Coil of Worlds

Skye, please do not do this. You must receive training on your Tal’Ai power. It is why you came back, Tryvor pleaded from the doorway as Skye stuffed clothing and food into a pack.

“I don’t have a choice.” Skye raised his head to stare at the Tal’Ai teacher, pausing when he saw the paka’s concern. “Lara has been taken by the Malirrans. Chion can’t save her without Eiren and me there to help.”

But you can’t control your magic. It was you who told me yesterday what happened beneath the city of Areth. You said it yourself. If you do not learn how to control your magic, you will be of no use to anyone, much less Lara.

Skye turned away, hiding his face from Tryvor, glaring with unseeing eyes at the wall above the bed. Did the giant, black cat think he didn’t know his magic was unstable? Both Lara and he had come back to the Kurite school to gain more control of their magic, but the Malirrans hadn’t cooperated.

The accursed Malirrans had attacked the school last night. During the skirmish, Lara had been captured and taken to their ship. Even now, Chion, the only white paka in existence and the Tal’Ai bondmate to Lara, followed the ship along the shore, hoping to determine where they were taking the woman. Skye returned to the school because of the severity of his injuries. One of the Tal’Ai women healed his wounds with her magic once the Kurites with more grievous injuries were healed.

He picked up the coil that lay on his bed beside the open bag, turning it this way and that, inspecting it as the colors shifted within the metal. For all its delicacy, the coil was powerful, allowing Lara to come and go from Earth and Aradun.

Lara. Skye had sworn an oath to Chion that he would do everything he could to save the woman.

Lara needed him, and he needed her safe for reasons he still couldn’t state aloud. Skye didn’t have a choice in the matter. He had to help Chion rescue Lara before she was killed at the hands of the Malirrans. He had been incapable of saving his brother, and his death still hung over him. Besides, he couldn’t turn a blind eye to Lara’s need for a savior even if Mikal hadn’t died.

A deep sigh came from the doorway, and the corners of Skye’s lips lifted into a half-smile. If you are determined to leave, follow me.

Surprised by the teacher’s order, he twisted around to stare at the paka, only to find that the paka had already walked away. Skye strode out of the room and down the short hallway. Suspicion made him ask, “Why? Where are we heading?”

Tryvor cocked his head to the side with another long sigh. You said Chion might or might not return in three days’ time. This means Eiren and you have a couple days before you leave. If you are determined to leave, despite my strong reservations, then you can at least work on mastering your Tal’Ai power while you wait. I’ve already given my duties to another. Tell your Ai to meet us on the practice field along the cliff.

Shock must have shown on Skye’s face because Tryvor’s nose twitched with amusement. The ever-present anger Skye had held onto since seeing Lara carried onto the Malirran ship settled a little. He inhaled, shifted his weight back to his heels, and placed his hands on his hips in exasperation.

“If you already knew I wouldn’t change my mind,” Skye accused, “why did you argue with me all this time?”

I had hoped you would see reason. Audren warned me I was wasting my breath, but… Skye, you must understand. If what the four of you shared yesterday afternoon is true, then you must learn how to harness your magic before it consumes you. The Lan’Ai bond is dangerous. You cannot deny that you all hold the same concern. Lara shared her worry about the strength of the Lan’Ai bond with me before we left for dinner yesterday. By all accounts, the Lan’Ai bond has not been seen for almost a millennium. Your inability to control even your Tal’Ai power will make it impossible for you to hone the new magic you will gain.

“I already told you that I don’t care about the Lan’Ai bond.” Skye ran both his hands through his hair before glaring at Tryvor. “My mind—no, my entire being—refuses to let her die.”

The paka sat down, studying him with an expression Skye couldn’t place. Finally, he said, And you think your desire to save Lara has nothing to do with the Lan’Ai bond? Skye, you are not a fool. You, Eiren, Lara, and Chion are destined for something no other man, woman, or paka can do. Yes, I agree that Lara must be saved. How else can you form the Lan’Ai bond without her? But do not discount the consequences you will face if you do not first hone the power already housed within you.

Skye sighed, turning to lean his weight against the wall beside him. The paka had a point. His need to save Lara could impact the future in a way he could not foresee. He shook his head, rubbing his right palm across his face, suddenly feeling exhaustion pull at him. Although he had healed from his shoulder wound, he needed rest to regain his strength. They’d spent the early morning hours burying their dead and burning the Malirran bodies. No one had slept, too busy with returning the school from a battleground to its original purpose.

Skye glanced at the paka and said, “I know. You are right. We came back for a reason. We knew we needed help. But with circumstances as they are, I really don’t have a choice. Eiren and I must leave.”

