Gifted Apprentice

  The sylph language was added to his list of subjects after that, but not taught by Elvallon. Lyssan proved herself a patient teacher and Sallis learned faster from her than he did from Elvallon.

  "Shame she is not Gifted," the healer grumbled one time. "She might have better success drawing that out of you, too."

  Sallis soon realized that sylphs had more than one language. The silent language of earpoints was one that he learned sylphs had no control over whatsoever.

  There were sometimes days when Elvallon was called into the city, healing some sick person, or to dispense herbs. There were many healers in Leynx, but the wealthy always called on him first.

  Sometimes, Elvallon was away for two or three days at a time and Sallis was then left to Lyssan's tender mercies.

  But it was not very long before Sallis realized that his human tutor was right. Lyssan's tongue might be like an irritable hornet having a particularly bad day, but she was patient. And as he came to understand the language of the sylph's ears, the more often he saw that words and earpoints often told two very different stories.

  And the earpoints told the truth.

  Facial expression might show exasperation, but earpoints suggested laughter. Silvery gray eyes might be calm and certain, but earpoints shouted doubt. Stance suggested impatience, but earpoints showed contentment.

  The night of the thunderstorm exposed one of the sylph's vulnerabilities and, for Sallis, a turning point in his volatile relationship with Lyssan.

  ***

  Elvallon was away and not expected back until the next day. The storm followed a humid day that sapped even the energetic Lyssan's strength. Sallis had never seen her sweat before. He hadn't realized sylphs could, though a comment that perhaps she didn't usually work hard enough to sweat was ignored.

  Sallis spent his day reading and practicing the quarterstaff. Sulking over his rude comment, or perhaps because she'd had no rejoinder, Lyssan rowed across the estuary in the morning to fish, and kept away after she returned. Though she did watch part of the time he whirled the staff about, discomfiting imaginary enemies.

  The moment Sallis became aware of her, she moved away again.

  After sharing a cold meal, they went to their separate rooms.

  Sallis had been asleep about two hours when the first flash lit his room. He blinked in the darkness, wondering if he had perhaps imagined the sudden brilliant light, when the sound reached him. A low, long grumble that seemed to go on and on.

  He lay on his bed, blankets pushed aside in the sweltering heat and tried to remember his father's rule to work out how far away a thunderstorm was. Failing, and concluding only that this storm must still be some distance away, Sallis waited for the next flash.

  It was not long coming, throwing wild shadows in every direction. In the silence between flash and rumble, when everything in the world seemed to hold its breath, Sallis's bedroom door swung open and bare feet slapped on the matting.

  This time, the thunder was a loud crash and, as lightning flashed again, Sallis saw Lyssan huddled in a corner of his room, head buried under her arms, knees drawn up under her chin.

  "It's only thunder," he said. He remembered that the twins were afraid of thunderstorms, but they had never reacted quite like this.

  He imagined he heard a low whimper when the thunder came again. Sallis cocked his head to one side, wondering if he could hear wind or rain heading their way. A moment later, rain hammered on the thatch and splashed to the ground. Lightning came more often and the time between flash and crash shortened.

  Sallis swung out of bed and crouched beside the frightened sylph. He touched an arm and she flinched.

  Another flash and Lyssan threw her arms around him, refusing to let go.

  Surprised, Sallis let her get on with it. Hot breath on his cheek, earpoints tucked away, the sylph clung to him.

  This, thought Sallis, is probably a ridiculous sight. Lyssan was easily half again as tall as he was, yet she deferred to him now. He became aware of her shivers.

  "You're cold," he said. Sallis extracted himself and pulled a blanket off his bed before returning to Lyssan.

  The sylph nodded her thanks as he draped it around her thin shoulders and she wrapped it around herself. He tucked the corners in. He went to return to his bed, but Lyssan clutched at him. In the next lightning flash, he saw her earpoints were still hidden. Sallis knew that had several meanings, and right now he hoped it meant she didn't want to hear the thunder.

  Knowing next to nothing about sylphs, he felt uncertain how to deal with this situation. He supposed as many sylphs as other creatures feared thunderstorms.

