While Sagi and Setoni watched, Leontok came in behind them. Asok stood beside him and Asokin behind him again. Asok's face was as inscrutable as ever, his eyes fixed to the child bent over the white-faced figure. If Soji's mouth closed, or she made no movement, the childlike cries became intense. Finally, Soji fully opened her eyes and looked directly into her daughter's; a hand tried to lift to touch Jonqi's head when the little girl flung herself across her mother and wept.
"Don't leave me, Masangan. Stay for me." Soji could barely speak.
"I'm here, Jonqi," she managed faintly. "I'm here for you." Her eyes closed again, but the eyelashes flickered.
Asok quietly strode forward, stooped down to Jonqi and touched the crying child on the shoulder. Jonqi looked up at him. Her black eyes were red-rimmed and imploring, but Asok saw something else in the eyes as well. They weren't just those of a small child.
"Come with me, little Jonqi." When Asok held down his hand, the little girl turned back to her mother who sighed and moved fractionally. "You've helped your mother, child, but now she needs the healer. Come," he repeated quietly. Jonqi stared up at him, then obediently took his hand. "Good girl," he said gently, pulling her to her feet and then lifting her into his arms. She buried her head in his shoulder. "Come and tell me how you knew about your mother, little one," he murmured. He nodded at Leontok, before he walked away. Leontok went to his knees beside Soji, his hands taking both of hers.
"Soji," he whispered, tearfully. "Little love, can you hear me?" Soji's eyes opened.
"Leon." Then she closed her eyes, mumbling, "The cold, Leon." Setoni knelt beside Leontok with a cup in his hand.
"She'll live, Leontok," he said quietly. "The child ensured she would, though how Jonqi knew is beyond me." He saw the question in the gray eyes and shook his head helplessly. "Some day much may be explained," he whispered.
~~~
Sagi entered deeper into the cave, to see Asok cross-legged on their mattress, Jonqi sprawled in his lap with her eyes closed and Asok's left hand rested on her curly head. Sagi sat beside him, her eyes meeting his.
"That's an odd little one, isn't she?" she observed, transferring her look to the sleeping child.
"Indeed, she's rare. Always so quiet," mused Asok. "So placid and gentle."
"Until today," said Sagi a little sharply.
"Until today," agreed Asok, his hand stroking the dusky curls.
"What did she tell you?" Asok's eyes were clear and tranquil.
"That she saw a man who told her what to do." Asok smiled at Sagi's indrawn hissing breath.
"So she sees as well?"
"It seems so, certainly in this one instance. I didn't think the child would act that way entirely on her own, though their bonding's unusually deep."
"And the man? Who was he?" Asok's eyes were amused when he replied.
"He was a big man, Asokgansan," he mimicked, "with green eyes that smiled at me. He was a kind man." Sagi gave a grin, in spite of her tiredness and anxiety.
"You do that very well, Asokgansan," she said admiringly. "So where does this leave us?"
"Nowhere much," yawned Asok, his eyes meeting Sagi's. He gave a chuckle. "This child and her mother have enlivened our lives, haven't they?" Sagi had to laugh.
"You seem untroubled by it all." Asok's smile widened.
"The man the child saw wasn't malicious, and though there's much I don't understand, I feel no threat. Child and mother have a role to play, so we must ensure they can do exactly that."
"I'd know more," fretted Sagi, her hands twisting together.
"I know you would, my love," said Asok in his calm way. "We shall do, all in good time. Why don't you take the child? She was confused and anxious but should be settled now." Asok touched the sleeping child with a tender gesture across the cheek. "Jonqi," he said quietly, waiting patiently for the dark eyes to open. They did, going first to Asok and then to Sagi. Asok noticed they were again the eyes of a child. Sagi stood and held out her arms.
"Sagigansan," Jonqi murmured as she was lifted. "I'm sleepy."
Sagi turned to go, but paused when Asok said pensively, "Could you ask Setoni to come to me when he's finished ministering to Soji?"
When Setoni came to Asok he found the steppeman alone, his eyes lifting as the healer came forward. Asok looked an enquiry.
"Soji?" he asked placidly. Setoni sank to the mat in front of Asok, his face drawn and weary. He lifted a hand, then let it drop.
