CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Maeve and Kelia stared down at the Stone, basking in the white light pulsing from within. Maeve noticed that her friend seemed reluctant to touch the Stone again.

“We don’t have to do this if you don’t want to,” Maeve said.

This wasn’t quite true. It was necessary. Kelia had seen the same vision repeatedly over the last few days, and she had gleaned very little information that they might use to formulate a defense plan. All they knew was that many Ixtrayu would be killed by fire, a fire that came so fast that they could not escape. The Plateau, covered with bodies. They could only discern that the fire was not caused by nature, but by something far more malevolent.

“No. For my people, I must do this,” Kelia said, her eyes still fixed on the Stone. “I can only pray that by adding your power to my own, Arantha will allow me to see her message with greater clarity.” She reached over and grasped Maeve’s hand. “It’s just that these images ...” She stifled a sob.

“I understand,” Maeve said, placing a comforting hand on her arm. “Do you think I’ll experience the visions too?”

“I don’t know. What we are about to do has never been tried before. If Arantha allows you to share the vision, I suggest you prepare yourself. The images are horrific.”

Maeve’s voice became hushed. “I’ve seen more death and destruction than anyone should ever have to. It’s not something one gets used to, but if it helps us, I can deal with it.”

Kelia exhaled, casting a glance over her shoulder. Standing just inside the entrance were Eloni and Lyala, both watching them with concern. Katura had insisted a Council member be present, and had also instructed that a healer be nearby should it be necessary.

Turning back to the Stone, Kelia placed her hands on either side of it, awaiting Maeve’s signal.

Maeve took a step back, raising her hands in Kelia’s direction and closing her eyes. She felt the energy flow through the cave and through her.

“I bask in your divine presence, O Arantha, for I am your humble servant,” Kelia incanted, closing her eyes as she brought her hands into contact with the Stone.

There was a brilliant flash of white light, and for a few moments, it overwhelmed Maeve, as if she had been staring directly into the sun. Gradually, the haze of whiteness subsided, and an image began to coalesce in her mind.

With the sheer power of the Stone close at hand, Maeve reached out with her mind and touched Kelia’s. Because of their Sharing, forming the link felt as easy as breathing. The sensation was both thrilling and daunting.

Kelia, can you feel me? Maeve thought.

Yes, Kelia replied. I feel your strength. It is ... invigorating.

Maeve found herself standing on a dirt path next to the River Ix. Some distance away, the Ixtrayan Plateau loomed. To her left and right, the croplands and fruit vines were intact, with many Ixtrayu tending the fields, moving about their daily routine. Storm clouds loomed above, and a few scattered drops of rain were falling. From the looks of things, the time of harvest was near.

Nothing burned. No corpses littered the ground.

Maeve turned to see Kelia standing next to her. Before either could speak again, a loud crackling came from behind them. They turned to see a huge tower of lightning erupt from somewhere deep within the forest, shooting strands of blue electricity into the gloomy gray sky. Moments later, half the trees burst into flames. The forest disgorged hundreds of birds and other animals, fleeing for their lives.

My God, Maeve whispered.

What could be causing that? Kelia asked.

No idea. Lightning’s supposed to travel from the sky to the ground, not the other way around!

Maeve could only watch helplessly as the fire burst from the forest, spreading to the fields of grain and the rows of fruit. She gasped.

This is no natural occurrence. It’s as if someone is pushing it, controlling it.

Kelia looked aghast. You think it could be a Wielder? That’s impossible! No one else can control fire but me and Nyla! And we certainly wouldn’t do this!

The Ixtrayu working the fields attempted to flee back to the village, but many of them were too slow. Maeve’s stomach churned as a wall of fire enveloped them and they fell, screaming, to the ground. Kelia brought her hands up to cover her mouth, but she could not look away.

A sphere of blue energy, about five paces in diameter, emerged from the forest and began moving toward the village. Strands of lightning swept over its circumference, burning the ground and turning the river into a billowing cloud of superhot steam as it moved along the path of the River Ix.

Maeve and Kelia, reduced to spectators and unable to intervene, watched the sphere make its inexorable journey from the forest to the village, incinerating everything and everyone it touched.

Their perspective changed. They were now within the plateau, its high walls rising up on both sides. Women fled past them in terror, trying to escape the monstrosity laying waste to the village. Maeve followed their escape toward the southern entrance, where she hoped they would somehow outdistance the energy sphere. Her jaw dropped in horror as they fell to the ground, skewered by a deadly volley of arrows.

Arrows? What the fark is going on here?

Kelia’s horror rendered her mute. Maeve concentrated even harder, continuing to augment the Protectress’s strength with her own.

They turned to face north again. The energy sphere had just crossed the threshold into the village when it blinked out of existence. In its place was ... a woman; tall, slender, with long, wild, dark hair. She stood still, surveying the carnage she had created with black, soulless eyes.

Maeve felt a knot of rage twist in her stomach. She felt the urge to charge this woman, drop her with a roundhouse kick, and then snap her spine in two.

Billions of innocents on Earth and its colonies, slaughtered. And now, on this far-distant planet, whose inhabitants resembled Maeve’s ancestors in so many ways, she was forced to watch those with insufficient power fall to those with more.

