Alhafra…

Felix barely managed to wait until Ivan had ensured that there were no eavesdroppers near their room before exploding.

“Damn that greedy bastard and his fat, money-grubbing fingers!”

Garet and Ivan regarded the normally quiet young man with some surprise.  Such outbursts were quite unlike him.  “Felix, it’s to be expected that passage on a ship to Lemuria would be expensive,” Ivan began, trying to soothe him, but their unofficial party leader would have none of it.

“He’s jacking the price up deliberately!” the Slayer snarled.  “Who’d think he’d still blame me because Briggs stole a ship that was no longer his?  Especially as there wasn’t a whole lot I could have done about it!”

Garet and Ivan wisely held their peace as Felix continued to rant, allowing him to get it out of his system, before Garet asked mildly, “Alex doesn’t realise we’re here, right?”  Felix nodded, opening his mouth, but Garet cut him off, asking Ivan.  “How far will we be set back if we catch a ship in another town?”

The Sorcerer smiled slowly, “Only a day, maybe two at best… and wouldn’t you say Briggs owes you a favour, Felix?”

The anger drained from Felix’s face.  “Yes… yes, he does.  And we have the advantage of knowing where Alex is going, as well as surprise.”

Garet leapt to his feet.  “Then what are we waiting for?” the Hero demanded.  “Let’s hightail it to Champa already!”

-§­§­§­§­§­

Somewhere near the middle of the Eastern Sea…

Alex stared idly out at the horizon before him, where he fancied he could – however barely – make out Lemuria.  It was only an idle fancy, as he knew full well the blasted fog obscured everything more than fifty yards away and would last until they passed into the Sea of Time.  The Imilite was hard-pressed to contain his glee – he had never been to Lemuria before, and the mere thought of the libraries the city-state must contain made his mouth water.

Surely one of the books would contain the secret to regaining his lost power.  He knew already that he would need at least one Adept of each element to gain access again to the Lighthouses.  Stumbling across Gale had been a lucky break he’d not anticipated, and welcome enough that he could ignore the boy’s age of fourteen – after all, Sheba had been his age when Saturos and Menardi had kidnapped her, nearly two years ago now.

Alex sighed.  Damn Menardi anyway, for interrupting Kraden’s tale of an Alchemist who had lost his power.  Granted, he’d never thought then he’d need information like that, but then again, he’d never anticipated losing his power….

His right hand clenched into a fist as he again recalled his disastrous encounter with the Wise One.  That power had been his by right!  And he had grasped it for a few short, glorious moments, until that damned cyclopean rock had stolen not only his new power, but all his Psynergy as well!  It just wasn’t fair!

Aware that he was stewing in rage that would do him no good – and that his hand was beginning to hurt – Alex forced himself to calm down.  He was well on the way to recovering his Psynergy, if not the full power of the Golden Sun, with three of the four Adepts needed at his side and not a day’s travel from the place where he would learn all he needed to restore himself.  And to think he owed it all to a Valan named Rose.

Had she not found him and cared for him over the long months needed for his recovery, Alex knew full well that he would have died.  As it was, he owed the young girl his life… and had instead convinced her to come with him on a quest that might full well cost her her own.  Not only that, she had accepted all responsibility for the lycanthrope Gale and had done much to tame the warrior Blaze.  She’ll make some man a fine wife… if she lives that long.

Blaze and Gale were easy enough to control – Blaze was questing for glory so he might court some high-ranking girl in his home village, and Gale was happy as long as Rose was there to mother him.  Ah, but Rose… he had no hold at all on the girl, and this vexed him.  It meant she was free to leave him at any time, and if she left, he didn’t doubt he’d lose his Jupiter Adept as well.  She was happy enough for the moment, but Alex knew that young females were often subject to wild mood swings at the most random of times.

And all this brooding was doing him no good.  Alex shook his head and went inside.

-§­§­§­§­§­

Lemuria…

Piers was beyond bored.

The long-lived Lemurians often took life slowly, but he hadn’t understood how slowly until his return home after the lighting of the Mars Lighthouse.  Utterly amazing – he had been gone for little more than a year, barely an eyeblink to his people, and yet so much had happened in that short span of time.  To return to lazy Lemuria, where decades might pass without anything of note happening, was nothing short of torture.

The only upshots of this were that not only was Lord Conservato ignoring him these days, he now had more time to spend with his young daughter.  Sometimes Piers rather felt that the only reason he’d been allowed back home was because of his contribution to the female half of Lemuria’s child population – it was hoped he might sire another child.  Perhaps if his wife hadn’t died soon after the girl’s birth…

Piers?

The voice in his head was young, male, uncertain, and sounded like Ivan.  Startled, he nearly tripped while going down the stairs leading to the docks.  “Wha—Ivan!?”

Don’t turn around! the boy ordered.  I’m not in Lemuria.  And don’t speak, either – just thinking is enough.

