The List Unseen, page 29
part #4 of Second Draeken War Series
"Is Mazer still with you?"
"How did you avoid being caught?"
"You would not believe the uproar you caused."
The last led to a dazzling smile across Siarra's features, and it spread to Ianna. Unwilling to leave, Ianna told her tale—but withheld everything that pertained to the tasks they had completed. Just as she had done a thousand times, she justified the omission. When she finished, Siarra's mouth was agape.
Steeling herself, and before her daughter could recover, Ianna went on to explain that she and Mazer were going to have a child. A sense of pleading crept into Ianna's tone as she spoke. Then she told Siarra that her brother would find her in her fiftieth year.
Unable to bear the confusion and pain on Siarra's face, Ianna looked away. Knowing it was the hardest thing to do, she asked for her daughter's trust. The answer took a long time, and when it did come it was not what she had hoped for.
"I don't understand, Mother. You are giving up everything. Your magic, your calling—their loss means you cannot train me. How could you abandon everything you have ever taught me? How can you leave me alone like this?" Her features tightened and she wouldn't meet Ianna's gaze. In a hard voice, she said, "I will try to trust you when I have forgiven you."
Biting the tears away, Ianna nodded. Then she spoke the final words to her daughter.
"I have raised you to know your role as an oracle. It is vital that you weigh how much you reveal to others. Truth and deception will always be the hallmarks of an oracle's calling, and the hardest part of our heritage."
Taking a deep breath she reached to her neck and removed her pendant. Handing it to Siarra, she said, "This will be the first test of your discretion, for it contains far more knowledge and truth than I have ever shared with you."
Siarra's eyebrows were knit in confusion as she gazed at the small pendant. Carved with a circle inside of a simple triangle, it could have been sold for a pittance at a market. Turning it over, she read the inscription that Ianna had placed the day after Siarra was born.
The greatest Power comes from family.
Hefting it in her hand, Siarra asked, "What do you mean it contains knowledge unless—" understanding lit her eyes. "—This is the Book of Oracles?"
"It is," Ianna said. "Fashioned by Alydian, last of the Eldress council, this book contains the records of all the oracles in our line. The knowledge and history within this stone is beyond priceless, and its very existence must not be revealed to anyone that is not an oracle. If someone of ill intent unlocked it, they would know enough to destroy every living creature in Lumineia. The location of artifacts, ancient cities, and the truth behind long forgotten spells are all hidden inside it."
Ianna swallowed, and then added. "As the Crest of the Oracle, it must be guarded. Do not give it away unless you believe your life is coming to a close."
Siarra's eyes snapped to hers. Piercing and intense, they bore the accusation deep into Ianna's heart.
"Soon," Ianna replied to the unsaid question. "That is why I returned . . . to say goodbye."
Siarra looked away, and then embraced her in a fierce hug, clenching her as if it would prevent her leaving. Neither of them spoke for several minutes. When they separated Ianna rose to her feet, unable to bear the tears in her daughter's eyes.
"Goodbye, my perfect daughter," she whispered. "Know that I will always love you." Then she turned towards the door. As she opened it to leave, Siarra’s question made her stop.
"How do I unlock the book?"
Ianna flashed her a smile that was both sad and fond. "I will give you the same answer that my mother gave to me. Only an oracle can unlock the book's secrets, for an oracle is the only full spectrum mage." She hesitated, and then added, "When you unlock it, read my last entry."
"I will," her daughter answered, her jaw tight with suppressed emotion.
Giving her a short bow, Ianna said, "Good luck in your calling, Oracle of Lumineia."
"Mother," Siarra said, "I do forgive you."
Tears filled Ianna's eyes as she nodded in gratitude. Then she slipped from the room. Descending back the way she had come, she held her emotions in check until she was back in the secret corridor. Then she collapsed to her knees.
And wept.
