Title: The Rainmaker

Part 1

Author: Tanya Reed

Disclaimer: I still don't own Syd and Nigel. If I did, they'd be together by now.

Notes: Sorry this is so late folks. I had a very busy holiday season, then last week my beta was sick. Hopefully, the next part won't take as long. I hope you like this bit. Also, when I read this over, I noticed I had Sydney smiling a lot. I hope it's not distracting.

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"So, you managed to take it right from his house?" Karen asked, wide-eyed. "But how did he know you'd be there?"

"Well," Sydney said, "He knew I was interested in the dagger, and he knew who I was, so he must have guessed the rest."

She was sitting comfortably in her office the next day, perched on Karen's desk and going through the mail she'd acquired while she and Nigel were away. Nigel had already started correcting essays they had received, which was a huge relief.

He looked up and said, "If he'd have been just a few more minutes, he would have missed us."

"So, where's the dagger now?" Karen seemed to be a lot more interested in their adventures than Claudia had ever been. Sydney wondered if it had anything to do with the crush she had on Nigel. It was cute, especially since Nigel seemed oblivious. Then again, the smartest people in the world could also be the dimmest sometimes.

"Safely in the Belgian museum where it belongs," Sydney told her with satisfaction, finishing the mail and getting up to go back to her office. "Want some help with those papers, Nigel?"

"Love some, but we've got a class in ten minutes."

"We do?" Sydney looked at her watch. As usual, Nigel was right. "Then we'd better get going. See you in an hour, Karen."

"Bye." The pretty secretary smiled widely and waved before burying herself in work once more.

"I don't know how we got on before her," Nigel commented as they walked down student filled hallways.

"Claudia wasn't that..." Sydney started, but couldn't finish because she suddenly felt woozy. "Nigel."

She heard his voice as if from far away. "Syd, are you all right?"

"I...I don't feel so good."

The room had started to swirl crazily, and she felt herslef swaying. Afraid she was going to pass out, she reached out...and felt a firm grip on her elbow.

"This way, Syd."

Nigel gently led her down the hallway, though she couldn't tell where they were going. She had to close her eyes so she wouldn't throw up. Nigel was a firm anchor to the world. Solid and dependable.

Suddenly, she felt a cold, damp cloth on her forehead, just before hearing the faint click of a door.

"Where...?"

"Downstairs loo. Don't talk." She felt the back of his hand softly touch her cheeks. "Hmmnn. Not warm. How were you feeling this morning?"

"Fine." She blinked her eyes open and wished she hadn't.

"Well, you can't te..."

Nigel stumbled against her, almost knocking both of them to the floor.

"Nigel?"

"The room's turning."

"Close your eyes. It helps."

She studied him through half-closed lids. His cheeks did have a faint greenish tinge, and she was sure hers must too.

Her stomach lurched so she squeezed her eyes shut again. She heard Nigel sit heavily, she assumed on the toilet. She reached out and squeezed his shoulder.

"We should probably go home."

"Yes," he agreed faintly. "If we can manage to escape the bathroom."

Trying to inject some humour into things, she said, "Yes, and it should be soon or we'll have rumors flying around as to why Professor Fox and her hunky TA went into the restroom together and didn't come back out."

"Funny, Sydney." He sounded embarrassed, but she bet he was smiling.

A sharp pain in her stomach made Sydney gasp and double over. Then, a strange feeling came over her, as if she were being pulled from the inside. It was accompanied by another wave of pain. Sydney's hand clenched tighter on Nigel's shoulder.

"What's happening?" he squeaked before her hand was suddenly empty. Without Nigel's support, Sydney stumbled.

Her eyes flew open and what she saw made her whole body go numb with shock. She didn't even notice that the dizziness and queasiness had left as suddenly as it had begun.

She was outside. The air was warm and the sky was blue. She stood in a small meadow bordered by trees. The grass and leaves were both tinged slightly with brown. She didn't recognize any of it, and the only comforting thing within sight was Nigel on the ground at her feet.

"Nigel," she said, grabbing onto the familiar, "You okay?"

"I don't know." His voice was hesitant. "Where are we? How did we get here?"

"Damned if I know," she admitted, reaching down to help him up.

"Thanks." Nigel brushed off his jeans and looked around with fear in his eyes. "I don't like this, Sydney."

"I don't like it much myself."

She looked around, trying to decide where to go or what to do. Part of her mind kept insisting that she was passed out on the bathroom floor.