  The rain eased and the time between flashes lengthened, but Lyssan showed no hurry to leave.

  "It's going away now," said Sallis, who began to want his sleep.

  The earpoints twitched free. "Might come back. Can I stay?"

  "All right." Sallis grimaced. Was there room for two on his bed?

  As if she had read his mind, Lyssan drew away slightly. "I will sleep on the floor," she said.

  "Well, take the other blanket to lie on." Sallis scrambled back on his bed. He lay awake for a few moments, and listened to the sylph's breathing slow down as her panic receded. His eyes closed, despite the strangeness of having someone else share his room. When he next woke, brilliant sunshine filled the room and the sylph was gone.

  Although they continued to banter with each other, Lyssan never showed grumpiness with him again.

  Two days after the thunderstorm, Elvallon was proved right, and Sallis finally touched the Gift.

  ***

  Chapter 7 - Gift Released

  Sallis practiced the quarterstaff, more for exercise than to develop his skill. Early lessons with the staff had been under his father's watchful eye, since few farmers could afford steel weapons and the wooden stave felt familiar. Elvallon had introduced sword training, but insisted Sallis keep up quarterstaff practice as well. He said that martial arts taught discipline and to some people, any traveler who looked like he could not defend himself should expect trouble.

  "I've never heard of anybody attacking travelers," said Sallis, remembering the drove to Hendrek.

  Elvallon gave the boy a tolerant smile. "Perhaps not on Re Annan, but it certainly happens on the mainland."

  Elvallon also warned against using the Gift when attacked, because people usually assumed that meant sorcery, which brought its own problems.

  So Sallis twirled his staff and pirouetted on his feet, downing imaginary enemies, thinking of nothing but the staff and his next move. All under Elvallon's approving eye.

  Even Lyssan paused in her chores to watch, although she did not agree with weapons. Agreement or not, she looked distinctly impressed and Sallis felt a flush of pleasure. Though why the sylph's approval meant so much he could not say.

  "Don't drop the rear too far," cautioned Elvallon. "An enemy might kick the end and that will throw you off for sure."

  Sallis did not respond, but corrected his stance and lifted the back of the quarterstaff. He pushed harder.

  His head thrummed with strange exhilaration. Little by little, his awareness grew. Lyssan's natural scent grew stronger in his nostrils, though she had moved no closer. He almost heard the air moving around Elvallon as he nodded his head. Colors were brighter and he tasted the salt tang in the air. Something beckoned, inviting him to join with it.

  He became one with the world and the universe.

  Time slowed. Spinning on his heels, he saw Lyssan's earpoints wilting in slow motion, her turn away even slower. Elvallon's mouth took seconds to drop open in surprise. Plants waved in a breeze that now pushed against him sluggishly. Time no longer moved at the same speed.

  Sallis dropped the staff in surprise and put a hand to his head. When he brought it away, normality had returned.

  Lyssan had only just turned away, but nothing would now stop her from fleeing into the cottage. Those earpoints were completely tucked away now, like on the night of
the thunderstorm.

  Elvallon's mouth still hung open.

  "What happened?" Sallis's voice squeaked.

  Elvallon crossed the short distance and put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You just released the Gift for the first time," he said. Pale-faced, worry glinted in his blue eyes. "But I've never before seen what you just did. I've only heard of this in one other."

  Sallis blinked. "What did I do?"

  "You manipulated time." Elvallon recovered his composure and shook his head. "Your very first release and you manipulated time!"

  "I don't understand."

  Elvallon's hand gave Sallis's shoulder a gentle squeeze. "Maybe this is no consolation, but neither do I."

  "What did I do?"

  "You'd better sit down; there is usually some shock after the first release."

  Sallis sat. Now Elvallon had mentioned it, he did feel a little light-headed.

  Elvallon crouched in front of him. "What you did was speed up your movement in time. Some believe the practitioner slows down time itself, but I do not think that is possible."

  Sallis blinked. He certainly felt dizzy now. "But I don't know how," he complained.

