the thought of having some kind of plan in place.

The world was becoming hazy now that Pippa had gotten the answers she had come searching for. Phos watched as everything began fading away, steeling himself for the re-entry back into the departed realm. His mind churned with unusual worry for a dead person.

Where was his wayward apprentice? He surely did not want Hershel to join the departed realm before his time, but that was hardly his biggest worry. He was only too aware of the fact that there were fates worse than death itself that could lie in wait for those not careful enough to avoid them.

Syn didn't even wait for the dizziness to wear off as she caught sight of Imgloss's tent. She was faintly aware of Theo calling out to her as she ran, but she needed to get there now. Some part of her wanted to believe that her brother was sitting in there discussing something with the other Healer…but there was too much that had happened for her to really believe it. She threw the tent door open to reveal a dimly lit tent. It was empty, and her heart immediately sank.

"Syn!"

Theo had caught up with her, and she looked over as he came to join her in the tent.

"Is he in here?"

But he could see the interior of the tent before she had the chance to answer. Her words were soft.

"No."

Theo's expression twisted in confusion as he fully entered the tent. Syn followed, her eyes filled with tears as she looked around.

"Two plates."

She glanced up as Theo gestured to two dirty dishes sitting, one on each side of a small table with two chairs that didn't match each other. "Two tea cups too…and a whole pot of tea. I think there was a meeting here," he explained.

Syn just scoffed. "It's evening now. You think Hershel spent the entire day with the man who blinded him, and Imgloss fed him dinner?"

"The evidence seems to point to that," Theo said defensively. Syn's eyes filled with tears as she put her hands to her head.

"These could just be dishes piling up; there are more over on those work tables too. This doesn't mean my brother was here, this just means that Imgloss never cleans."

"Why have you already decided to believe the worse case scenario?" Theo snapped. Tolan's earlier words had left him hurting and confused, and having Syn shoot down every word he said was frustrating him. "Yeah, I dropped Hershel off in the morning. But he told me that he had an important meeting with Imgloss. So it ran a little late…maybe Imgloss took him home like Hershel told me he would."

"You weren't there, Theo. When he showed up to punish Hershel. He was so smug…so pleased that he would get to hurt him," Her eyes filled with tears as she looked up and met Theo's eyes. His defensiveness faded as he realized how distraught his long-time friend looked. "I can't see them just…getting over that."

"Then what do you think happened?" Theo finally asked, sinking down into one of the mismatched chairs. "That Hershel lied to me to get him here? But why would he do that? Why would he seek Imgloss out?"

Syn's eyes darting around the room. Finally she just shook her head.

"I don't know."

"He seemed pretty calm when he came to see me," Theo offered. "Like he knew what he was doing."

She looked up at him as she sat stiffly in the other chair.

"Happy?" she tried, and Theo shrugged.

"Yeah…I mean, kinda cryptic. But cryptically happy?"

"He hasn't been happy in weeks, Theo." She hugged herself. "So that almost makes this all worse."

Theodynn wasn't sure what to say to that, so they sat in silence as the light faded from the tent.

"You'd think Imgloss would come back, at least," Theo mused as he looked towards the doorway, as if waiting for the Ancient to walk in any moment. "Then we can ask him what happened to Hershel."

Rather than comfort Syn, however, his comment just made her shudder.

"I want to rip that horrible man apart," she muttered. "But I'm also terrified for what he would say…"

Theo shifted in his seat; there was so much that he still didn't know, and it made it hard to be sure of anything.

"Syn?"

She glanced up and he leaned forward.

"What…exactly happened while my parents and I were gone?"

Syn studied his face and then rubbed hers with her hands, suddenly looking exhausted.

"It all happened so fast," she finally said miserably, and Theo's heart began to pound at the thought of finally connecting some of the dots. "I knew that Hershel loved Myrah…but then he said he was going to end it. He's such as stickler for rules, I just assumed that he did…"

"End it? Why?"