"This way," she said, picking a direction at random. It all looked pretty much the same to her, but anything was better than just standing there.

"Where are you going?"

"Anywhere but here."

The answer seemed to satisfy Nigel and he started after her without another question.

"Hey!"

The new voice came from behind them. Sydney raised an eyebrow at Nigel, who shrugged. Together, they turned to find two people, young enough to be in her first or second year classes, coming towards them. One was a pretty girl with long, dark hair and a long, sweeping dress that brushed the ground as she walked. The other was a small man, about Nigel's size, with wild blond hair. He was dressed in gray robes almost as long as his companion's dress, and an interesting charm hung around his neck. As they got closer, Sydney noticed that the girl had large, dark eyes and the man was grinning shyly.

The woman turned to the man and said, "It's really them. Rayzi, you did it."

"We're really who?" Sydney asked.

Blushing slightly, the girl said, "Excuse my manners. I am Theri, and this is Rayzi. He brought you here, at my request."

"Brought us here?" Sydney drew her brows together. "What does that mean exactly?"

"Come with us, and we'll explain everything."

Sydney shared another look with Nigel. Their abductors looked harmless enough, though the young woman carried herself with an air of authority.

"I don't know that we want to go with you."

Theri looked surprised that they would protest. Sydney guessed she wasn't used to hearing 'no'. This didn't bother Sydney--she was used to saying no to those who had never heard it before.

"Please come with us. We mean you no harm."

"I've heard that before."

"Fine," Rayzi said with a shrug, dropping to the ground to sit with legs crossed and back straight.

"Rayzi," Theri protested.

"Sit, Theri. If we want them to help us, they have to see that we're sincere."

She looked doubtfully down at the ground, then at her pristine dress. Then, she looked at Sydney hopelessly and sat. Sydney looked at Nigel and inclined her head. With a shrug, he dropped down to the ground as well. She settled beside him, still regarding Theri and Rayzi warily.

"So, what's this about? Why did you abduct us? You could have come to my office anytime and I would have given you a fair hearing. And where are we? I'm unfamiliar with this place or your dress."

"Coming to you was not an option." This was Rayzi. "It doesn't work that way."

"What do you mean it doesn't work that way?"

"You've crossed over."

"Crossed over?" Nigel gasped. "You mean we're dead?"

"No." Rayzi shook his head emphatically. "You've just crossed realities. I'm sorry about the dizziness and nausea. It's very difficult to do, and I hadn't done it before."

"Okay," Sydney said, her head spinning. "Start from the beginning. What's going on?"

"As we said," this was Theri, her voice quiet and soft, but still strong, "I am Theri, and he is Rayzi. This country you find yourself in is Telurra. Usually this valley and all the valleys and trees and fields that surround it would be bursting with green new growth. We have a mild climate here with lots of fresh, life-giving rain. But this year the rains didn't come. Our land is starting to wither and die, animals and children are becoming sick. I had to do something.

'We have a legend here about a woman. She lived several centuries ago. Her name was Karolyne, but they called her The Rainmaker. She could actually change the weather and, at the same time, keep the delicate balance of nature. No one's been able to do this without harm since.

'In the legend, Karolyne had a staff. It's said that when she died, all of her power went into it."

"A relic," Sydney whispered.

"I beg your pardon?"

"Nothing. Continue."

"I decided to find the Staff. It might not exist, but at least it's hope. Since I can't go get it myself, I needed some help, so I asked Rayzi to find me the best, most reliable and honourable adventurer he could."

"Sydney," Nigel said matter-of-factly.

"Not exactly. His divination showed the two of you. Together."

"Me?"

"Of course, Nigel," Sydney said absently. "We're a team. About this divination?"

"Rayzi's a mage," Theri answered.

He added, "Not a very good one, right now. I used most of my power to haul you through the barrier."

"Okay," Sydney said, rubbing a hand over her forehead. "Suppose this story of yours is actually true, can you send us home again?"

"Eventually. I have to wait for my full power to return. That will take at least several days. Maybe even a tenday."

"Name your price. We'll pay you anything we're able to give," Theri hastened to add. "I don't know how money works on your side of the barrier, but if you'd rather have something else...We truly need your help."

Sydney raised an eyebrow. "And you're not going after the Staff because?"

Theri dropped her eyes. "I can't. Father would never allow it."

"Theri's the heir to the Telurran thone," Rayzi said.