"She'll recover, Asok, but there's permanent damage. She'll have to be handled with care."
"Damage to what, my friend?"
"She has chest weakness. It means she'll never handle cold conditions well. What most concerns me, Asok, is the girl's heart. She'll never be strong after two such illnesses so close together and identical in severity."
"Can she lead a normal life with us?"
"Protected from the cold of the conditions we're experiencing now, yes, but she'll always need adequate care." Asok pondered that.
"Have you seen Leon and spoken with him?"
"Yes."
"Does he know what you've just told me?"
"He does now." In a tired gesture, the healer rubbed a hand across his face, his eyes still deeply worried.
Asok said softly, "Tell me what makes you anxious."
"The girl has the mountains to climb and a winter to face before we reach the Shadowlands."
"And?" The healer looked at Asok.
"She won't make it," he said bluntly. "Soji will die." Asok frowned. His voice was still soft.
"Are you sure?" Setoni nodded.
"I'm sure."
Asok pulled a skin towards him and two cups, unhurriedly poured liquid into both vessels, then passed one to the healer.
"You need this, my friend," he said coolly. "You've struggled with Soji." Setoni gratefully lifted the cup to his lips, sipped, then stopped, a ludicrous expression of surprise on his face.
"Dahkilan wine?" He saw the glint in Asok's eyes and drank more deeply and with utter pleasure.
"It's surprising what one trades with one's neighbours," Asok responded calmly. "Enjoy it, healer. I rarely offer it. What do you make of Jonqi?"
"Unusual behaviour," murmured the healer.
"Would you say it was expected from a small child?"
"No." Setoni shook his head.
"Do you have any answers as to why a child would act as she did?"
"Should I?" countered the healer. He sighed, smiled his appreciation of the wine and made himself more comfortable. He glanced at the steppeman. "Was there anything else you wished to speak to me about?"
As soon as he'd spoken, Setoni glanced again at Asok and wished he hadn't. He drank again, licking his lips. The steppeman's gray eyes were too perceptive for the healer's comfort - he was always conscious of the acuteness of Asok's mind and knew this time obtuseness wouldn't be tolerated. Patiently, he waited for the trap to close. It did.
"I think," came the cool deep voice, "that it's time you were honest with me, Adept, don't you?" Setoni flinched, his eyes briefly meeting Asok's.
"How long have you known, Asok?" he asked, with another sigh.
"For several cycles, my friend. You've hidden it well, but not from me."
"So I see," murmured Setoni. "What do you wish me to say?"
"How often do you call to the Mishtok?" Setoni's mind reeled and he sat staring at his cup. A horrified suspicion entered his brain. "No, it's not drugged," chuckled Asok, raising his cup to his lips. He sat very composed, whereas Setoni sat quite rigid, all colour drained from his face. He looked ill. Asok gently touched his arm. "Don't be alarmed, Setoni. I've been thinking profoundly for some time. Let me suggest something to you."
When Asok sat back and began in his collected way to speak, some of the tension in the healer eased.
"My friend, we know the Conclave was destroyed and guessed, in time, it was done by a powerful sorcerer who calls himself Blach. We came to realise he acted from the Keep. You see, we
had networks all over the south, much in the same way the Conclave did. Like you, we've had to withdraw and re-group.
We believed the remains of the Conclave were scattered, though it was known a new Mishtok was chosen. We didn't know who he was, but we knew he now existed. We soon realised he sent his Adepts to the corners of Ambros for some reason that eluded us. When you came to us, we knew you were different. My father sensed unusual power about you that wasn't part of your healing and he wondered, back then, before he died, just who you might be. Even he didn't guess what you really are.
He used to speak long with me about what occurred in the south of Ambros and we had an especial interest since we defeated the warlord at Kanibadam. At that stage, as you know, my father moved east with the bulk of our people, where you finally made your home with them. You were very welcome, Setoni.
I remember the conversations I had with my father, who was a wise man." Setoni nodded and drank again, his eyes watchful. "I thought back to them when Sagi so vividly saw both the Churchik girl and the dark-headed child, and again when Soji appeared from the mountains. It wasn't just pity that shook you when you saw Soji, was it, healer?" Setoni had recovered his composure and now shrugged.