"Healers cannot get involved in Politics in any way. With Myrah being a leader, well…"

Understanding lit up in Theo's eyes, and then he scowled.

"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard," he argued, and Syn gave a half-shrug as she sighed.

"It was what it was, I guess. Hershel was pretty upset about it for awhile, but then he perked up again and I thought that he was finally feeling better. I should have realized what it really was. And then Imgloss showed up with the other healers…and they…"

Her throat constricted and she leaned forward to bury her face into her hands.

"They blinded him," Theo offered softly, and Syn shuddered.

"He's been all over the place since then. There was a little while where he seemed to be trying to keep going despite everything…but this last week he shut down so much. Pip said he wasn't even eating, so I showed up today to make him eat something. But he was gone."

She started to cry again, and Theo's face fell with concern. He stood to come put a comforting hand on her shoulder. There was one last question eating at the Heir, and based on Syn's outburst at the Western Fortress, he was pretty sure he already knew what her answer would be. But after a minute or so of debating he finally forced himself to ask it.

"How did the Healers even know about Hershel and Myrah?"

Syn scoffed wetly, her miserable expression mixing with hatred.

"She turned him in."

The words hit hard, even though Theo had already feared as much. His heart lurched and he found himself shaking his head.

"Are you sure, Syn? I just can't see Myrah…."

"She's the only one who could have!" Syn snapped, turning to fix the heir with her furious expression. "It was part of the reason that Hershel was so upset. Not only did he lose his sight…his powersbut the woman he loved was willing to make it all happen!"

She pounded the seat's arm in a spur of rage.

"I've wanted so badly to scream at her for so long," she admitted acidly. "But I tried to hold back, for Hershel's sake. I didn't even tell your parents…but now he's missing. And I just know she had something to do with it, even if she says she hasn't seen him."

Theo bit his lip, not even sure what he should be feeling. He was so close to Syn, Hershel and the rest…he wanted to believe them. Let them know that he was on their side. But he also couldn't help but think about every conversation that he had with Myrah over the past months. The Myrah that Syn was outlining was cruel and heartless. She would have to be to turn Hershel in…but the Myrah he knew had asked him all about love and how she could get it to stop hurting.

It was a mutual decision she had said when he had asked her what had happened. The small, cynical part of him that Tolan's example had built up over the years pointed out that guilt could be a great motivator for Myrah's pain; perhaps she had turned Hershel in, but now regretted it. It made him sick, and the stubborn optimist in him pushed the thought away. Maybe he was foolish for believing the best in people. But Myrah had believed in him even when it sometimes felt like even his own parents didn't, and he felt a deep need to stand by her now.

But she didn't really believe in you, the Tolan-voiced cynic reminded. Theo just grimaced.

"What do you want to do, Syn?" he finally asked, changing the subject altogether. "We could wait here for Imgloss."

She leaned back in her chair, looking exhausted.

"He'll want something," she realized softly. "He won't just tell us, Theodynn. He'll want something for the information."

The teen remembered back to the only other time he had met the Ancient. He shuddered, remembering the greedy light in his eye when he had asked for Amber's horn.

"What do you think he'll want?" he finally asked. "I mean…did he even get that black chest he asked you for?"

Syn shivered violently.

"He got it alright," she murmured, though her thoughts seemed to be far away. No doubt trying to figure out what the Old Ancient would ask for now.

Theo tried to brainstorm as well, but he didn't know anything about the man, really. He searched his small tent for clues, but it really was just all the same things as were found in Hershel's tent. He didn't seem the type to want money…

Syn gasped suddenly, her hands gripping the arms of her seat. Theo looked up in surprise, immediately concerned by how gaunt Syn suddenly looked in the dim light.

"What's…" he started, but he didn't get far as she looked up at him.

"We have to get home now, Theo…take me home."

He raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Now? I thought…"

"I know what he would want."

162

Baffa finished the last of the stew. Normally, Pip would have spent a long time chastising him for that kind of behavior. But tonight, she just laid on the rug next to the fire, staring up at the tent's ceiling. One arm was firmly around the Sniffer's neck. Baffa was snoring softly. The child watched as the light from the flames made shadows dance across the tent's fabric.

