Rejji looked at his brother with a questioning gaze. Bakhai smiled and shrugged.
“Then let him begin his studies immediately,” replied Rejji.
Yltar bowed and hurriedly ushered Bakhai out of the room. Within minutes they were seated in the library of the temple, and Yltar unrolled an ancient scroll and handed it to Bakhai.
“Read it over first,” instructed Yltar, “and then I will explain what it is talking about. This is not the type of spell that I would prefer to start your training with, but we have little choice in the matter.”
A few moments later, Bakhai shook his head and handed the scroll back to Yltar. “It makes no sense at all to me,” Bakhai confessed. “I do not even understand what the writer is trying to say.”
“That is understandable,” smiled Yltar. “The scroll assumes a great deal of prior knowledge. That is why I said that it was not appropriate for a beginning student, but I can explain it to you. It will just take a fair amount of time. Push all thoughts from your mind. Nothing exists outside this room, and that must remain so for the duration of today’s lesson. Can you do that?”
“I can,” nodded Bakhai. “Many times I do that when I must make a decision about something. Do you think you can really explain this spell to me?”
“Over time,” sighed Yltar, “I am sure that you would learn to understand what is being said in the scroll, but even that understanding would not mean that you are capable of casting the spell. Truthfully, I have little hope that you can learn it by morning, but we will try regardless. My words to Rejji were truthful; his decision regarding the Jiadin is of the utmost importance. Let us begin.”
Yltar and Bakhai worked through the day and into the night. Both of them became thoroughly frustrated in Bakhai’s inability to discern a lie when Yltar spoke. Fatigued by exhaustion and hunger, Yltar called a halt to the lesson.
“I am sorry, Yltar,” sighed Bakhai. “I was trying. Truly, I was.”
“I know, Bakhai,” Yltar nodded with a taut smile. “Do not blame yourself. There is no Qubari shaman alive who can successfully cast this spell. I was wrong to expect you to be able to.”
“But it is so important,” frowned Bakhai. “I feel as though I have let the Astor down.”
“Do not feel that way,” Yltar replied distractedly as Mobi appeared in the doorway with a plate of food. “Perhaps some food will allow us to continue. Or should we quit and get a few hours sleep before the dawn arrives?”
“We shall continue,” Bakhai declared stubbornly.
“Not without a bite to eat,” smiled Mobi as he slid the tray onto the table in front of Bakhai.
The tray was piled with dry sticks of meat and assorted fruits. Yltar reached over and snared a banana as Bakhai bit into a piece of meat.
“Bringing food was very thoughtful of you, Mobi,” smiled Yltar. “Thank you.”
“I just happened to be roaming the halls and thought you would like a bite to eat,” Mobi shrugged modestly.
Bakhai dropped his meat and stared at the warrior. His face creased heavily, and his eyes narrowed in confusion. Yltar noticed the reaction and slowly removed the banana from his mouth.
“What is the matter, Bakhai?” the shaman asked with concern. “Does the meat not agree with you?”
“Why did you really bring the food?” Bakhai asked Mobi.
Mobi blinked and shook his head. “What do you mean?”
“Why did you really bring us food?” repeated Bakhai. “Do not lie.”
Mobi clearly did not understand what was going on. His eyes bounced from Yltar to Bakhai, and he shook his head.
“Rejji asked me to check in on you until you were done,” explained Mobi. “You have been in here a long time, and I figured that you would be hungry. Did I do something wrong?”
“So you didn’t just happen to be roaming the halls?” Yltar asked with a grin. “That is what you said, wasn’t it?”
“I guess I did,” shrugged Mobi, “but I meant nothing by it. It was just that the act of bringing you food was not something that required a great deal of thanks. It is nothing. Anyone would do the same for you.”
“But it was still a lie,” smiled Yltar. “A harmless one, perhaps, but a lie nonetheless. What did you feel, Bakhai?”
“It is hard to explain,” Bakhai said excitedly, “but I knew that it was a lie. I knew it.”
“That is excellent!” Yltar grinned happily. “I knew that you could do it if anyone could.”
“But why didn’t it work on you, Yltar?” asked Bakhai. “You have been lying to me all night, and I could not detect it.”
Yltar stood with a look of confusion on his face for several moments before suddenly smiling.
“Of course,” he said with sudden realization. “How could I have been so foolish? One of the first spells a shaman learns is to guard his mind from compulsion spells. Why didn’t I think of that earlier? It is such a basic spell that I never even consciously think of it anymore. It must have been blocking your attempts to determine my truthfulness.”
“Drop your protection and lie to me,” ordered Bakhai.
Mobi watched with interest as the other two men excitedly spoke of their lesson.
“Your father was ugly and stupid,” smiled Yltar.
“Liar!” Bakhai grinned victoriously. “It works. It really works.”
“And we still have time to catch some sleep,” Yltar nodded with joy. “Your father would be very proud to see you today, Bakhai. You will become the greatest Qubari shaman in centuries. It will take a lot of work on your part, but your talents are amazing. The beginner’s spells will be like playing around after you have already mastered a spell such as this one. Finish your food and let’s get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day for both of us.”
Bakhai nodded and grinned broadly. He knew without a doubt that the words of praise just given by the head shaman were sincere. He would have detected it if they had been lies.
* * *
Wyant led the Jiadin through the forest east of the mountain pass. They rounded a bend, and Wyant immediately halted. Harmagan rode up alongside the Marshal of Fakara and stared at the three men blocking the trail.
“He is King Rejji!” exclaimed Harmagan. “I saw him fly over Vandegar on the back of a dragon.”
“I had expected to be met,” Wyant addressed Rejji, “but I expected tribesmen to be the welcoming committee, and I expected it yesterday.”
“It is more fitting that I meet any Jiadin entering these lands,” replied Rejji. “Why have they come?”
“They have come to rejoin their brothers of the tribes,” smiled Wyant. “Harmagan is the leader from Meliban. I promised to bring six of them to Angragar. The rest I have let leave the city. They now roam the western plains of Fakara.”
Rejji looked at Bakhai and Yltar alongside him, and saw no need to disbelieve the Marshal of Fakara.
“Well met, Harmagan,” greeted Rejji. “Have you truly put your Jiadin thoughts behind you?”
“I have,” nodded Harmagan as he bowed slightly to the King of Fakara. “I know that Wyant’s word is not good enough to allow us entry into Angragar, but I beseech you to allow us to see the city. My men and I are truly ready to rejoin the brotherhood. We have been foolish and greedy over the past few years. I could make a thousand excuses for our past behavior, but I do not wish to start our reunion with lies. If you are willing to forgive our past, we are willing to fight and die for Fakara. We only ask that we be allowed to die with honor befitting a tribesman.”
“And why does seeing Angragar mean so much to you?” asked the Astor.
“Angragar is the symbol of greed that has plagued the tribes for generations,” explained Harmagan. “Wyant tells me that the treasures of Angragar are not gold and riches, but truth and enlightenment. If this is true, it will forever prove to my men that the tales told by Grulak and the others were lies. We will be able to see the folly of our past paths.”
“The riches of Angragar are indeed truth and enlightenment,” smiled Rejji as he glanced at Bakhai. “Harmagan, I offer to lead you to the lost city of Angragar. Introduce me to the rest of your men so that I might also extend an invitation to each of them personally.”