Chapter 39: Life's End
They spent the winter on the road. No more than a night or two in any one place. From inn to inn they wandered until they reached Tallendale. Leaving the board game they had crafted with a handful of youths, they moved on. Her farsight gone, Ianna could not confirm that the final task would be completed. She'd foreseen only the inn and the children. In time, she could only hope and pray it would reach the Mind.
A month later they ended up at Keese. With Ianna eight months pregnant and without a whisper of magic, they could not afford to be caught. Exhausted and worn from the close calls, they had gone so far as to disguise Ianna's features to avoid detection.
True to the Hunter's word, no elf came after them. Unfortunately they were not the only ones who wanted the Oracle's return. Troops from both human kingdoms, countless ambitious treasure seekers, and even the gnomes had joined the hunt. Worst of all, the thieves guild had come for them—twice.
On each occasion Mazer had defended her, and had killed the last pair in the attempt. Afraid of being caught, Ianna was more than happy to see the city of Keese disappear behind her. The merchant vessel they had boarded would spend three weeks traveling between a number of islands. Then they would set sail for Sri Rosen.
Two days from their destination they were hit by a massive storm. Furious winds and high waves nearly capsized them, and the crew fought to keep them afloat. Without stars or sun to guide them they were forced to rely on the captain's instincts to carry them forward.
Then the contractions began.
Gasping in pain, Ianna clung to the wall of the ship as it leapt and plunged in the chaos. With Mazer at her side she struggled with the pains of childbirth. Panting, she sought Mazer's eyes.
"It's almost over," she said.
He dabbed a wet cloth on her forehead, his expression tight with worry. "I know," he murmured.
"Do you believe we succeeded?" she forced the words out. "Will the nations unite?"
He threw her a tight-lipped smile. "You have always had an impact on those around you. I have little doubt that the races will gather when the time comes. Even after we are gone, the tasks we completed will do their part."
The next contraction assailed her and she clenched her jaw to keep from crying out. When it subsided, she said, "But I never foresaw victory. My farsight was too clouded to see the war's end."
His brow creased as he considered her question. Then he said, "I don't need magic to see the courage of a brother . . . or a mother's wrath when their child is threatened. Our efforts have given mankind a chance to fight, and when the moment comes, I believe that people will stand tall. It is not in them to yield—even to death."
She gripped his hand, breathing through the pain. As it wracked her body she thought of all those that had visited her, seeking aid. Time and again she had witnessed the indomitable spirit of life. Could his words be true?
"But I feel such fear," she whispered. "How can I know they will triumph?"
The ship shuddered and dipped, but Mazer held her fast. "You can't," he said, raising his voice to be heard over the groaning timbers. "But you can have faith in them. Trust Siarra to do what is necessary. Trust the Hunter—" he swallowed and tightened his grip on her "—to raise our son as we would. In the end humanity will be defended by mothers, fathers, brothers, and sisters. As they defend their homes and families victory will be possible."
Her mind turned to her children, and the evil that they would face. Would they survive the war? Or would they perish with so many others? Deep down she knew there was no answer, yet she latched onto Mazer's strength, and tried to believe that they would. She gazed up at him and regretted his presence for the first time. One who had sacrificed so much did not merit such a reward.
"I am sorry, Mazer. You deserved so much more than this."
"I am bound to the one I love," he replied, his eyes wet with emotion. He dug his fingers into a beam as the ship lurched.
She gritted her teeth against another contraction. Regaining her breath, she said, "You would have lived decades more if you had never come to me. Don't you regret that?"
"You are my wife, my family, and the reason I live. A year with you is better than a lifetime without."
"Are you so ready to die?" she hissed, her body quivering in sweat and agony.
His jaw clenched and he turned away. "When I failed to save my brother . . . I thought I was the one who should have died. Not until you did I feel alive again. Where would I go now? What would I return to? Would you have returned to captivity if it meant you lived a longer life?"
She jerked her head. "It was not a life worth living."
His smile was sad as he turned back to her. "To end my life with my chosen companion . . . I can think of no better fate."