Ivan, what--?

Hama calls it Telepathy.  It’s like a long-range version of Mind Read.  Kind of.  Look, I can’t keep this up very long, so just listen to me.  Alex is alive – and at this, Piers did stumble and fall down the stairs.  Fortunately, there were only two steps left – and he seems to be gathering Adepts.  We think.  Piers could somehow sense that Ivan’s ‘we’ included Felix and Garet.  He’s travelling with a Venus Adept and a Mars Adept, at any rate.  And some kid.  We’re on the boat just behind him, but he’s ahead of us by a couple days.  Could you keep him or his pet Adepts in Lemuria when they get there?

Without warning, the contact was gone, leaving Piers with the Migraine from Hell.

chapter the third

-§­§­§­§­§­

Kolima…

“… let me get this straight,” Menardi said sweetly.

Jacob knew the danger signs by now and had vanished the moment Menardi had smiled at Saturos.  The male Proxian vaguely wished he could follow suit as his partner continued, “You knew Alex was heading toward Lemuria, and you marched us in the opposite direction!?”

Saturos winced, but her reaction hadn’t been entirely unanticipated.  Calmly, he replied, “Yes.  As much as I hate admitting it, neither of us is in any condition to fight four Adepts, let alone Alex on his own,” if he’d even deign to dirty his hands by battling us.  Menardi opened her mouth to protest, but Saturos didn’t give her the chance.  “Besides which, we should return to Prox and let our people know we survived.  We owe them that much.”

Menardi reluctantly acquiesced, and Saturos barely managed to hide his relief that she hadn’t questioned him further.  There was another reason he intended to head to Prox by way of Vale – he, too, recalled Kraden’s tale, and he though he had a pretty good idea as to why Alex had gathered a trio of Adepts with differing elements.  Felix had to be warned, and Saturos needed to get the rest of the story from Kraden…

“Jacob?” Menardi asked, intruding on Saturos’ thoughts.  The Proxian came to reality with a jolt to see their young companion doubled over in front of them, gasping for breath.  “What is it?”

“There’s… two girls… to see you,” he reported between gasps of air.  “Said they… wanted to… talk.”

“Who?” Menardi demanded, reaching for her scythe.

“Dunno.  Never… met ‘em before.  Said… their names were… Sheba and Mia.”

Saturos drew his sword reflexively, his red eyes narrowed.  It was Menardi, oddly enough, who stayed his hand.  “A healer and a mind-reader are less likely to attack,” she told him softly.  The other Mars Adept nodded and sheathed his weapon – he recalled his two fights with the Mia girl.  She had been reluctant to fight.

“We’ll talk,” he told Jacob.  The boy nodded and raced back down to the Inn’s first floor.  Alone, Saturos and Menardi came to an unspoken accord, keeping their weapons close to hand in case this talk turned out to be an attack.

They needn’t have worried.

Sheba and Mia, when Jacob led them into the room, were both unarmed, though Saturos could see that both of their Djinni-belts – how he despised those little elemental creatures – were full.  So, they truly came in peace, but were not fool enough to come undefended.

Ares, Sheba has grown!

Actually, he realised, there was a subtle difference about both of the girls, a difference in how they carried themselves.  They seemed more confident.  Interesting.

The blonde opened the conversation.  “So,” she said, “Master Hama was right.  You survived.”

A shared glance indicated that Menardi would speak for them as Sheba seemed to be speaking for herself and Mia.  Saturos took a seat and indicated that the women should do the same, Jacob having disappeared again on some random task.   As Sheba and Menardi began discussing travel plans, and arguing over whether or not the Angel and the Sorcerer would be accompanying them, Mia and Saturos moved away and ignored them.

“How is it you’re alive?” Mia asked quietly.  “After the battle, you were so weak… and then you fell down the middle of the Lighthouse.  We thought for sure that the fall had killed you!”

Saturos sighed.  “Honestly, I don’t know.  The last thing I remember before waking up was falling from the Aerie.  When I woke up, Menardi and I had somehow survived.  I’m not sure how.”

Mia accepted this.  “And the boy who greeted us?  You didn’t kidnap him like you did Sheba, did you?”

Saturos didn’t take offence.  He just smiled and said, “Jacob saved us both.  He hid us from the soldiers of Tolbi and nursed us back to health.”

Mia blinked.  “That’s odd… I didn’t sense any Psynergy from him…”

“He doesn’t have any.  He used herbs and potions until we regained enough strength for Menardi to heal me.”  Saturos smiled fondly.  “He asked to come with us – he’s an orphan, so Lalivero really didn’t hold much for him.”

Mia nodded, hiding her smile behind her hand.  Felix was right – the two Proxians really weren’t that bad.

