The Questing Game

The door opened again, and Dola

"That's a sweet way of saying 'get out'," Azakar told Phandebrass.

"If that is what you wish to hear, then get out," Dola

Azakar chuckled, but Phandebrass gave the Sorceress a curious look, then he too broke out into laughter, giving Azakar a wink. "Very well. I say, this must be secret Sorcerer business. They must be preparing to exchange the secret handshake."

"I've seen it. It's nothing compared to the Knights' secret handshake," Azakar said with a straight face.

"I will give you reason to wish you were not here in a moment," Dola

"Yes ma'am," Azakar said calmly, standing up. "We'll play later, Tarrin, when Dola

"I am about to show you pecky," Dola

"Now, down to business," Dola

"That doesn't sound much like instruction," he countered.

"For us, it will be," she said. "Perhaps the relation of your discovery will help us come into closer contact with the Weave, or learn new ways to apply its power. Besides, a good Sorcerer learns everything he or she can, whether or not it is knowledge that can be applied practically."

"I guess that's a good way to look at things," Tarrin admitted. He closed his eyes and conjured up the memory he had of that, but it wasn't easy. The entire affair was heavily tinged by his outrage and anger, and it made the dynamics of the act hard to recall in words that could easily be explained. "I remember pulling out all seven flows, then sending them out in groups," he said in a quiet voice, as the others all leaned in to listen. "Groups of flows that would make strands. I braided them together and made them co

"You charged them with your power," Dola

"I remember that," Keritanima said. "The entire Weave shifted when he did that."

"It shifted because he was making it move with him," Dola

"I think so," he said, trying to pierce the veil resting over much of his memory or the episode. "Maybe."

"Do you think that you would remember how it was done?"

"I could do it again," he told her confidently. "I'd rather not, though."

"I do not want you to, dear one," she told him immediately. "The amount of energy it cost you to do it was staggering. I am still shocked that you did not tear the Weave in the attempt, and that you were not burned to ash within seconds. This is something I never want you to attempt alone again."

"I saw the scorchmarks," he said quietly, memory of the pain making his spine tingle. Up above, on the deck, were two blasted, charred marks that were perfect imprints of the bottoms of his own feet, right down the the texturing of his pads. Branded into the deck as a testament to what had occurred. "Was it really as bad as it looks?"

"Worse," Allia answered evenly. "You were all but on fire, brother."

"I don't really remember that."

"I think I'd be happy not to remember something like that," Dar noted.

"No doubt," Tarrin agreed.

"This is something that we will work on later, Tarrin," Dola

"What is that?" he asked.

"I recall that the Tower never trained you in Circling," she a

"What good will that do?"

"I did not see what happened when you interposed yourself on the Council's Circle, but I did hear about what happened. If you could circle with us, it may be possible for you to wield your power in a much safer ma

Tarrin mulled it over, and he found her reasoning somewhat sound. When he had managed to hijack the circle of the Council, it did allow him to spread the burden of his power among them, allowing him to keep control of it much longer. He remembered that clearly. He even had the control necessary to let go of the Weave without having to sever himself and suffer a backlash. He didn't like the idea of putting his friends and sisters at risk, for he remembered clearly the effect he had on the Council after the circle was broken.

And he remembered what had broken the circle. The Cat had done it, rejecting the intimate mental communion that came when Sorcerers formed circles. Even if he was willing to learn, it was very possible that the Cat wouldn't permit him to form a stable link to the others. "There may be a problem, Dola

"What with?"

"Your idea is good, but they didn't tell you why the circle broke up when I got dragged into it. The Cat rejected the link. It took the circling link to be a foreign entity and attacked it. If I hadn't released the Weave and dissolved the circle myself, the Cat would have broken in for me. I remember that. I'm not sure if I can circle."

"Yes, but you know the four of us intimately. There is a good chance that your trust in us will allow your instincts to accept our bonds."

"Well, I'm not sure, but we can try. If you're willing to accept the risks."

"I'm aware of the risk," Dar told him. "Dola

That meant more to him than he could easily express. He gave Dar a sincerely grateful look, then nodded. "I know how my sisters will answer."

"If I was not prepared to face danger for my brother, I would not have the honor to call him so," Allia said bluntly.

"I'll do almost anything to further the cause of Sorcery, even if it wasn't my brother and sister doing the risking with me," Keritanima said with a toothy grin.

"Very well then, it is decided," Dola