She didn't get the chance to answer. Without warning the ship struck a reef. Thrown to the side Ianna lost her grip on Mazer. Striking her skull on a wooden beam she nearly lost consciousness. Regaining her visions she watched in horror as the ship split. In a screeching and snapping of beams the vessel rent in two. With an entire side of the ship shattered, the ocean poured in. In seconds Ianna was swimming.
The storm's fury exploded into the widening gap and Ianna struggled to stay afloat. She cringed as she heard the screams of the sailors above. Torn from the deck, they were sucked into the raging sea that sought to consume their ship. Shuddering from its mortal wound, the boat could not withstand the ocean's might.
Then Mazer appeared at Ianna’s side. Catching her arm he jerked her away from a falling beam. They reached the hatch just as it went underwater. Yanking her onto the deck, he half-dragged them towards the foredeck. With contractions wracking her body, Ianna barely felt the wind and rain lash at her clothes. Clinging to the strength in his arm, she felt the ship disintegrate behind her.
Mazer reached the prow and drew Ianna into a crushing embrace. Planting a bruising kiss onto her lips, he shouted, "Whatever happens, I love you!"
Time slowed. For one long instant Ianna gazed at Mazer, and amidst the mighty hurricane she saw the truth in his eyes. Rigid with determination and love, his will held the terrifying night at bay. Sensing this was the last time she would see him, her tears joined the driving rain.
"I love you too!" she yelled. The wind snatched her words away as Mazer cupped his hands and crouched. Placing her foot into his joined fingers, she leaped the moment he launched her into the air.
Soaring over the reef she dived into the lagoon, cringing as her swollen belly struck the water. Silence crushed her ears but her mind and heart screamed in pain and loss. With tears leaking from her clenched eyes she pushed to the surface and swam for the shore.
She heard the massive snap a heartbeat before something struck her on the head. The next thing she knew she was inside a small hut. Dizzy, she felt like a fog had settled onto her mind. Even the contractions of her belly could not pull her from it. In a daze she heard a voice tell her to push, so she did. After what seemed a long time, she heard a baby's scream.
With fingers of darkness closing on her vision she heard the voice ask her for a name. Somewhere deep inside a resolve clawed its way to the surface. In defiance of the blackness that sought to take her she forced the answer out.
"Taryn Elseerian," she said. "His name is Taryn."
The dark enveloped her. Succumbing to its pull, she felt a smile touch her lips as a sense of triumph blossomed in her thudding heart.
Then she was gone.
Epilogue: Book of Oracles
Siarra sat with her mother's pendant, just as she did every night. Despite her efforts it had failed to reveal its secrets. It was maddening to have spent months trying to unlock it without success. She had examined it from every magical perspective she could think of, but the Crest of the Oracle had not yielded.
She sighed and sank onto her bed. Why was this so difficult? She had attempted everything, so why couldn't she activate it? She tried to recall her mother's exact wording of what to do, but the words gave her little hope. Siarra had labored to solve it for hours just that day, and had gained only an urge to give up. For once she relented.
Still dressed, she allowed the effects of the long day to creep over her. Then, just as sleep hung on the inside of her mind, a thought flitted through her consciousness. The idea was so simple that her eyes snapped open. Could it really be so easy?
"Only an Oracle could unlock the book's secrets," Ianna had said. "For an Oracle is the only full spectrum mage."
She had been so focused on using her magic that she had forgotten what truly made oracle's unique, their farsight. Rising to her feet, she felt her breath quicken at the mere possibility of unlocking the secret book.
Cradling the pendant in her hands, she blinked into her farsight and looked into the next few seconds of her own life. This close to the present the clouds of gray carried various color hues, and the distinct shapes of the furniture in her room were unmistakable. Unlike every other time that she had used her farsight—a person stood in front of her.
And she was meeting Siarra's gaze.