"Mostly," he replied honestly. "The child raved in such a way, I wondered what it was about her that made me think twice."
"That's not all though, is it?" Asok watched as the healer deliberately drank, but made no answer. "Why did you think she might be important, healer?"
"The delirium, the dreams and the visions, I'd have to say," came the evasive response.
"Why her visions?"
"They only began while she carried Jonqi. I was intrigued by that little girl from the first."
"Yes, I noticed that," agreed Asok, a smile lighting his eyes. He refilled both cups. "So was I." There was a long silence, then the steppeman broached the name that Setoni didn't want to hear. "The name Luton appeared to interest you much, Adept. Can you tell me why?" Setoni bent his head.
"Asok," he began, then stopped, his head lifting.
"The Mishtok again, isn't it?" came the deep, quiet voice. Setoni swallowed a mouthful.
"I'll tell you, though I shouldn't. Times change," he said, a hint of steel in his tenor voice that was quite new to Asok and made the steppeman sit straight, his eyes on the healer's face. "Cycles ago, I was asked to see if I could find any trace of a boy, from Ortok, enslaved by the Churchik. The lad was a Samar, and very like his brothers whom we also sought across Ambros. He was a very tall, thin boy with black eyes and black curly hair - and he was a twin. Our finding the children was considered critical.
Before the boy was enslaved he was able to speak normally, as you and I do tonight. He was torn from an identical twin, but it wasn't just that either. What's been done to the boy -." Setoni broke off and drank deeply. His voice shook when he continued. "The way the boy coped was to become mute - I needn't tell you what state of mind could induce that. How the southern sorcerer knew of the boy we don't know, though we begin to piece things together. It concerns us, profoundly, that Blach now has him and has apparently destroyed much of the boy's mind, though to be honest with you, Asok, we don't know how much of his mind's gone. Our evidence tells us vividly enough what Blach does to mutes. Soji confirmed for us the lad has neither memory nor emotions. Her little daughter looks like this boy."
"And this boy's called Luton?" Setoni nodded. "Father of Jonqi?" His face emotionless, Asok drank and absently refilled the cups. "And?"
"I was told to stay with the mother and child, until we could get them to safety in the Shadowlands."
"To those we haven't seen for so long," mused Asok. "Why the Shadowlands?" Asok regarded Setoni intently. "Tell me, Adept."
Setoni's almost transparent eyes met intense gray ones when he answered quite deliberately, "Because they always accept those who are part of them." If Setoni had meant to startle Asok with that, he did. The steppeman sat back abruptly, spilling the wine.
"Who told you that?" Setoni didn't answer. "The Mishtok," murmured Asok softly to himself, as he wiped wine from his tunic.
"What else would you expect?" asked Setoni, watching Asok in some amusement. "I'm in regular contact with him." Asok began to laugh.
"I know that," he chuckled, then he became serious. "What is it about this boy Luton?" Setoni frowned.
"I'm not sure," he admitted. "He's one of a unique family who play important parts in events, but I can't tell you exactly what. I do know, though, that Luton's significant."
"So much so, Adept, a child of his has an unexpected seeing?" It was now Setoni's turn to be taken-aback. He raised a quizzical eyebrow.
"Jonqi? When was that? She's never shown signs of sight and it would be rare in one so young, unusual as she is."
"She told me she was visited by a big, green-eyed man who was very kind. He told her to go and call to her mother, which is precisely what you saw the child do." Setoni drank and was very thoughtful.
"I can't," he said reluctantly, "explain that at all. All I can say is the child must go north. Soji goes with her. Somehow, they're important." He added quietly, "I always thought they were."
"Yes," chuckled Asok again. "You told Sagi so." Setoni looked directly at him in surprise.
"Did I?"
"You said, I believe, she, meaning Soji, may be critical to our survival." The healer looked annoyed with himself.
"I can't remember," he excused himself, obviously vexed.
"No one could ever accuse you of forgetfulness, my friend," said Asok calmly. He tapped his knee with one hand. "This young man, Luton, Adept, who's now gone north - we know Soji's pedigree. What's his?"
"We'd all love to know that," murmured Setoni, over the rim of his cup. Asok pursed his lips.