"I believe you," Sydney said. She didn't know why, but she did.

"You believe them?" Nigel sounded incredulous. "What part?"

"All of it."

"You don't think we were drugged, then stolen by more natural means from the university?"

Sydney knew that she wasn't always the best judge of character, but something in her couldn't help but believe. "What do you believe, Nigel?"

She looked at him and saw his handsome face go thoughtful. "Well...we've seen some pretty strange things in the years we've been working together. Spirits. Vampires. Curses. Past life regression. If those things are possible, why not different realities?"

"What if we refuse to go look for the Staff?" This question was once more posed to Theri.

The young woman, princess if she was to be believed, looked sad but replied, " We'll send you home, if you wish, after Rayzi regains his full strenth. We didn't bring you here to blackmail you or threaten you. We just need your help."

"And what would helping you involve?"

"Well, the Staff is believed to be buried in the town Karolyne died in, though it doesn't exist anymore and the exact location is unknown. We would be sending a guide with you. His name is Yorn. He's a little abrasive, but he knows the wilds of the country better than anyone else. Find the Staff, if you can, and bring it back to us."

"Something tells me it's not as easy as it sounds."

"It is wild country, and it may be dangerous. Plus, it may take awhile..."

"Though I should be able to send you back within a couple of days of when you left," Rayzi broke in.

Sydney thought a few moments, but already knew what she was going to say. The excitement of a new hunt was already burning in her belly. It didn't matter that she had never heard of Telurra or that the relic wasn't of her world. The fact that she would be looking for something human hands hadn't touched for hundreds of years was enough.

"We'll do it."

"We will?" Nigel looked at her sideways.

"Unless you want to go home, Nigel. I could always go find it by myself."

"Without me?"

Sydney knew that, as much as he complained on a hunt, he hated for her to go on one without him. In fact, it even sometimes made him pout like the fresh-faced little boy he often resembled. Sometimes, she liked to tease him, just to see if he would do it.

"Well, Nigel, make a choice."

"I'm not going anywhere without you, Syd."

There was firm finality in his voice. Those who didn't know Nigel as well as Sydney did might have been surprised at the strength in it. Sydney, however, had seen Nigel at his worst and at his best, and she knew--though he often annoyed her--that he was a lot more valuable than anyone, including himself, gave him credit for.

She gave him a smile to show that she was pleased. He gave her a small smile back to let her know he wasn't angry with her.

Theri let out a sigh and rose gracefully to her feet. "I'm so glad you have decided to help us. One of our summer cabins is near here, right through those trees. You can get washed up and some food and rest. We'll tell you all we know about The Rainmaker. Tomorrow, Yorn will arrive to join you."

Sydney also got to her feet, then helped Nigel to his. "Tell me about this Yorn."

"He guides caravans and travellers throughout our country, guarding them when necessary. He is a good swordsman, and loyal to the crown, but..."

"He's a little on the surly side," Rayzi finished for her.

Sydney heard Nigel mumble, "Great."

"He's not going to murder me in my sleep or anything, is he?" she asked.

"No."

"Then I'll deal with him."

The two Telurrans led Sydney and Nigel through the dry meadow. Now that Sydney knew about the drought, she could see the signs of it everywhere. Brown, parched earth, with threaded cracks, puffed up from her feet, and the grass she stepped on stayed down as if defeated.

"So, why did you bring us to the meadow?" Sydney asked. "Wouldn't it have been easier just to bring us to the cabin?"

"We had no idea what your reaction would be. As a seasoned adventurer, you might have killed us first and asked questions later."

Sydney couldn't argue with that. She had been surprised enough and disoriented enough to lash out.

They made their way towards the trees, and a path through them became visible. This, they followed for about ten minutes before coming to another clearing. In this sat a three story mansion made of stone, with a big wooden door and a thatched roof.

"That's a summer cabin?" Nigel asked, stopping short. His eyes and mouth were both open wide.

"Come."

As they went into the building, the impossibility of what was happening hit Sydney. Even so, she could not deny the reality of her surroundings. Since Nigel's first protest, he had seemed to accept things. She supposed it was because she did. Nigel usually followed her lead in most things, whether he agreed with her or not. That was probably because they were technically boss and employee.

The inside of the cabin was simple but elegant. It was done in bold colors and, despite the obvious cost, it still managed to look comfortable and homey.

"The rooms we set aside for you are on the third floor," Theri told them, then blushed slightly. "Unless you'd rather share."