-§­§­§­§­§­

Lemuria…

Rain didn’t like Lord Conservato at all, but she had to admit he was at least predictable.  Ever since Lemuria had opened for trade, Conservato had turned up at her father’s home to whine and complain every day a ship was due.  Rain had stayed to listen once, and had gotten lost amidst the accusations of ruining Lemurian culture, consorting with short-lived hoodlums, and worries that thieves would make off with priceless Lemurian artefacts.  When Conservato began to repeat himself, her father had caught her eye and sent her off to play with her friend Rio.

Now, as soon as the knocking came on their door three hours after dawn on ship days, Rain would slip out the back door to avoid a lecture from the Senate leader on respecting her elders and the duties of youth and meet Rio at the docks to wait for the ship to come in.  The two young Lemurians loved watching the sailors and tradesmen unloading their wares and setting up shops in a lesser-used area of the harbour – foreign tradesmen were not yet allowed to sell in the city itself, a restriction her father was fighting to overturn.

On the other hand, Rain and Rio had discovered that if they hung out around the ships long enough, the captains would pay them to run messages to various Senators or favoured customers, so this worked out for them.

This time, however, the ship carried passengers other than merchants – four people, one of whom had the darkest skin Rain had ever seen.  The apparent leader had hair as blue as any Lemurian’s, a fact that made the girl’s breath catch in her throat.  This man was talking quietly to a girl with brown hair, while the dark man was keeping an eye on a boy with dusky blond hair.

Rain was distracted from her observations by a merchant who wanted them to carry a message to Senator Frost for him.  After a quick discussion, Rio dashed off with the message, leaving Rain to watch the unloading – until a hand tapped her shoulder gently.

Startled, the girl turned to see a the brunette lady smiling down at her.  “Excuse me,” the lady said, “but could you show us where your library is?”

Rain considered this.  She knew foreign merchants couldn’t enter Lemuria, but this woman and her friends, while not merchants, were foreigners.  On the other hand, however, her father had brought strangers into the city proper…  “Sure!” she replied, grinning back at the lady, who looked over to her companions.

“Alex!” she called.  “I’ve found us a guide!”

The other three foreigners came their way, causing Rain to realise that the blond boy wasn’t much older than she was.   Daddy was right, she thought, amazed.  Foreigners have more children than we do.  I wonder what it would be like having others my age to play with…  The daughter of Admiral Piers smiled up at the strangers, giving no trace of her thoughts away.  “Follow me, please!”

She led them up to the main part of Lemuria; fortunately, most Lemurians were asleep at this time of day, so the streets were mainly deserted.  The only people who were awake were traders, and they were all headed to the dock.  Rain let out a soft sigh of relief when they reached the library without incident, and she begged the quartet, “Please try to be unobtrusive – we don’t get many foreigners in Lemuria.”

The blue-haired man – Alex – nodded and ordered, “Blaze, Gale, you stay with our young guide here.  Ask her to show you around.  Rose, I’ll need your help.”  The lady nodded, following Alex inside the library. 

Left alone, the boy and the dark man looked around helplessly, then at Rain, who smiled brightly at them.  “Come with me – I’ll show you the Lemuria Fountain!”

Bemused, the two youngsters followed her.

“What is it we’re looking for, Alex?” Rose asked him softly. 

The Imilite was silent for a moment, then replied, “Look for books regarding legends, and regaining lost power.  I’ll do the same.”

They passed several quiet hours in this manner, until someone cleared their throat.  Man and girl looked up to see an angry-looking older man with six armed guards.

“Who are you?” the older man demanded, glaring at them.  “Who said you foreigners could come here and steal away our most precious secrets?”

Alex calmly closed his book and raised a blue eyebrow at the man.  “What sort of fool would write his most precious secret in a book, where all and sundry may view it?” he asked with a slight smile.  He didn’t like the looks of this at all.

“Foreigners are not allowed in the city proper!” the man exclaimed, ignoring Alex’s question. 

So, that would mean the answer is politics.  I hate politics.  “I do apologise,” the Mercury adept said politely.  “I was only aware that merchants were forbidden here.  As you can see, we are naught but humble tourists,” and when the world is mine, you are going to suffer for this.

The man snorted.  “I doubt that!  I know who you are, insolent puppy!  Deny that you are he who would claim the Golden Sun!”

Alex didn’t even blink, regarding the man with an honest gaze.  “The Golden Sun?  Sounds a bit impossible to claim, don’t you think?” Unfortunately, his lie didn’t work.

“Get them!” the man ordered.

Alex grabbed Rose by the arm and pulled her out of the way.  “Run for it, Rose!” he yelled at her.

The girl didn’t waste time arguing.  She bolted past the old man; when two guards got in her way, she slammed her hand into the ground and cried, “Mad Growth!”  Alex watched her escape, well-pleased with her quick thinking.  The diversion she had just created had enabled him to slip the book he had been reading into his tunic.

Those guards not tangled up in Rose’s vines surrounded him, and Alex raised his hand in surrender, hiding a smile.