Siarra gasped and lost her focus. In a swirl of fog her magic evaporated, leaving her alone. Her heart hammering at the hint of success she strode to her door and locked it. Returning to her previous position she again examined the pendant with her farsight.
Returning in a flourish of silk and color, the female elf stood as she had before, staring back at Siarra with a faint smile on her lips. Although not formed of flesh, the image bore a solidity that made it appear so. Dressed in a flowing gown, the elf displayed a sense of regal humility that felt familiar to Siarra. Then she realized that it was the same way that Ianna had always carried herself.
"Who are you," she wondered aloud—and jumped when the image answered.
"I am Alydian, creator of the Book of Oracles."
"When did you live?" Siarra asked, stunned that she stood before one of the ancients.
"I lived in the age of oracles, and sat on the Eldress Council. With the other four, we governed mages from every guild."
"Until the betrayer," Siarra said, recalling her mother's teachings.
The shade's expression darkened. "Yes, until the betrayer. Enlisting the aid of the powerful guild of Verinai, her quest for power resulted in the deaths of herself and the other three bloodlines. I alone survived."
"Are you alive?"
"No, I am a memory entombed in magic. In our age the oracles could gather within our farsight and combine our magics to expand our power. This is but an echo of that ability."
"So you tell history?"
"That is my purpose, but I can only speak for the time when I stood among the living."
"What about after you?"
"The other oracles can speak for their own times."
Siarra felt a chill so real she shivered. "May I speak with Ianna?"
"As you wish," Alydian said with a bow. Evaporating, she was replaced by Ianna. Dressed in her favorite blue gown her mother stood as if she had never left.
"Mother," Siarra said, resisting the impulse to reach for her.
"I am Ianna Elsheeria," the shade answered as if she did not recognize her.
Siarra felt a pang of sorrow. Of course the shade would not know her. Remembering Ianna's last words, she asked, "What is your last entry?"
Ianna swept a hand towards her and a dais appeared between them. On it rested a book that had been opened to the last page. Taking a step forward she read the words as her mother spoke them.
"This will be my last entry before I pass this book to my daughter, Siarra. Even now I feel the first stirrings of my second child and my farsight has begun to fade. I believe that my most recent dream will be my last.
"In my vision I saw time unroll like a scroll, and I witnessed many events impact the world we protect. I have recorded what I foresaw here, that all future oracles may be warned of the destruction that awaits them. Draeken, the Lord of Chaos is not dead. Nearly ten thousand years ago he sought to destroy the world, and we thought he had been slain by the hero Lakonus. Unknown to any, he was merely imprisoned. Soon he will be released, and again unleash his army.
"I have spent a year preparing the world for the Second Draeken War, but the survival of the races will depend on much more than my efforts. It is only through an unprecedented unity that life has a chance to endure. To that end I ask my daughter to conceal the truth of her knowledge, as every oracle must, for only when the end is coming will the races have cause to gather.
"When my daughter's brother appears it will be time to reveal the truth. Then—and only then—will the divided races of Lumineia consider uniting."
"So I must lie?" Siarra interrupted, returning her gaze to Ianna.
"Every oracle must consider what to divulge," Ianna said, a sadness pulling at her expression. "It is unfortunate that sometimes a powerful truth can do more damage than deceit. The decision of what to share, and when, is a burden that all oracles share."
Siarra frowned at that, but returned to the text before her. As she continued Ianna's voice finished the passage.
"Although our tasks have given the world its chance, victory is far from assured. The heroism of every race must rise to the surface. It will not be enough for heroes and leaders to fight. Soldiers, mothers, farmers, and even children will be forced to leave pride and tradition behind . . . or witness the end of every sentient life in Lumineia.
"—But know this. If Draeken is defeated, it will not be the end. His army will be returned to its realm, imprisoned for another ten thousand years. Many events will change our world before that time, and the birth of oracles will become less frequent. Deprived of our sight, a great war between mages and non-mages will erupt. It will change the landscape forever, and mages will go into hiding to survive.
