Gwaynn led them to a small cluster of chairs and they took their seats without a word.
“Tar Nev trained you,” Monde said, though because it was not framed as a question, Gwaynn simply sat quietly and made no answer.
Monde pursed her lips and glanced once more at na Gall.
“I can assume he is also a Traveler,” she added, needing to know, needing to be sure. If Nev could Travel, he might be the explanation to the High King’s sudden and deadly attack on the inhabitants of the Isle of Light.
Gwaynn shrugged.
“I would like to know,” Monde insisted.
“He never Traveled in my presence, nor trained me in the art of Traveling during my time with him. What I know of Traveling I learned from Zarina na Gall,” Gwaynn answered.
Monde frowned. “The High King tried to wipe out the Travelers. He killed many of us including the High Zarina Aleecia. I need to know why. If Tar Nev can Travel…”
Gwaynn remained silent for a time and cursed his moment of weakness with na Gall all those weeks ago.
“Jess tells me you’ve admitted that Tar Nev can Travel, perhaps other Tars from Noble can as well,” Monde continued. “It would explain why they never allowed any Travelers to stay on their island until…”
Gwaynn grimaced, not wanting to lie outright to the High Zarina, but he promised Nev that he would keep this secret close. “Tar Nev never Traveled in front of me.”
“But he can Travel?”
Gwaynn shrugged once more. “You will have to ask him that question.”
Monde frowned once more and drummed her fingers on the table.
“I would like you to Travel for me,” she stated, shocking Gwaynn, and he thought for a moment to simply Travel by means of the twenty-nine steps of concentration. She would be able to garner no information by that.
“Please,” Monde finally said going soft. It was the perfect tactic with Gwaynn, who groaned inwardly, feeling suddenly shameful. If not for Jess na Gall’s help, Samantha might not be alive today. He felt a great deal of loyalty to Tar Nev but he also wanted to help the High Zarina.
“We have helped you and Massi,” the Zarina continued as if reading his mind. “We will continue to help you and Massi.”
Gwaynn smiled ruefully and nodded. “We appreciate and honor your aid,” he said, meaning it. “If you wish, I will Travel,” he added, deciding on the spot to manipulate time to give this woman a true measure of his ability…and therefore Tar Nev’s. “But if I do, I would like you to do something for me as well.”
Monde smiled for the first time, then laughed and touched Jess na Gall’s hand which was resting on the table. “You are right about him,” was all she said and made no attempt to explain the statement to Gwaynn.
“What is it you wish?” the High Zarina asked.
“I would like you to take me to Noble Island.”
Monde blinked in surprise and gave another nervous laugh.
“I think we need a few more allies on our side,” Gwaynn explained, “and I think it’s past time.”
This time na Gall laughed, and Gwaynn turned his eyes on her. “I would like you to go to Parma. I need the Cassinni as well.”
Jess’ mouth popped open for a moment then she snapped it shut and looked to her High Zarina. “I warned you…I told you,” she insisted.
Monde chuckled softly. “Come Gwaynn. We will trust you with the strategy. Please show me how you Travel.”
Gwaynn smiled and stood up, but as he did so his mind accelerated and his concentration focused on slowing time. In the moment it took for him to fully rise up and stand before the two Travelers, time was already beginning to shift. The women’s movements were becoming sluggish, seconds later all was quiet and still. Gwaynn took a moment to admire Jess na Gall in the firelight. She was truly a beautiful woman, made even more so by the soft light. He smiled and then went to work. He raised his hand and began the twenty-nine steps to create a bridge, but this time, only to the other side of the room. When all was ready he released time, popped open the bridge and moved through.
The two women gasped loudly in astonishment, Gwaynn could hear their shocked breathing clearly though he was now on the far side of the room. He began to walk back toward them, ignoring the pangs of hunger rumbling in his mid-section and was acutely aware of the wild look of wonder in their eyes. To the two Travelers, the entire process was instantaneous. One moment Gwaynn stood before them and then he was across the room. The bridge appeared the split second after he stood; there was no delay and no twenty-nine steps. He was with them and then he was through the bridge and gone.
“You never said…”
“I never knew,” Jess insisted.
“She never knew,” Gwaynn repeated and sat back down at the table. Monde looked at him, still breathing rapidly.
“And yes, Tar Nev can Travel,” he admitted softly, finally tired of evading her questions. Nev would just have to forgive him.
“I’m hungry,” Gwaynn added and looked about for food.
ǂ
“We cannot give them time to build greater strength!” Arden, the newly crowned King of the Deutzani said. “We have to attack…soon.”
High King Mastoc smiled slightly and glanced at Low Hothgaard, Captain of the Temple Knights. “So attack,” Mastoc said simply.
Arden glared at the High King for a moment, but kept his cool and sat down.
“I was not jesting,” the High King added after a moment. “Take back Solarii and then move down the finger of Massi and threaten Lynndon.”
Arden frowned and looked to Ja Brude, whose face remained infuriatingly blank.
“We do not have the men,” Arden finally said, looking away from his chief advisor. Perhaps it was time to replace the man. Brude had a tendency to disappear when truly tough decisions had to be made.
Mastoc shrugged. Hothgaard and King Weldon of the Palmerrio smiled at Arden’s discomfort, only King Donnish Rhondono showed the slightest sympathy for the young Deutzani King’s position. “You will attack Lynndon in two weeks time,” the High King commanded. “If you do not have the strength to take the town, you obviously do not have the strength to rule the Massi.”
Arden was about to speak when Ja Brude reached out and placed a hand on his forearm. “To what end do we attack?” he asked and nodded for his young King to be seated. After a moment Arden complied and looked to Mastoc for an answer.
“We’ll attempt to draw Prince Gwaynn out of Manse,” Mastoc said. “My spies tell me the Scar city will not be easy to take. We’ll need to outthink the Massi, force them out onto the plains, or better yet face them on the flats of the Plateau.”
“And if he comes for me,” Arden asked boldly. “Where will you be?”
Ja Brude held his breath at such recklessness. Arsinol was never so, not even when he was young. The High King however, laughed and moved to a large map showing all the lands of the Inland Sea. The map dominated the western wall of the great hall and everyone in the room stood and moved with the King to study it closer.
“I will be here,” the King said and pointed to the King’s Island. He laughed again, nothing it seemed could touch his good mood now that the majority of the Toranado fleet was at the bottom of the sea, “but Captain Hothgaard and my Temple Knights will be on troopships…here,” Mastoc explained, “ready to land on the plains northeast of Cape and move against the Massi rear if they are foolish enough to move against Lynndon.”
“We must not underestimate the Toranado navy at Cape,” Admiral Blakely of the Palmerrio cautioned while studying the map. He did not relish the thought of trying to get nearly a hundred troop ships passed the enemy triremes. Diminished or not, surprised or not, the Toranado navy was yet a threat. For centuries the Toranado were the finest, most well trained sailors on the Inland Sea and such a distinction did not disappear with one defeat.