"Archtiphos says that Uncle Hershel's not dead," she murmured to her sniffer for the fourth of fifth time. "So we just have to wait for him to get back…"

Then, as if beckoned in by her thoughts, she heard footsteps by the door. Pippa bolted upright, her heart pounding with hope. The sudden movement woke Baffa, who sneezed and grumbled deep in his chest.

"Uncle Hershel?" she called out, hoping with all the hope a six-year old could muster. She got to her feet, anticipating the arrival of whoever was moving the doorflap. "Baffa ate all the stew, but…"

She trailed off as she watched the figure enter, her hopeful expression immediately blackening into a look of Hatred. Imgloss took in the small child with cool interest.

"Quite alright," he finally said. "You see, I already ate."

"What are you doing here?" Pippa snapped angrily. Baffa picked up on her anger and distrust and immediately starting growling threateningly at the Healer as he came fully into the tent. Imgloss's eyes rested on the sniffer briefly before moving back to the small girl by the fireplace.

"Here alone, then? I suppose the rest of your foolish family is out searching…"

"They're trying to find my Uncle," she explained defensively, her small fists lighting up with aura. "You aren't welcome here…go away."

He scoffed, coming towards her. Baffa immediately lunged. The Healer didn't seem at all threatened; Pippa watched in horror as the Ancient shot a blast of aura at the beast. It hit Baffa in the face, and his threatening baying turned into pained howls.

"Stop!" Pippa yelled, shooting a blast at the Ancient herself. Baffa had retreated now, the poor beast hiding behind his young Oni charge. Imgloss deflected the oncoming blast with ease, sending it hurling into a wall. Pippa's heart began to pound as he got closer, and she sent blast after blast. A bottle shattered. Items exploded off a shelf. None of her attacks seemed to phase the Ancient, and suddenly his hand was gripping her wrist tightly.

"Let go!" she screamed, but he just sneered softly.

"Careful girl…you're destroying your Uncle's belongings."

She glanced around quickly and her heart sank as she saw a bunch of herbs on fire in one corner and a few smoking items in various places. But then there was another gnarled hand grabbing her face and she screamed at him again as he seemed to be trying to stare into her soul.

"LET GO!"

"Willful child," he muttered. "But still young…capable of learning."

She thrashed in his grasp. She was afraid of destroying anything else, but she wasn't just going to let him touch her.

"You can't do this!" she spat in his face. "My Uncle said you aren't allowed…I'm not an apprentice."

He chuckled darkly as he scanned her.

"Your Uncle won't be able to do anything, silly girl. Not where he is now."

Her blood ran cold, but Imgloss was still talking as he studied her.

"And the rules won't be enforced for much longer, regardless."

"Where's my Uncle?" Pippa demanded angrily, finally managing to pull her chin out of Imgloss's grasp. He released her arm as well, and she pushed up against the shelf behind her as she continued to glare. Next to her Baffa continued to growl softly but did not try to engage again, and Pippa tried to figure out how she was going to get past him. She was suddenly angry that she had left her sword at home; Syn had insisted that she wouldn't need it to come spend the day with her Uncle. Why did nobody ever listen to her?!

"Not the most powerful I've ever met," Imgloss was saying as he stroked his chin, studying her. "But in today's world, a child with the gift is rare in and of itself. And with dedicated learning…"

"I won't be your apprentice. I won't!" Pippa said, stamping her foot as she pouted at him. "You can't make me!"

"You'd be surprised," Imgloss answered as he raised an eyebrow, and Pippa's eyes flashed.

"Where's my Uncle Hershel!? What did you do?!" she demanded again. He scoffed.

"He's gone, foolish child."

"He's not dead!" she argued back defiantly. "Archtiphos said he's not dead!"

Imgloss seemed surprised at the mention of the deceased Ancient, and he seemed to study Pippa closer.