"There's something in him he's passed on to Jonqi, that somehow links them both with the Shadowlands. And what is Jonqi? How else would the northerners accept someone, unless partly of them? There must be a clear link somewhere."
"I agree, Asok, but what it is, I don't know."
"The sorcerer obviously does," was Asok's comment. "Or does he? Yes, he must, because the boy's deeply useful to him for some reason. My guess is he wanted a child of that boy's, as some sort of insurance should his plans for Luton not mature. If that scenario's correct, his anger at Soji would be understandable."
"Yes, we accept that."
"Luton's still moving north?"
"Yes, with Kher and his warriors."
"Is he still being abused?"
"He never is when he's with the warrior lord who seems to have developed affection for him."
"And the warlord?"
"What of him?" The voice was deep and calm as always, but there was a warning inherent in it too.
"Adept!" Setoni refused to meet the gray eyes. "Don't take me for a fool, my friend." Setoni shook his head.
"Only a simpleton would make so serious an error of judgment," he answered honestly. A swift smile banished the gravity from Asok's eyes.
"Very good, Adept," he said approvingly. Setoni smiled. "Now, let's try again, shall we? Would you agree the warlord and the sorcerer are bounded together by mutual ambition?"
"I don't mean to be obtuse," sighed Setoni. "Yes, we believe they are. The south responds with alacrity to any order that comes from the Keep. It's the warlord's decree that they do. We saw that with Soji."
"So we can't let Soji remain out of the Shadowlands, can we?" Setoni raised his cup to his mouth with an eloquent shrug.
"Because the sorcerer wants her."
"Exactly, my friend." Setoni looked at the steppeman helplessly.
"I fear for her, Asok. She's frail and vulnerable. Like you, I've come to care for her."
"I wouldn't insist if I thought it was a death sentence," Asok assured the healer, "but I think she has to go. Jonqi must."
"Couldn't Jonqi travel on ahead and some of us follow later, in spring?" Asok thought for a moment then shook his head, looking long and astutely at the heale
r before he spoke.
"The sorcerer's been busy with his apprentice until lately. If he has power, and I think we'd agree he has, then he's going to be looking for our little girl and her mother, isn't he?" Setoni nodded mutely. "In our history, Adept, that you know has records in our libraries that go back a long way, we learned of a so-called sorcerer who set out to destroy Ambros. It all goes back to antiquity. We teach our children well, so nothing's forgotten.
My ancestors were caught in the battles that ensued with this, shall we agree to call him a mage?" Setoni merely looked bleakly at Asok. "It nearly destroyed us, as it nearly did every society living on Ambros. It was a time of hell. Once the wars were over, we learned our lessons thoroughly and have only once had to fight since those ancient days."
"Lodestok," said Setoni succinctly.
"Quite," said Asok, a hand at his beard. "Adept, we once again hear of Ambros in ferment and in near chaos - that has uncomfortable echoes from the past, though we know of only one sorcerer involved. I don't believe it's so simple, nor I'm sure do you or the Mishtok.
Luton, I suspect, is the child of someone the sorcerer seeks to hurt, or, more likely, destroy. He used the boy to impregnate a girl-child already chosen, though the boy's unaware of this and is merely the instrument. The newly-born infant's to be given to the sorcerer when she's scarcely old enough to leave her mother. You notice, at this point, the mother isn't wanted, because she's served the function for which she was chosen. It's only later the sorcerer becomes vengeful because she defied him.
The infant's to be given to Blach, for whatever use he wishes to make of her; certainly, it gives him two generations of what he wants, for whatever his purpose. Am I correct, Adept?" Setoni just looked at the steppeman, his face tranquil. "Only," the deep voice rolled on, "a mage of some power would wish to do such harm across an entire world and would use the young in such a way, wouldn't he?" Setoni blinked, but remained motionless. "Name him for me, Adept."
"Malekim," replied Setoni, expressionlessly. "It makes Luton's sufferings come into true perspective," he added with a shiver of compassion.
"Ah," sighed Asok. "I thank you, Adept, for your honesty." Setoni gave a harsh laugh before downing his wine in one draught. Asok bent forward and thoughtfully filled the healer's cup. "Would you leave Soji for him to take?" A shiver shook Setoni.