  "You obviously do," snorted Elvallon. "Maybe you can't remember exactly what you did right now. But you will."

  "It was hard," complained Sallis. "I might not be able to do it again."

  "The next touching of the Gift is easier," promised Elvallon. "And it gets easier every time you try after that. Sadly, I cannot really show you the way with this, it's not a skill I share."

  "Do I need to see someone who knows?"

  "I only know of one other, and he is more a legend. I've certainly never met him."

  Sallis pulled a face.

  "All I can do is keep you from harming yourself. When you've touched the Gift a few more times, I'll be able to work out what other talents lie hidden in you."

  "How?"

  Elvallon smiled. "Like everything else here, it doesn't hurt."

  "Why did Lyssan run away?"

  "Sylphs can't stand to have the Gift used around them. You know that already. Just the way things are."

  "Oh. So she doesn't like me again?"

  Elvallon laughed. "Nothing like that. The Gift feels wrong to them. It upsets their sense of placement in the world, or something. Either way, they don't stick around when it's being used."

  "Not sure if I like it either."

  "Long may that feeling continue." Elvallon put a hand on the boy's forehead. "You're holding up pretty well, for a first timer."

  Sallis smiled. "I'm glad," he replied.

  ***

  Chapter 8 - Escaped Criminal

  Now that he had successfully touched the Gift, Sallis did indeed find it easier the next time, and the time after. Just as Elvallon had assured him. To see the world effectively slowed down gave him a strange mix of feelings, euphoria and fear among them.

  The world was his to command and only the fact that there were others like him tempered the sensation of total power. Reduced to the level of an obedient servant, nature kindly rearranged reality for his advantage.

  But an inner instinct warned that it wasn't quite so straightforward.

  Elvallon constantly reminded him that others who had the Gift or, worse, control over sorcery, could counter him, though even he admitted that anyone able to speed up their movement through time held a pretty good advantage.

  Elvallon gave Sallis a couple of days to get used to his new skill but, after breakfast on the third day, he sat beside his pupil in the large living room of his cottage.

  "Now let's find out what else you can do." Elvallon smiled and held up a hand. "This bit isn't strictly necessary, but I find it helps my concentration... Sorry Lyssan, you'd better go and water the plants."

  The sylph bobbed her head and fled outside without a word.

  "Keep forgetting to warn her," muttered Elvallon.

  Sallis hid a smile. "Will I feel anything?" he asked.

  "You might be aware of me, but maybe not."

  Whichever, Sallis imagined he felt his teacher rummaging about in his mind, and that was a strange sensation.

  "No projection, which surprises me," said Elvallon, suddenly. "Most can at least ethereally project, but you don't even have that. Strange."

  "Maybe a balance for moving through time," suggested Sallis.

  "Good lad. At least you're reading those books. Even better, something's sticking in there."

  Sallis sighed.

  "No shape-shifting or physical manipulation. Now that is the balance against time manipulation. Now, let's see. Quite empty in here, you know."

  "You teasing me?"

  Elvallon chuckled. "Healing, which I already suspected anyway. Quite a talent here; we all have some, but I think you could be very good with my training."

  "Of course," muttered Sallis.

  "Hmm."

  "What's wrong?" Sallis detected something in the man's tone.

  "Not sure. Well, nothing wrong, because you're Gifted. I just don't know what I've found."

  "Should I worry?"

  Elvallon grunted. "Probably not. Perhaps I should though. Whatever, I think we should concentrate on that next. You're still too weak to cause much damage if it turns out dangerous."

  Sallis did not quite like the sound of this.

  But they did not get an immediate chance to find out what the skill might be. Despite the Gift, Lyssan returned.

  Wide-eyed, her earpoints stood bolt upright.

  "Soldiers to see you, enya," she said.

  ***

  Sallis followed Elvallon outside and stared curiously at the mounted men. They wore leather armor and carried a sword each. There were not many soldiers on Re Annan, where everybody was supposed to help in the defense of their land. The few employed on the island usually concerned themselves with hunting criminals.