"No…perhaps not dead. But lost. Don't expect to ever see him again…"

"Liar!" she mocked in a way that only a six-year-old can. "You're just a liar and bad man and no one likes you!"

"Now, now," Imgloss's voice had taken on a threatening tone that made the child uneasy. His eyes were starting to glow as he came closer. "Back in the glory days, a child would never be allowed to speak that way to an Ancient. Especially not one destined for the role of Master Healer."

"Uncle Hershel's the Master Healer," she argued. "And he'll never, ever let you…"

"He made his choice, child. He's lost forever…and if he is not present in the realm by the next full moon, we will choose a new Master. The moon's nearly half-full already, and with Pazzol gone, there really is only one option."

Pippa grimaced as she shrunk back away from him.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she finally spat. "But Uncle Hershel will be back. He won't let you do this!"

"I tried to talk your Uncle out of his choice; he chose to leave you. To leave this realm. There is no use blaming me. And without him, you will need someone to teach you."

She spat at him, but there was aura dancing around his hands now that made her start to tremble.

"Your power cannot go to waste, foolish girl. Especially not when such talents are nearly non-existent. There are many things that I could teach you that your Uncle could have never hoped to…"

He was reaching out and Pippa's eyes were wide with fear.

"Don't touch her!"

Imgloss and Pippa both froze. The child recognized her mother's voice immediately and shoved past the Ancient to meet Syn at the door.

"Mom!"

Imgloss had turned to see the two figures in the doorway. Syn's face was puffy; she had clearly been crying. The Heir stood there as well, glaring. He seemed tired, however; seems he had exhausted himself. No doubt transporting all over the realm.

Syn pulled Pippa into a hug, both of them shaking.

"What are you doing here?" Theo demanded, his voice taking on an authoritative anger. Imgloss just scoffed.

"I am an Ancient of the realm…and as such, I'm allowed to go where I please."

"This is the Master Healer's tent!" Theo argued. "You are not allowed here without permission…"

"The tent of a dead man is hardly owned by anyone."

Theo and Syn immediately blanched, with Syn seeming to freeze solid. Pippa turned to glare at the Ancient.

"Liar!" she called again. "Archtiphos said he's not dead! He's still alive…"

"Well…as good as dead," Imgloss corrected smoothly, staring at the other Oni as if they were all simple minded.

"What do you mean?"

Syn probably meant to sound angry, demanding…but her voice came out as a strangled whisper. Imgloss's eyes flicked between her and Theo as he chuckled.

"You were both able to survive the Isle….barely." He said the last word with a pointed look in Theo's direction, who flushed angrily. "But you had powers…or at least sight. Your precious Master will hardly succeed without either."

"The Isle of the Ancients?" Theo demanded. "Why…how could you take him there!?"

"He is the one who chose to go," Imgloss explained coolly. "He came to my tent to request my help in trying to get there. I actually tried to talk him down, but the poor fool is as stupid and stubborn as the rest of you."

"Go get him back, then!" Theo demanded angrily. Imgloss shook his head in disbelief.

"It is not so simple, boy. He has entered his trial by now…and I have no love for that demonic island. I would hardly risk myself to bail a fool who bit off more than he could chew…"

Theo glared, but Syn had sunk to the ground with a hand pressed to her mouth. She seemed to be in some sort of daze, and Pippa's arms wrapped around her mother's neck.

"He can do it," she tried. "Uncle Hershel's strong."

Imgloss snorted at that.

Theo's eyes flashed, his fists flaming. "What were you doing here? Why would you threaten Pip?"

"I wasn't threatening, nosy fool. I was merely interested in getting a better read on her abilities…"

"You're to have nothing to do with her!" Theo cut in angrily. "From this point on, she's under the protection of the Ruling family. To mess with her, or Syn, or anyone elseyou're messing with the government directly. And that's against your laws, isn't it?"

Imgloss studied Theodynn with a patronizing expression. "It is," he finally admitted, his eyebrow raising. "But perhaps for not much longer."

