“Jireo was there. I disappeared right before him. And I could see everything, feel the stone under my feet.”
More discussion from the council was peppered with questions. Morvaen made his voice heard above the others. “Where did you go? And what did you see? How long were you gone?” The robust weapons master paced in his usual manner, always seeming to have an overabundance of energy.
“I don’t know where I was. It was a very strange room, almost entirely covered in some kind of smooth polished stone.”
“An entire room of polished stone? But you didn’t recognize the stone?” Nordamen questioned, flinching as Morvaen bumped his chair with the scabbard of his sword. The weapons master apologized, but Nordamen quickly turned his attention back to Kaevin. “Was it opaque or translucent?” The chief shaman inclined his head awaiting the answer, obviously excited about the possibilities of power in the stone-covered room. His responsibilities included recognizing and training each clan member’s gifts. Beside him, although technically not a council member, sat his son, Bardamen. He was only a year from the age of thirty, when he would take his father’s place as chief.
“It was opaque—”
“Never mind that,” Morvaen interrupted. “Tell us about the girl.”
Kaevin concentrated on stilling his trembling knees as he spoke. “She was.... She was lying in a basin full of water with her eyes closed, at first.”
“She was breathing under water?” asked Nordamen. “That sounds like a gift of Water Clan.”
“No,” Kaevin bit back, clenching his fists. His face burned in shame at his lack of control. “I apologize—I didn’t mean to speak harshly. But I was trying to explain that her face was floating. She was breathing air, like you and me. And the basin holding the water was made of stone.”
“But she was in the water,” Nordamen protested.
“Let him finish,” Morvaen said. “Please proceed, Kaevin. Tell us what happened.”
He unfurled his fists, glancing back at his father who nodded assurance. “This last time, when she opened her eyes, she didn’t disappear. Her eyes were... I don’t know how to describe them.... They were different, not quite blue and not quite green. I’ve never seen anything like them.”
“If her eyes weren’t green or brown, we should consider them blue,” said Nordamen. “And she was in the water—she must be of Water Clan.”
“No!” Kaevin didn’t realize he’d shouted until a startled hush fell over the council members. “Again, I’m sorry, but please let me explain. She wasn’t evil. She never felt evil during the visions, and when I was with her, the air was clear. There was no sense of evil at all.”
“But you are young,” said Nordamen. “Your gift is not fully developed. Perhaps her evil was masked somehow.”
“I have seventeen years, and my gift is stronger than you realize. I am quite certain she wasn’t evil.” He lifted his voice over the council members’ murmurings. “I haven’t told you the most important part. … She had a wander-jewel. I saw it spark before it sent me back.”
“That’s impossible!” exclaimed Raelene. “We know of no clan with an active bearer. Or even a bearer who hasn’t come of age. Wendelle was the last. We’ve been praying, but none have come.”
“Then she must come from a clan we don’t know,” Kaevin argued. “There’s no other explanation.”
“How did you see the jewel?” Raelene crossed her arms. “A true bearer never leaves the jewel exposed.”
“She was bathing.” Kaevin attempted to hide his discomfort by pacing. “I think perhaps she’s just come of age, and she’s untrained. She didn’t seem to know what she was doing, and she screamed when she realized I was there. That’s when I saw the jewel spark, and I returned to where Jireo was waiting.”
“It’s possible.” Nordamen tapped a long slender finger against his chin. “A true innocent with no idea of her gift might accidentally transport someone.” He leaned forward and steepled his fingers. “But why would she transport Kaevin? Raelene, can you transport someone you’ve never met?”
“Honestly, I can only say I’ve never heard of it before. I’ve never known anyone who would try such a thing. If this girl is truly unaware of her gift, we’ve got to find her and train her before she hurts herself or someone else.”
“Yes, and before Vindrake or anyone in Water Clan finds her. Imagine the disaster that could result if he could control a bearer.” Morvane’s eyes grew wide, realizing the impact of his words. He glanced at Raelene’s drooping head. “I apologize, Raelene. That was unthinking for me to remind you of your loss.”
“No, your words are only the truth. We all know Vindrake would stop at nothing in his attempt to attain a bearer of his own.” She blinked hard, her eyes shining with unshed tears.
“These thoughts mirror my own.” Graely strode to the room’s cente
r. “I feel we need to formulate a plan to search for this girl. I want Kaevin to describe her to Darielle, as she suggested. If we had a drawing, we might be able to locate her. Perhaps she is close by, but no one is aware of the jewel—a foundling or an orphan from one of the wars. And Kaevin, I want you to talk to Raelene. Describe the stone in detail to ensure what you saw was truly a wander-jewel.”
Kaevin’s jaw tensed and he opened his mouth to object, but Graely held up his hand. “I know you don’t believe there’s any other alternative; however, we must be certain. And if the girl is truly a bearer, you must be prepared to help her should she transport you again.”
Laethan finally opened his eyes and spoke. Kaevin supposed this proved he’d been listening rather than sleeping. “I need to speak with Kaevin about possible illnesses she could have. Any illness will worsen in transport, so I assume the plague is no different. If she’s sick, she must not be allowed to travel by the stone. And we must keep Kaevin from possible exposure to plague when he could be transported against his will at any time.”
“The rest of us will devise a plan to search for the girl.” Graely grimaced. “We must work together with all the other clans throughout Tenavae. They will assume we mean to claim her since Kaevin discovered her, but she belongs to whatever clan she lives with.”
Kaevin felt his chest tighten. “But what if she wishes to come with me? Perhaps that’s the reason she transported me.”