No. Not here. Not while I live.

She’d no sooner had this thought than the vision dissolved, fragmented like a computer image breaking up. With a start, she opened her eyes, and found herself back in the cave, staring at Kelia’s back. The Protectress had released her hold on the Stone, laying her palms flat on the rocky altar the Stone sat upon. Both of them were panting, but otherwise unharmed.

Lyala moved toward them. “Are you all right, Protectress?”

“I am fine,” Kelia whispered. She turned to Maeve. “Thank you, Maeve. Your presence here is truly a gift from Arantha.”

Maeve smiled and nodded. “You’re welcome.”

Eloni’s deep, rich voice drew their attention. “Did you see it, Protectress? The cause of our destruction?”

Kelia faced her. “Yes, Councilor. It was a Wielder. A woman of great power.”

“A Wielder? Who in the Ixtrayu could do such a thing?”

“She was not Ixtrayu. I didn’t recognize her at all. But her command over lightning was ... terrifying to behold.”

“Lightning?” Eloni stepped forward, her blue eyes tinged with recognition. “Describe her.”

Maeve answered for her. “Tall, long dark hair, very thin, pale skin. Her eyes were black.” She shuddered. “Like a demon.”

“No, not a demon,” Eloni said in a hushed voice. “Could you guess her age?”

Maeve exchanged a look with Kelia. “Difficult to say, but I would estimate, based on her face, that she was a few years younger than I. Say, early thirties?”

Eloni turned away, facing the near wall. She closed her eyes, shaking her head. “Great Arantha. This cannot be,” she sobbed, covering her face with her hands.

Kelia grasped the diminutive Councilor’s shoulder and spun her around. “Eloni, what is it? Tell me!”

Her eyes red and her voice choked with tears, Eloni faced her. “The woman you just described ... it’s Proda.”

“Who?” Maeve asked.

Eloni shot a stern glance at the Terran woman. “Thirty-three years ago, a woman named Proda Sojourned to Barju. She was a Wielder of lightning, the only living Ixtrayu with that ability. She never returned, and we assumed she’d been killed. We haven’t Sojourned to Barju since then.”

“You’re saying ... this monster who has come to destroy us is –”

“Her daughter,” Eloni cried. “There’s no one else on Elystra it could be. Great Arantha ...” She cupped her face with her hands again.

“Not only that,” Maeve added, “but she brought friends. You saw the arrows?”

Kelia nodded.

“So we’re dealing with two enemies: a Wielder with the power to control electricity, and an Elystran force armed with more conventional weapons.” She paused, placing her hand on her chin. “That’s not good.”

“I-I must confer with the Council,” Eloni said. “Excuse me.” She exited the cave without another word.

Maeve took Kelia by the arm and guided her toward the entrance. “Look, I know things seem bleak, but there are plenty of ways we can prepare for this. Nothing is hopeless.”

Kelia had recovered her voice. “Agreed.”

“I have some ideas about how to defend the village,” Maeve said. “I would like to speak with the huntresses in the tribe, not to mention the other Wielders, to form some kind of strategy. Davin might be able to help in that regard as well.”

Kelia nodded as they stepped from the cave. Davin, Runa, and Sarja awaited them just outside the entrance.

“Mom, are you all right?” Davin asked, his face lined with concern.

“I’m okay, kiddo. I’ll explain everything later.”

Runa stepped forward. “Protectress, is there anything I can do?”

“Assemble the huntresses on the archery range,” Kelia said. “Maeve and I will join you there in thirty minutes.”

“Yes, Protectress.” Runa bowed, and then crossed the bridge to the western bank. She soon disappeared from sight.

Maeve looked at Davin. “Dav, I’m going to be rather busy for the rest of the day. Will you be all right?”

Davin indicated the young girl standing next to him. “I’ll be fine, Mom. Sarja has offered to show me around the village.”

Sarja smiled, blushing slightly. “If that is all right with you.”

Maeve looked back and forth between them. For the first time in years, her son would be spending time with a girl his own age.

She sighed. On top of everything else she had to deal with now ...

“It’s fine,” she said, giving them her best fake smile. “Just don’t go far. Meet you in the dining area later for lunch?”

“Okay.” Davin glanced at Sarja, who smiled back, before turning back to his mother. “See you later.”

With Sarja leading the way, the two of them walked out the village’s southern entrance. Kelia watched them go with a bemused smile.

Moments after they disappeared from sight, she heard cries coming from the other direction. “Protectress! Protectress!”

Sershi, her long brown hair billowing behind her, sprinted down the path and across the bridge, slamming to a halt in front of Maeve, Kelia and Lyala. She doubled over, gasping for air.

“Duma!” Lyala said. “What is the meaning of this? You’re not supposed to leave Nyla alone!” She turned to Kelia. “I’m sorry, Protectress, I told her not to leave the Room of Healing under any circumstances.”

“It’s all right,” Kelia said, putting a hand on Lyala’s shoulder. “Sershi, what is it?”

Sershi, still catching her breath, looked up at Kelia. Maeve saw a faint smile on the young healer’s face. “It’s Nyla, Protectress. She’s awake.”