"Oh, no," Nigel was quick to say. "We're just associates. We don't...We haven't..."

Sydney smiled at the both of them. "Two rooms will be fine."

"Two rooms it is. Would you like to wash or rest? I'm not sure what time it was in your world when you crossed over."

"It was late morning. I'd like to hear more about this hunt you're sending us on."

"And then maybe some lunch?" Nigel suggested.

The princess smiled at Nigel and he gave her a goofy smile back. Sydney rolled her eyes as she realized that Nigel's charm had snared itself another victim. Despite his innocent ignorance of it most of the time, it seemed to capture almost every woman he came in contact with.

"I think I can handle that," Theri said. "What exactly would you like to know, Sydney? I'll tell you what I can."

They spent the next several hours discussing the ruins of Lesha. Theri didn't know much about the site, but she told them of some of the dangers Sydney, Nigel, and Yorn might face along the way. To Sydney, it sounded hazardous but doable, especially when compared to some of their other hunts. The only thing Sydney didn't like was the time frame. From what Theri and Rayzi said, the hunt could take months, and, even if Rayzi could put them back where they started, it would still be a long time before they saw home again.

Finally, Nigel's stomach ended the conversation by protesting--very loudly--the absence of food. Sydney raised both of her eyebrows at him, and both Theri and Rayzi laughed.

Nigel colored and said, "Sorry."

"Don't apologize," Theri assured him. "It's long past the time we should have stopped to eat. In fact," and here her eyes twinkled mischievously as she glanced at Rayzi, "I'm surprised Rayzi hasn't protested way before now. Usually, you never see him without something stuck in his mouth."

The young mage just grinned at this. "It's true."

The three of them got up from the table they had been using for their conversation. It was located in a small study of some kind, done in the color of deep mahogany. From there, they went to a large diningroom. The table was intricately and beautifully carved and must have been able to fit at least fifty people. Unlit candles circled the room on elegant sconces and in between them rested tapestries depicting the royal family and scenes of hunting.

"I'll be back in a moment," Theri said and disappeared through a door on the other end of the room.

Nigel, Sydney, and Rayzi settled at the nearest end of the table, Nigel on Sydney's right and the mage across the table.

"In my divination, Sydney, I saw you with a small, handheld crossbow. Do you have it with you?"

Sydney reached into the pocket of her long, black jacket and produced the named weapon. "As a matter of fact, I do." She never went anywhere without it. "I also have one of these." She reached down into her boot and hauled out her knife. Then, she placed it on the table.

"Impressive. In the area you are travelling, it's also useful to have a sword. Do you want one?"

"Are there many out there carrying one?"

"Almost everyone, especially those that could endanger you on your journey."

"Then, yes, thanks."

"Nigel?"

Nigel had been studying the carvings on the table, but came to attention at the sound of his name.

"I'd cut off my bloody foot," he blurted.

Sydney almost laughed out loud. Fighting it off, she only allowed herself a small smile as she asked, "What about Sir Nigel the Brave?"

"He's a lot clumsier than he used to be."

Poor Nigel. He did seem to have the worst luck of anyone she knew. It seemed to stick to him worse than cat hair on a favorite shirt.

"Sir Nigel the Brave?" Rayzi asked, his surprise evident. "Are you a knight, Nigel?"

"No, no, no..." Nigel assured him quickly. "Only in childhood games."

"I don't know," Sydney said teasingly, "He's been my knight in shining armour many times over the past two and a half years."

Rayzi frowned at the reference, looking puzzled. Nigel was saved from commenting on this by Theri coming back into the room.

"Cook said she should have a small lunch put together in about fifteen minutes."

The meal was strange but tasted good, and both Sydney and Nigel were used to eating what locals ate on their travels. Sydney only remembered Nigel complaining once about the food, and that was more because of an uneasy feeling about their situation than about the food. She frowned at the thought and pushed it away. Now was not the time for that particular memory.

After lunch, they discussed the hunt some more, and it made Sydney want to get started. She almost begrudged the hours she'd have to wait until morning for their guide to get there.

To pass time, Rayzi and Theri also told them about their kingdom, and it sounded to Sydney a bit like a medieval kingdom in her own universe, but with some major differences. For one thing, women had status in their own right. Despite having two younger brothers, Theri was first in line to inherit the throne.