Tryvor and Audren had helped Lara and him with their burgeoning Tal’Ai power months ago. He owed the Tal’Ai pair much for their patience while he tried to learn what his power entailed. They’d come back to the school, seeking more guidance from the two teachers. He stood up and delivered a deep bow to the wise paka. “I humbly ask for your assistance until we leave. Any help you can provide will give me a small advantage in what comes.”

Tryvor nodded once. Call for your Ai. We’ll spend every moment we have working on your magic.

Eiren, Skye called through the Tal’Ai bond, Tryvor has asked for our presence on the training field. We are on our way now.

Hm, I know. Audren told me. Her gentle laughter calmed him even more. We are waiting for you both. He’s been telling me possible mental techniques that might help you.

Once outside, Skye immediately spotted Eiren and Audren in the shade on the other side of the field. As he skirted around a large group of young Tal’Ais, Skye ran a critical eye over them. The Tal’Ai bond could only form between a human and a paka. Once formed, the human Ai had to learn what type of magic he or she had an affinity for, hence the Tal’Ai school. The paka was merely the vessel in which the magic derived. The only outward sign of the bond was the human Ai’s eyes changed from a silvery blue to the gold eyes of the Pakas. Their scowls of concentration made him smile. He hoped the children soon conquered their magic, for the Malirrans would give them no mercy.

When he reached Eiren, he ran his hand over her feline head, scratching her behind the ear in greeting. Skye was the only one who could hear Eiren. Until they met, Eiren had never spoken to another. Despite her intelligence, her birth city had pushed her to the outskirts, thinking she had nothing to offer.

Audren spoke up, “Skye, Eiren has explained through the use of her scroll that your magic is more offensive than defensive. Looking back, I can’t believe neither Tryvor nor I realized your Tal’Ai ability is connected to your fighting ability. No wonder we never could determine what type of magic you had. For the next hour, we’re going to test the limits of your power. Once we understand more of what your magic entails, I will ask a few of the weapons trainers to join us.” The man waved his hand toward the far side of the field. “Eiren, run over to the fence. When Skye tells us he is ready, I want you to walk back toward him. I will do the same from the opposite side of the field.”

Eiren nodded once, rubbed against Skye’s leg, and bounded away.

Once they were gone, Tryvor made him turn around and face the trees. Take this time to center yourself.

Skye focused inward, bringing the second vision forward, fully aware that the paka scrutinized his every move. A soft gasp escaped when thousands of tiny details funneled through his brain, telling him in minute detail where everyone stood on the field. The children’s movements almost made him forget his given task. His magic also told him about the birds and insects that moved within the forest. He took a deep breath, falling deeper into his magic, overwhelmed by the crisp, clear images rushing to him. He’d never used the second sight when he wasn’t underground.

Skye, Tryvor admonished.

Right. He was supposed to find Eiren and Audren on the edge of the field. It took some effort, but he ignored the information about the children, sending his magic farther and farther out until it reached a veil. Flicking the paka a glance, he said, “They’re outside the limits of my magic. I can’t see them.”

What can you see?

“All the children on the field. I know where each of them stands.” Skye didn’t tell him that he saw everything, where each clump of grass or rock stood, where each insect moved.

Interesting. Now, wave your hand above your head. It will tell the others to begin walking toward you. As soon as you see one of them, tell me.

Skye did as he was told, stretching his magic as far as he could. Eiren crossed the veil first. He said, “I see Eiren. She is on the other side of the children.” It took a little longer before Audren stepped into sight, and he grunted in surprise. “Audren is on a trail in the forest. I thought he was staying on the field.”

Tryvor chuckled. We are testing your magic. How can we do that if you are searching only where you expect someone to be. I’ve already learned much about your magic. I believe your magic blankets a near perfect circle around you. Do you agree?

Skye paused in the act of turning around. Using his eyes to judge where his magic stopped, he realized the paka was correct. His magic allowed him to see everything within a certain radius around him. His eyes widened when he realized exactly how far his magic stretched. It was almost the entire length of the field, and the land was extensive, providing a large enough area for Tal’Ais to practice their magic without worry of bumping into another.

He peered at Tryvor in surprise.

My Lord, what is wrong? Eiren brushed up against him in support.

Including the other two Kurites in the conversation, Skye said aloud, “Nothing is wrong. Tryvor observed that my magic is a circle with me at the epicenter.”

Audren’s curious eyes met his. “We know how far out your power works. I noticed you struggled to find Eiren and me at first. Were we outside your boundary, or was it something else that kept you from seeing us?”

“Both, I think.”

Tryvor demanded, Explain.

