"It's quite simple," Vorden said. "Timlin will stand on one side of you, and I'll stand on the other. I'll say something, and he'll say the opposite-like light and dark, for instance. And while we say it, we'll tap you on the shoulders. Maybe you just need a little help to get your mind focused."
"Okay," said Lannon, standing up. "I guess I have nothing to lose."
Vorden stood on one side of Lannon, and Timlin on the other. They agreed to use red and green as their words-Knightly colors.
"Get ready, Timlin," said Vorden. "When I signal you, say red, and I'll try to say green at the same time. And as you say it, tap Lannon's shoulder. Okay, here goes."
He signaled to Timlin and yelled "Red!"
"Green!" Vorden said an instant later, and Lannon's shoulders were tapped at exactly the same time.
For a moment Lannon felt dizzy and lightheaded. Then the feeling vanished and he was left wondering if it had actually existed at all.
"I think I felt something," he said. "But I'm not sure."
"We were way out of time on our words," said Vorden. "We need to keep trying until we get it right. Let's do it again, Timlin."
For nearly an hour, the boys tried to get their timing down. At first they were always just a little off on their words or else on their taps, but eventually they got it almost perfect. Each time the words or the taps were done at exactly the same time, Lannon felt lightheaded and dizzy, and he grew more excited with each attempt.
Then his mind suddenly split, and he became aware of two things at once. He was seeing a block of red in his mind and a block of green-not side-by-side or blended (as anyone might be able to view them), but as something else. They were solid entities that he could view carefully without distraction-and they existed in different halves of his being. He felt like he was divided in two. Then, from the gap that existed between his two selves, a force pushed its way out. Like a living extension of Lannon's will, it reached out and probed wherever he commanded it. It fell upon Vorden and Timlin, and he saw things that caused his throat to tighten.
Lannon saw that Vorden was dark in spirit and given to a strange road that could destroy him and all others who got too close. Timlin was innocent-cloaked in white-yet underneath lurked a sharp and deadly bite, waiting in surprise for those who could not glimpse it.
Horrified by what he saw, Lannon drew the Eye back inside him. His selves merged again into one, and the gateway was sealed.
"What happened?" Vorden asked him.
Unsure of what he should tell them, Lannon hesitated for a few moments. At last he said, "The Eye of Divinity came out, I think. But I didn't like what it showed me. It seemed like it was probing for secrets in both of you."
"Well, that's probably what it does!" Vorden said excitedly, clutching Lannon's shoulder so hard the boy winced. "It reveals hidden motives and strengths and weaknesses!"
"We should tell Master Garrin!" Timlin said.
"Right," said Vorden, walking over to the window and opening the shutters. The wind howled against the tower, and a puff of glittering snowflakes blew in on him. He seemed deep in thought for a time. At last he turned and spoke. "Not just yet, I think. We need to experiment some more-find out if it's truly the Eye and not something else."
"It has to be the Eye," said Lannon, sitting back down on the bed. "What else could it be?" Lannon shivered, and he drew his blanket around him. "Close the window, Vorden. I'm freezing." At last he had completed his elusive task, yet he felt little sense of accomplishment. He'd needed help from others, so had he truly succeeded? And the Eye had shown him things-whether true or not-that he had been ill prepared to witness.
Vorden shrugged. "It could be dark sorcery, or Knightly Essence. Who knows? I just think we should make sure. I've been doing some thinking…."
Vorden closed the thick shutters and turned to Lannon. He lowered his voice to a whisper. "You know that door down below-the one marked Old Keep? I know it's forbidden and all, but I don't see what harm it would do to go down there and have a look around."
"I don't like that idea at all!" said Lannon, stunned that Vorden would even suggest such a thing. "If we were caught, we could be cast from the Order. And you heard what Cordus Landsaver said about creatures lurking down there."
"But the Divine Essence is down there as well," said Vorden. "And I've been having dreams about it. I think it's calling to me."
Timlin's mouth dropped open. "Vorden, why didn't you tell Master Garrin you were having such dreams?"
Vorden frowned "Why do we have to tell Master Garrin everything, Timlin? This is something between the Divine Essence and me. I want to find out what my dreams truly mean, like Kuran Darkender did. Yet I'm afraid to go down there alone." He sighed, his dark eyes taking on a pleading look. "I need your help. The Knights would never allow me to venture down in the mines, dreams or not."
Lannon glanced at Timlin, and then back to Vorden. "I'm just worried we'll get caught, or worse-get killed down there."
"We'll take it slow and be extra careful," said Vorden. "If we see any signs of danger, we'll turn back. Besides, I honestly don't think there is any danger down there now. The Knights probably killed the creatures long ago, and they just say there's still some down there to keep people from seeing the Divine Essence. After all, why shouldn't everyone be allowed to see it? I think that's a rule based on pointless greed."
"But what if we're caught?" said Lannon.
"We'd certainly be in trouble," said Vorden. "But I think they'd forgive us. After all, you have the Eye of Divinity-which they seem to value greatly. And Timlin and me helped you summon it. Without us, you can't use it. They might punish us, but I doubt we'd be thrown out. Besides, we're Blue Squires. They won't catch us."
"I don't know," said Lannon, shaking his head slowly. He was thinking of what the Eye had shown him about Vorden and not liking any of this one bit. "I just don't think I can do it, Vorden."
For an instant, Vorden's face reddened with anger. "Very well, then. Be a coward. Maybe the other Squires are right about you, Lannon. Maybe you don't deserve to be Blue. Maybe you should've been picked for Orange. And some thanks I get for helping you use that stupid Eye thing. See if I ever help you again! "With that, Vorden yanked his boots off, lay down on his bed, and turned away.
Lannon stared helplessly at Timlin, feeling horrible inside and wondering what he could do. Vorden had been a true friend to him-someone he could look up to-and now it seemed he was going to lose that friendship forever. But the risks of what Vorden proposed were dastardly.
Timlin could only shrug in his meek, annoying way.
***
As Lannon lay in bed, staring up at the maze of wooden beams and cobwebs that crisscrossed the ceiling, he began to doubt his decision. Vorden had indeed helped him to unlock the Eye, and more importantly, Vorden had been a true friend to him from the start. How could Lannon just turn his back on him? But how could he ignore all his instincts and common sense and go along with Vorden's mad plan? Lannon certainly wanted to see the Divine Essence for himself-but not at such a risk.
Lannon thought he would not be able to sleep that night, which was not good-since training would resume again early in the morning. (Training now took place two days in a row with one day of rest afterwards.) His mind was in turmoil, yet beneath all the gloomy thoughts-buried deep but still very much alive-was a feeling of elation. He had called forth the Eye, and it was indeed powerful. Part of him wondered why he shouldn't just go along with Vorden's plan. If Lannon were truly blessed, the Divine Essence would surely help him make the right decision.
He prayed to it for an answer, and in the midst of that prayer he fell asleep. He dreamt of the Divine Essence in its crystal chamber. Its piercing light fell on him, beckoning him below.