Theo's expression became confused as well as angry, but then the Ancient was leaving out of the back-door flap. Theo scowled and went to follow him.

"Come back, you coward…" he started, but by the time he had gotten to the back entrance, Imgloss was gone. The teen debated transporting after him; no doubt the horrible man had gone home. But then he decided against it; he only had enough energy for maybe one more transport today, and he knew what he needed it for.

Coming back into the front, Theo's heart twisted to see Syn once again crying. The revelation of where Hershel apparently was had seemed to hit her hard, and Pippa looked up at Theo with concern.

"Uncle Hershel's gonna be ok…right, Prince Theo?"

He tried to give her a comforting smile as he bent down and lifted her up. He put her on one hip.

"I'm sure he'll be fine," he finally managed, and then he turned to Syn. He put a hand on her shoulder, but she didn't seem to register it.

"Auntie Syn? I'm going to take you guys to the fortress tonight. With everything that's happened, and with Imgloss prowling around…" he shuddered involuntarily. "I think it will be better."

It took a little more coaxing to get Syn on her feet and out the door so he could transport them, but eventually she was in a position where Theo could wrap an arm around her shoulders. With Pip on his other hip, he closed his eyes and summoned his power. He prayed quickly that he would have enough energy to get all three of them to his home fortress, and then they were off with a flash of light.

His hoofer was upset…running on its last legs, no doubt. Tolan couldn't blame it; it had already had to go all the way to the Western Fortress, to the southern border, and now back to Hershel's tent. His head felt like someone had stuffed it full of something scratchy and dense, and he grimaced at the throbbing at his temples.

Imgloss had never shown. He had waited at the tent for a while in hopes of apprehending the old tyrant. But as the night grew longer, unease had settled on the bodyguard. Hershel was missing, and now Imgloss was as well. That didn't bode well, and he finally decided that the Ancient was probably not coming back that night. The thought of Syn and Pip worrying at home had finally convinced Tolan to head back to his hoofer and coax it on a long-distance midnight run. No doubt they were both still sick with worry about the missing Master Healer. Now as he neared the rune-covered tent, anger flared in his chest again. Hershel had to have known what his disappearance would do to his family. But he had chosen to do it anyway.

The hoofer bellowed as he finally pulled it to a stop, and he sighed as he hopped off. Tolan shot the irritable creature an irritated look of his own.

"Last stop tonight, alright?" he promised, and the hoofer shook its clumpy mane before heading off to the water trough nearby. Tolan ought to tie it up, but he knew the beast would be much to worn out to wander off. No doubt he'd find it sleeping next to the feeding and watering troughs in the morning.

There were no lights lit in the tent, but it was late. No doubt everyone had gone to sleep a while ago. He summoned aura around one hand as he entered…and immediately froze.

The tent could never have been described as clean; its clutter had always been unsightly. But it was worse now than usual. His aura glinted off of broken glass shards and various objects scattered on the ground, and there was an acrid smell lingering in the air as if someone had burned something that shouldn't have been burned. Tolan's heart began to race; he had wanted to enter quietly as to not wake those sleeping, but he gave up as he called out now.

"Syn? Fluff?"

He burst into the back room, but it was just as empty. Or…almost as empty. A giant, furry mass barreled into him, and Tolan cursed.

"Baffa?" he muttered, looking down at the sniffer as it butted its head into him, whimpering. It was well known that the sniffer was more bark than bite, but Baffa seemed straight up spooked. In examining his daughter's pet closer, he discovered that its long mane was charred and burned in a few places. The acid in Tolan's stomach burned all the more painfully.

"What happened?" he murmured, but of course the beast wouldn't be able to answer him. Tolan went back to the front room; the back looked untouched. Whatever had gone down, it had occurred in the front. He scoured for clues. An empty stew pot, a long dead fire. He located a bunch of charred herbs sitting on the ground; no doubt the cause of the smell. Things seemed to have been blasted at random, and he tried to piece together why.

