Blood Reunion

Sighing, Tiearan stepped through gaps in each circle until he reached the center of the first and smallest circle. Nodding to Rain and Willow, who sat beside each other there, he settled himself at the center of all the circles and drew out the crystal orb he wore on a chain about his neck. All the Fae were silent as they watched Tiearan center his power.

* * *

"You will not be harmed; this is only to awaken your power." Glendes Grey, gray-eyed and dark-haired, focused on Trik’s face as Trik sat before him in a comfortable chair. I know you’re worried, Glendes’ voice filtered into Trik’s mind. Don’t be. If you could see the two who went before you right now, you’d know they were in the kitchen, laughing and eating ice cream.

"Now, let’s see how we do," Glendes actually smiled at Trik as he placed his hands on Trik’s forehead. Trik didn’t remember what happened after that.

* * *

Multiple tappings on the core, Tiearan sent mindspeech to Rain. We’ll have to call on the outer circles.

Agreed, Rain replied. Tell me when you are ready to approach all the sites.

I will, Tiearan assured her. Going to the outer circles now, to gather power.

* * *

Lissa’s Journal

"He’ll wake in a few minutes," Shadow rubbed my shoulders as I stared at Trik’s limp body. Shadow had carried him into a nearby room and laid him on a sofa so Trik could wake on his own.

"He’s got some power there," Glendes assured us as I knelt next to the sofa and stroked Trik’s hair. "I’d say at least Second-Tier, if he applies himself."

"You can tell?" I turned to stare up at Glendes.

"I have a good batting average. Isn’t that what you call it?" Glendes smiled.

"What did you say about my Nissa?" I asked. She, Roff and the others were waiting outside for us and couldn’t hear.

"Nissa was off the scale." Shadow was the one to give me an answer. "That’s why we were concerned when things weren’t going so well." He ducked his head as he told me that bit of news. "It just turned out that she was taking orders too literally."

"Lissa, don’t be angry with us, we were doing the best we could," Glendes sighed. "We’ve never had a female wizard with this much power. We’re designing rules as we go along in Nissa’s case."

"You could have treated her as a granddaughter and not one of your minions," I muttered.

"We know that. Now," Glendes raked a hand through his hair. Well, I now knew where Shadow got that gesture. "Lissa, please have patience with us. We’re trying. And I promise that Trik will get the attention he needs and deserves. I’m placing him with Shadow and Raffian. They’ll keep an eye on him and make sure he’s cared for as he learns."

"He’s only just started walking," I pointed out. "I hope you slave drivers remember that and give him plenty of rest breaks. I think he’s going to miss Morwin, too. Morwin will certainly miss him. He says that he hasn’t seen a student apply himself as well as Trik does in a very long time."

"What?" Trik blinked his eyes open.

"Honey, how are you feeling?" I brushed brown hair away from his face.

"I feel fine. Is there ice cream?" He grinned at me. That grin was worth a fortune.

"Trikleer, we’re placing you with Master Wizards Shadow and Raffian, in the Jewelry Division," Glendes said over my shoulder.

"Really? Where did Dane and Lucas go?"

"Dane went to Master Wizard Harvel, in the Armor Division; Lucas went to Master Wizard Killien, in the Art Division. You’ll see them at mealtimes, if you want."

"Will I see Nissa at mealtimes, too?"

"Of course, and you and Nissa will be invited to have lunch with Lira, your great-grandmother, at least once a week." I stared at Glendes. Was he finally becoming human?

"I’m going to miss you at home," I brushed Trik’s cheek with the back of my hand.

"I’ll come home with Nissa," he said. "Mom."

"I’ll arrange to have most of his clothing brought in. You’ll be wearing the white and royal blue vests of an apprentice in the Jewelry Division," Shadow helped Trik sit up. "And we’ll all go to the kitchen for ice cream."

"I think there’s a way to see to his education," Glendes walked beside me as we stepped toward the door. "Morwin can be brought here in the mornings, by one of my Second-Tier assistants. He can instruct these and any of the others he wants to teach here, if that’s all right with both of you. He will be returned to Le-Ath Veronis to teach afternoon lessons for Rylend and Torevik. I know of Morwin’s expertise—Nissa had better instruction from him than from any of my instructors, and she only studied with Morwin for a year before moving to Grey House."

"Connegar recommended Morwin," I studied Glendes’ face for a moment. "If a Larentii recommends somebody, then you’d be foolish not to listen."

"Agreed," Glendes nodded. "Do you think Morwin will consent to come?"

"I think he’d be honored that you asked," I replied.

* * *

Rain was screaming. Tiearan heard it as if it were from a distance. He couldn’t disengage, and his connection to the crystal had been lost. Somehow, the core was draining him and the others, and he couldn’t stop it. It held all of them, now, sucking their power away. He could only hope that it would let them go once they lost consciousness.

* * *

Corent’s thoughts were on Toff as his vision narrowed and darkened. Unlike Tiearan, he knew what was likely to happen. They’d placed their hand in the maw of a hungry dragon, and now the dragon was devouring the body connected to the hand. Was this Kifirin’s judgment? Corent felt debilitating pain as power was stripped away from him at an accelerated rate. Redbird, sitting beside him in the second circle, was already unconscious. They were dying—all of them—and nothing could save them now, not even Queen Lissa. She was pregnant and couldn’t bring her power to bear. A sigh escaped Corent as his consciousness fled.

* * *

Lissa’s Journal

"Shadow, I think something is wrong." We sat in Grey House’s kitchen, eating bowls of ice cream. Nissa sat between Toff and Trik, bumping shoulders with both of them and smiling. It was good to see all of them so happy, but my skin had begun to itch and my thoughts turned to Le-Ath Veronis.

"What is it?" Roff turned to me, just as Shadow did.

"I don’t know—but I need to go home," I mumbled. The itching had ramped up in the space of seconds.

"I’ll take her," Shadow stood. "The rest of you finish your dessert." Shadow folded me home quickly. I found Belen inside my study when Shadow landed me there.