Jean Lorrah - Sorcerers of the Frozen Isles

The belief that misusing one’s powers weakened them was such a basic tenet of Academy teaching that many of the minor Readers in that destructive group-mind found themselves mind-blind afterward. That was a normal temporary effect of using Adept power, but for these Readers it continued, because they believed themselves no longer worthy to be Readers at all.

Within the past year, many had been brought gently back to their original small powers, and some were brave enough to experiment with Adept powers for healing or other positive purpose. But others had given up, and were trying to find a place for themselves as ordinary people with no special powers at all.

Because of the widespread corruption and rebellion in what had been the Aventine Empire, the savage alliance had allowed little movement across the old border. After a year of savage rule little different for most people from what they had experienced under the Emperor, it was time to allow more freedom to travel.

Readers on the Path of the Dark Moon, however, were astonished to be offered new assignments, instead of merely being informed by the Council of Masters that they were being sent to a different place.

Both Wulfston and Lilith wanted to set up relays of Readers in their lands, to transmit messages both more quickly and more privately than the watchers did with their code of flashing lights.

It still frightened many of these minor Readers to find the Lords Adept unReadable. But they could Read Lenardo, Master Clement, Torio, or Melissa-and they reassured them of the Adepts’ good intentions.

Soon it was settled who would go to Wulfston’s lands-but the Lord Adept was shocked when Torio told him he would not be returning.

“But why, Torio?” Wulfston asked. “Have I offended you in some way?”

Torio shut out the vision of the hill bandits burning to death. “No, not at all. I consider you a valued friend, Wulfston, and I hope to work with you again when I return.”

“Return? Where are you going?”

“To Madura with Zanos and Astra… and Melissa.”

“I see. But that’s not all, is it?”

“What do you mean?” Torio Read Wulfston curiously, trying once again to detect some sign that the Adept was actually Reading. His sensitivity at times made any other conclusion seem impossible, yet once more Torio could feel nothing when he tried to engage Wulfston’s mind.

“Torio, you have been avoiding me ever since we arrived in Zendi-and even before we got here, you hardly talked to me on the last day’s ride. I know that you suffered terribly when I burned those bandits… but you’ve been working with Adepts long enough to know that I had no choice.”

“I know,” Torio admitted. “You did what you had to, but what you had to do, what you could do, was so terrible. I understand why you can’t learn to Read, Wulfston. If you once Read the effects of an Adept trick like that one, you would never be able to do it again. And in a similar situation, you’d be killed.”

“Or I might be able to Read how to avoid getting killed without causing my attackers so much pain,”

Wulfston replied. “Adepts are not callous, Torio-at least not all of us are.”

“Oh, Wulfston-I know that!” said Torio, horribly embarrassed that his friend could think he thought ill of him. “It’s not you-it’s me. I still don’t know what I’m supposed to be-and I guess that’s why I can’t learn Adept powers, either. I’m terrified of what I might do with them. And then just when I’m confused enough already, I have to develop this new power-”

“What new power? Show me!” said Wulfston, obviously expecting some evidence that Torio was indeed starting to develop the power of mind over matter.

But at the Adept’s direct demand, Torio found himself once more speaking words whose source he did not know. “Your fate is linked with Lenardo’s-but it is your own destiny you will seek far away, only to find where you began.”

“What?” Wulfston stared at him, puzzled.

Torio shrugged. “That’s it. When people ask me their fate, I suddenly tell them something. Don’t ask me what it means, though.”

“Well, I already know my fate is linked with Lenardo’s. Ever since he helped Aradia and me bring our father out of his coma, it’s been obvious that we share a destiny. He seemed to be my brother even before he married Aradia. But seeking my destiny far away-does that mean I’m supposed to go with you to Madura?”

“No,” said Torio, again not knowing where the word came from.

“For someone who’s confused about his own fate, you certainly sound positive about other people’s!”

“I don’t feel positive,” Torio explained. “This isn’t like Reading, Wulfston. All I know is the words as they come, and nothing more about them. And I wish people would stop asking me that kind of question-it’s frightening when I blurt out the answer, whether I want to or not.”

“You’re right that I can’t leave my people at this point,” Wulfston agreed. “I suppose if Melissa’s going, there’s no stopping you, is there?”

“No, there’s not.”

“Then go with my best wishes, Torio-and may the gods protect you.”

Before the troop of Readers and Adepts could begin their journey to Madura, though, there was one more task to complete. The hill bandits were growing restless in their camp, and before they dispersed the savage alliance wanted to make certain they did not again consider an attack on any of their members. So a small group of Readers and Adepts set out to show them just how foolish such a move would be.

Lenardo and Aradia led the expedition- notbecause their tremendous powers were necessary to the plan, but because both were tired of staying in Zendi to arbitrate political and social disputes.

They jumped eagerly at the chance to ride out into the countryside.

Lilith rode with them, paired with Lenardo’s adopted daughter Julia, whose Reading powers were quite amazing for an eleven-year-old. Lilith’s son Ivorn, whose Adept powers were developing strongly, was close in age to Decius, and the two boys were partners for the occasion.

Zanos and Astra, Melissa and Torio completed their numbers, for Wulfston had returned to his lands two days before.

Ten people rode out against two hundred outlaws, taking no army, no retinue. Their point was precisely to show that the small group could control such large numbers.

Their arrival was perfectly timed. Two of the dead bandits’ horses had found their way back to the camp, prompting the outlaws to send out scouts-who returned to report all the attackers dead while the small party from Zendi had still not entered the area covered by the lookouts for the outlaw camp.

Of the ten, only Lilith and Ivorn could not Read at all. The rest depended on Lenardo’s powers, for while Adept powers could be joined, a group of minor Adepts equaling the powers of a Lord Adept, Reading powers did not combine. Other Readers, though, could link minds with the most powerful Reader in the party, and Read everything he could.

Lenardo was the most powerful Reader in the history of the Aventine Academy system-although the incredible growth of his powers had come only in the past two years, after he had left that system to interact with the savages. He could Read over great distances without leaving his body, and could discern the finest of distinctions in things so small as to be invisible to the eye. Not even other Master Readers could get a lie past him, and he had achieved the legendary ability to Read without being Read in return.

And besides all that, he had learned to use Adept powers-at least to a limited extent, just as Aradia had learned to Read, although with little distance or discernment. As she exceeded the abilities of any Adept in memory, together they made the most formidable pair ever to rule in the savage lands. Fortunately, neither of them had been raised to be a tyrant, and together they were working toward a government that would allow their people some say in their lives without thinking their leaders vulnerable.