Nigel soaked up all the information like a sponge, and Sydney was sure he'd be able to repeat it word for word anytime that she might ask. She knew that, despite the fact that she was considered brilliant, Nigel was the more intelligent in their partnership. Of course, she'd never admit it to anyone. She had a reputation to protect.

The first chance Sydney had to be alone with Nigel came as the two of them went to their rooms for the evening. At the top of the stairs, Theri gave them instructions, then the Terrans went one way and the Telurrans the other.

Instead of going into her own room, Sydney followed Nigel into his. It was a large and comfortable room, done in sombre colors, with a canopy on the bed and tapestries on the wall. The carpet was thick enough to sink into, and the bed was carved much like the diningroom table. There were also a bedside stand with a flickering candle, a wash table with a porcelain basin and pitcher, and a plain but polished wardrobe.

"This is nice," Sydney commented, plopping onto his bed.

Nigel sat down beside her and nodded. When he didn't say anything, Sydney gently bumped his knee with hers.

"Nigel?"

"Yes?"

"What do you think of all this?"

He gave a fake gasp. "You're actually asking my opinion?"

When she gave him a dirty look, he laughed, making her scowl impossible to maintain. She grinned at him instead.

"I think our working with artifacts with, shall we say, unusual properties probably prepared us better for this than we might have been otherwise."

"I agree."

"The circumstances are strange, but we've seen stranger."

"Are you scared?"

"No more than usual."

"I don't think we'll have any serious problems." At his look, she amended to, "At least anything we can't handle. I just wish we knew the country more."

"I guess that's what this Yorn is for."

"I don't know if I like the thought of him or not," she admitted. "He sounds like he might be more trouble than he's worth."

"Sydney, you're not thinking of leaving without him?" Nigel asked, stunned.

"Of course not," she said, but she had briefly considered it. She looked at him out of the corners of her eyes to see if he believed her.

"We can't be wandering around a strange world by ourselves without a map."

"Absolutely."

Sydney stood and walked over to the wardrobe and opened the doors. Inside, she found men's clothes, made of some kind of durable fabric. Instead of zippers or buttons they had ties--the pants at the top and the shirts down the front. They looked to be about Nigel's size.

"Take off your shirt."

"What?"

"Your shirt. Take it off."

Nigel grumbled, but when she turned, his shirt was halfway over his head. Her eyes travelled over his skin involuntarily. She noted how smooth it looked and wondered how it felt. Surprised at herself, she snapped her eyes up, and they were on his face by the time his shirt was completely off.

"Here, try this on."

He did so without comment, and Sydney saw that she had been right. The shirt was Nigel's size. In fact, it fit him like it had been made for him.

"Hmmnn. I wonder how they knew your size."

"I don't know, Syd." Then he stood up to model it for her. "How's it look?"

"Fine, Nigel. It looks fine."

"Are you sure? How do I do these things up in the front?"

"Come here." She grabbed his shirt and pulled him forward. She studied the ties for a moment before deciding she might know how they threaded together. Frowning in concentration, she pulled and tied while Nigel fidgeted.

"It's going to take us forever if you have to dress me every morning."

She smiled at him fondly. "Then maybe you'd have your shirt tucked in."

"Whatever you say, Mummy."

Sydney found herself once more rolling her eyes. Deciding not to comment, she said instead, "I wonder what kind of clothes they have for me."

"Frilly dresses," Nigel said evilly.

"That's not funny, Nigel."

He chuckled, looking extremely pleased with himself. She just shook her head and wandered across the hall to her own room.

Part of her had cringed at Nigel's suggestion, so she was relieved to open her wardrobe and find clothes much like what she normally wore on a hunt. There was even a wrist guard for her crossbow. The clothes were all made of some sort of soft but strong leather, and there were sleeveless vests and long pants. Satisfied with that, she turned to see that her room was almost identical to Nigel's, only with different tapestries and carvings.

"Your room's nice too," Nigel said, coming in behind her.

"The clothes are better."

He went and looked into the wardrobe. "What, no frilly dresses? Maybe I should suggest some."

"Nigel, what's gotten into you today?"

"It's not every day we're whisked away to an alternate reality."

"True. We'd better get some sleep. Tomorrow promises to be an interesting day."

"All right. Night, Syd."

"Night, Nige."

As he left, Sydney noticed there was a carved trunk at the bottom of her bed. She wondered what it was for and bent to open it. Her mouth opened slightly as her eyes took in lace and ruffles. There were only three nightdresses, but it seemed she had found where they hid the frilly dresses.