  "Good day to you, Elvallon sir," said one of the men, giving a broad smile and inclining his head.

  "Guardsman Telic." Elvallon inclined his head in return. "I'm afraid I do not know your colleague."

  "Guardsman Iqan." The second man also bowed his head as he introduced himself.

  "There is a problem?" asked Elvallon. "Rare to see the Guard at my small abode."

  Iqan laughed. "No complaints about you. But one of our resident thieves has made a break for it and given us the slip. Dogs chased him close by here, but he's been in the Adan and we want to make sure he's not doubled back."

  "I've not seen anybody," said Elvallon.

  "On the way out, he was wearing this." Telic threw a shirt towards Elvallon, but a stray gust caught the garment, so Sallis snagged it from the air.

  He staggered.

  "You all right?" Elvallon's blue eyes held concern, but the two soldiers gave the boy dispassionate glances.

  Sallis stared and shook his head, as if to clear it, rather than to answer Elvallon. He felt a vague awareness of another, as if he was nearby. He wasn't of course, but the man had passed here.

  "Do you know where the dogs chased him?" he asked.

  The soldiers glanced at Sallis again before Telic turned back to Elvallon.

  "He's my student," said Elvallon. "Answer him."

  "We'll show you where he went into the river," said Telic. "Ever ridden by standing in a stirrup before?"

  Sallis had not, but he learned quickly and the ride was short anyway. Standing with one foot stuck into a stirrup, while the horse moved swiftly, felt uncomfortable and Sallis sighed in relief when they reached the river.

  Sallis stared into the water and at both banks.

  "He went in here," said Telic.

  Somewhere behind, Elvallon doubtless readied Polless, for once free from the cart.

  "Here actually," corrected Sallis, moving downstream a little.

  Telic and Iqan exchanged a look.

  "How can you tell?"

  Sallis shrugged. Nothing to see or smell, but the escapee's footprints somehow burned in his mind. Only without
seeing. This was definitely the strangest sensation in a week of odd feelings, and worse than the time manipulation.

  Neither large nor deep, Sallis could "see" where the man had forded the River Adan, as if his footprints glowed on the riverbed.

  "He didn't double back," continued Sallis, walking upstream again. "He waded along the river. And came out... there!"

  He pointed, just as Elvallon caught up.

  "The boy's dreaming," laughed Iqan.

  Elvallon put a hand on Sallis's shoulder. "Sure about this?" he whispered.

  In reply, Sallis splashed across the shallow river. Despite nothing to see on the stony ground, the man's passing blazed in his mind.

  "This way!" he called.

  "What's he up to?" demanded Telic. "Hope this is no wind-up."

  Elvallon grinned. "Why not follow and find out?" he suggested. "The boy is Gifted, after all."

  Sallis became aware of Polless walking beside him.

  "Can you do whatever it is you're doing from up here?" asked his tutor.

  "I think so," replied Sallis.

  A moment later, he swung up to sit behind Elvallon.

  "How are you feeling?"

  "Great," replied Sallis.

  "Still able to follow?"

  Sallis smiled. "Oh yes," he replied. "Is this to do with the Gift?"

  "Looks like it." Elvallon twisted his head to look at his apprentice. "And you could make your fortune with this."

  The footprints that only Sallis could detect led them into a wood, where the escaped thief had clearly looked for a hiding place before finally giving up on the idea. The man had crisscrossed the wood, but Sallis did not need to follow every step to know which footprints were the most recent.

  Almost opposite their entry to the woods, the man had left them again.

  Iqan grunted an exclamation and pulled dyed wool from a small branch. The looks they now directed at Sallis held increased respect.

  "Never knew you could use the Gift for this," said Telic.

  Elvallon smiled, but gave no other reply.

  Neither did you, or you would have said something to me earlier, thought Sallis. This skill must be the mysterious something Elvallon had sensed earlier.

  They rode through a couple of hamlets, and people there confirmed that a shirtless man had run through and kept going. Sallis had no need to ask. He was unsure exactly what he sensed, but he had a feeling that the footprints were getting brighter.

  "We're getting closer," he said.