His eyes found something lying face-down in the dirt, and he cautiously picked it up. He felt a twist inside when he realized what it was: The painting Syn had done all those years ago of her, Hershel, and their old grouch of a Master. It had been burned; Tolan fingered the black, curling edges of the painting and exhaled shakily. Syn's face was still visible through the ash and holes, as was Phos's. But where Hershel had stood in the scene, the parchment was black and cracked.

Aura Power. Had to be. For a moment, Tolan wondered if the Master Healer had returned home and had some kind of fit, but then remembered that Hershel didn't even have powers. Which left only a few people it could have been…and he didn't see Pippa doing this kind of damage.

Pippa. His heart immediately lurched when he realized that Syn had no doubt left Fluff alone in the tent when she had left to go to the Western Fortress. She would have been here, with Baffa.

Suddenly the pieces clicked, and he shook with the realization. Fluff. Evidence of a power struggle. Injured Baffa; that sniffer wouldn't have been a threat to anyone unless they had gone for his owner directly. There weren't many people with powers in the realm, and unless Theodynn or his mother had decided to randomly attack Pippa, there was only one person it could have been. In his mind's eye, Tolan remembered the empty tent down in the south, where a certain Ancient had never returned.

Tolan pushed himself to his feet, heading for the front of the tent. He wasn't even sure what to do; go back to Imgloss's? Terror was coursing through him, making his aura in his hand twist and become too large to be controllable. He grimaced and shook his hand free of the stuff, but his eyes were blazing at this point. If that Ancient had so much as touched his daughter…

He made it to his Hoofer, and tried to get the thing to stand up again. But it seemed that the Hoofer was really done for the night; no matter what he tried or threatened, the beast would not comply. It lowed angrily a few times, but it was too tired to even lash out as Tolan harassed it again and again. Eventually, the bodyguard had to realize that he wasn't going anywhere on this beast anytime soon. He cursed the stubborn creature and immediately tied it to the Hoofer Posts after all. He turned to face the desert, his hand gripping the hilt of one of his katanas. Seemed he was walking, then. He still wasn't sure what to do, but he knew one obstinately optimistic teen who might be able to help. As much as Tolan harped on him for his faults, the kid was better at this power stuff than he was. The Freak would be able to help him find his daughter.

"He's asleep, Tolan."

Jaqah eyed the bodyguard with a quizzical eye as Tolan's fists clenched.

"I have to talk to him…"

"Theodynn arrived late last night completely worn out. He practically had to be carried to his room," Jaqah cut in, her eyes letting the younger guard know he wasn't getting past her. "He overdid it yesterday. It'll take him all day to recover…"

Tolan's eyes blazed suddenly, and Jaqah stiffened. Her hand inched towards her hilt.

"Tol…"

"My family's missing, Jaq. Freak's the only…"

"Your family?"

Jaqah shook her head as Tolan scowled at her, but her next words made him stand down.

"Syn and Pippa are here, Tolan. Theodynn brought them with him, that's what left him so…"

"Where are they?"

Tolan's voice betrayed both relief and anxiety, and Jaqah must have realized how important this was to him. She gestured for him to follow her and he did. They came to the guest quarters and she gestured to the first door.

"We aren't exactly sure why Theo wanted them to stay here; he was too out of it to explain well. But they're both safe inside, asleep."

Tolan nodded his thanks and pushed the door open. He exhaled in relief once again as he made out two forms on the bed. He walked over, and Syn stirred as he ran a hand through her hair. She didn't wake, however, and Tol looked over to see a tell-tale puff of greyish-black hair sticking out of the blanket next to his wife.

The adrenaline faded from his body and he realized how tired he was. He debated whether or not he would be able to fit in the bed, and there was a soft knock on the door. He went and answered it to see that Jaqah had dug up an extra bedmat.

"Figured you might need this…" she murmured, and he accepted it gratefully.

"Thanks, Jaq."

"Get some sleep. You look like death."

He scowled a little, but she gave him a smile to let him know she was joking. Then she was gone, headed back to finish her early-morning routine that he had interrupted.

24