Squatting down, he ran both hands up and down Eiren’s back. Skye ground his teeth together, not certain how to explain the problem.

Skye, don’t worry about how to explain, Eiren encouraged. Remember, they’ve seen magical problems we can only imagine, and with children and kits no less. They help the young Tal’Ais learn about their powers. Explain in your own words, and they will sort through them.

“You’re right,” he murmured. Sighing, he said, “Both Eiren and Audren were outside the perimeter of what I could see. The reason it took me so long to determine they weren’t inside it is because I pick up everything.” He gestured toward the field. “I am inundated with massive amounts of information. It takes me too long to sort through it to find what I need.”

The two teachers contemplated him for a moment before they shared a look with each other. Audren asked, “What kinds of information do you pick up? I was under the impression you picked up only details about humans and pakas.”

Standing back up, Skye shook his head. “No, I see everything.”

Tryvor took a small step forward, curiosity and excitement getting the better of him. Are you saying you can see where trees stand? Boulders?

“I know where every insect is, what they are doing, and where every dip in the field is. The only piece of information I don’t see is the faces of people.”

“Fascinating,” Audren murmured, “I’ve never heard of a power such as yours. But Lara’s is also different from any I’ve seen, so I am not surprised.” He took a deep breath, as if he was thinking. With a small shake, the man said, “From what you’ve explained, you need to create a means to hone your skill to specific pieces of information, narrowing what is relayed to you to a more manageable amount.”

Yes, Audren is right. Trevor studied him for a bit. You need a mental technique that allows you to block out what you don’t want or need to see.

Skye interrupted, “I know, but I’ve tried everything I can think of. Nothing has worked.”

“Tell us what you’ve tried so far. It will help us decide what other techniques are similar that won’t work,” Audren said.

“Lara told me about how she incorporates a watery shield around her. It didn’t work. It did not make my sight worse, either. I’ve also tried building a stone structure around me. I could still see everything. I have used the idea of a shield in front of me, but it does not protect me from everything that comes at me from the sides and behind me.”

“So, it did block some of the information coming toward you from the front? It stopped at least a little of the information?”

“Yes, but it doesn’t help me filter out the useless information, which is what I desire.”

Shock registered in Eiren’s voice when she asked, When did you practice the shield idea? You never said a word about it working.

Skye shrugged. “The idea came to me while we were in the catacombs. All three of you mentioned it might be tied to my talent as a warrior. The shield is a natural extension of my sword. It protects me from injury.” He looked around at the others. “I worked on the imagery while we traveled here.”

“It works, but it doesn’t fit what you need,” Audren said in a contemplative tone. “If you simply wanted to block everything out, you can shed your magic.”

“Yes, we realized that the reason why I ended up with brain bleeds is due to the sheer amount of information being crammed into my mind. It is too much for me to process all at once. Unlike Lara’s magic, I must focus my attention for it to work. When I don’t need it, I release the magic.”

Do you ask your magic to give you certain information? Tryvor asked.

Skye raised an eyebrow at the odd question, but he thought about how his magic worked. Finally, he answered, “No, everything comes to me at once, whether I want it or not. Has it ever worked for anyone else?”

Hm. Have you ever tried? Sometimes, Tal’Ai magic acts more as its own entity than we would like to think. For certain types of magical abilities, an Ai cannot force the magic to his or her whim. Let’s try to see whether requesting certain information makes any difference.

Eiren left for the opposite side of the field with a small nod. She whispered, I wish you the best of luck.

Skye admitted, if only to himself, that he felt stupid for what he was about to do. For a reason he couldn’t pinpoint, he knew it would not work. If his magic was truly tied to being a warrior, then requesting help was a tactic that would never work. He had a feeling his magic was far more aggressive. Once Eiren had had enough time to cross the field, he centered himself once again. Information flooded his brain, but instead of wading through each tidbit, Skye sent out a specific request—to find Eiren.

Several heartbeats later, he found her, but it had nothing to do with the mental inquiry. Opening his eyes, Skye turned, looking right at her, shaking his head.

It did not work? Her disappointment was apparent.

“By the look on your face and Eiren’s, Tryvor’s idea did not help.”

Skye grunted before he said, “I knew it wouldn’t. If you think about it, it makes sense. Warriors do not request assistance.”

“Ah, I see what you mean. As a sword master, your skill is not based on assistance but on offense. We should focus instead on offensive techniques rather than defensive.” Audren paused for a moment, rubbing his jaw. “I imagine it is why the shield image does not fully work. It blocks your magic, yes, but you require a technique that is reminiscent of a sword. You need something that reflects the way in which you fight as a warrior.”