Maker of Fire

Aylem, Crystal Shrine of Tiki, Growing Season, 6th rot., 3rd day

My son made his full obeisance to me and Foyuna. He then kissed me on both checks and waited to be given permission to sit down. Hands clasped in front of him, he was the very image of a perfect little gentleman. “You’re looking very round, my lady mother.”

“Alright, Heldfirk, you don’t use that form of address unless you want something, and you know that I or your father will disapprove,” I gave him what I thought was the tolerant motherly warning look. “What is it this time?” I saw Foyuna turn her head to hide a smile.

“I have received the results of my examinations for entering a shrine, my lady mother,” Heldfirk gave me a look full of sincerity and earnestness, every finger width radiating the demeanor of an attentive, obedient son.

“Sit,” I pointed at one of the chairs next to my lounge. I peeked at his aura and saw the pale green of nervousness. “Tea, son?”

“Yes, please,” Heldfirk sat. He had gotten a bit taller and his wavy brown hair was more than half white already. Still, he was small for his age. Both Imstay and I were concerned about this since Heldfirk was the most likely candidate for the throne.

“Asharos,” I caught the eye of my attendant currently on duty. He nodded and got up to attend to the tea sideboard in back of the recording table. I paused the visions in the Great Crystal. It was a dull day in the three different theaters of war I was tracking.

I got comfortable and gave my son a look, “Where were you accepted, Heldkirk?”

“Sassoo, Galt, Gertzpul, Giltak, Mueb, Surd, and Erhonsay.”

The traditional shrines for princes were Erhonsay, Galt and Landa. I know Heldfirk took the exams for all twelve shrines so he must have failed the exam for Landa. “Why do I have the suspicion, son, that you do not prefer Galt or Erhonsay?” I asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Because you would be correct, Mother,” he let out a breath and his shoulders drooped. I know Imstay had been urging him to go to the Peaceful Shrine of Erhonsay to learn the arts of war. Even if he went to another shrine, Heldfirk would still be required to spend two extra years in Kas learning the basics of military command.

“Let’s not draw this out, Heldfirk. What shrine do you wish to attend?”

“Landa, but I didn’t get in,” his shoulders fell even further. “Mother, of the ones that admitted me, I want to go to the Building Shrine of Giltak. Please help me convince Father.” Asharos handed him a beaker of tea.

“Giltak?” I was surprised. Heldfirk’s face showed a glimmer of hope when I didn’t dismiss his choice immediately.

I sat up and let Asharos top off my tea. “Let me hear your reasoning, son.”

“I seriously thought of Surd. Planning and logistics for responding to emergencies appeals to me, but I’m not that great with people and I don’t think I have what it takes to teach. Galt and Sassoo would not be good for me because I would always be in the shadow of either Opa or Garki. The Prince slated for the throne shouldn’t be in the shadow of his siblings. I’m not interested in farming so that rules out Mueb. I don’t like the idea of being the undersized Prince getting beaten up for six years at Erhonsay. That leaves Gertzpul or Giltak. I don’t think it’s appropriate for the King to be a priest of the god of death, so that leaves Giltak. The Building Shrine’s not a bad choice. I’m good at math and my mind’s hand is excellent. My near field clairvoyance can see the bumps of what the Holy Raoleer calls atoms. That's a highly valued mekaner skill and few have it. And making stuff is fun. I wouldn’t be miserable if I studied at Giltak.”

“Can I see your scores, Heldfirk?” I held out my hand for the letters sticking out of his pouch with his results. His look of resignation was all I needed to see to know something was off.

I opened the letters and arranged them on my side table so I could compare all the scores. I immediately saw two problem areas. No wonder he was looking down. I also spotted a mistake in scoring from the Crystal Shrine.

“I see why you didn’t get into the White Shrine of Landa, or into the Healing Shrine. I wonder if Ud could help you with your mindcasting. I’m also surprised at the precognition score. Precog and clairvoyance usually pair, though that’s not always the case.” I looked at Heldfirk with understanding, “For example, my clairvoyance is better than excellent and my precog is merely average---so in this case, you take after your mother.”

I saw his look of surprise at my admission. Then, I turned to Foyuna. “Look at this, cousin,” I handed her the letter from her shrine. “This score is incorrect. Can you fix this?”

“What?” Foyuna leaned to take the letter from me. She took out her wax tablet and did the math for herself. “I will never be comfortable with your new numbers, cousin. Yes, you are correct. This score was wrong. Heldkirk, you have passed the exam to enter the Crystal Shrine of Tiki. You should have qualified on your clairvoyance alone, but you math ability is an added bonus.”

“I passed for Tiki?” Heldfirk made a great fish face.

“Your clairvoyance scores are phenomenal, Heldfirk, even though your mindcasting is not, well...” I tried to find a tactful way to express his failure.

“Don’t bother trying to dress it up, Mom,” he folded up into himself. “Most Coyn have better mindcasting than I do. I know it’s worse than bad.”

“You clairvoyance is already better than most High Priestesses and your voice hasn’t even dropped yet. Try using the Great Crystal as a focus and see how far you can see?” I offered. “You’re my son so the crystal will accept you.” He looked uncertain. “Go on, Heldfirk. See if you can do it. It helps to put your hands on it.” I smiled at him to encourage him.

He have me a dubious look but walked up to the crystal and placed one hand on it. He frowned as he tranced and brought up a vision of the outside of the Crystal Shrine. He moved the vision up the river to Two Ferry Island and the Hospitable Shrine of Gertzpul. I watched in amazement as his moved the vision further, over Queenstown, the western holdings, the lava fields, and as far as erupting fissures in the Great Cracks. I gasped as he took the vision all the way across the lava to the sink of the Vanishing River. Then, he staggered from the effort and dropped the trance. I was on my feet and caught him before he fell. I picked him up and laid him down on my lounge, sitting next to him.

“Are you in there, Heldfirk?” I could feel his dizziness but he wasn’t completely out.

“Wooz...” my son managed to muttered.

“That was quite a feat for someone twelve years old,” Foyuna moved her chair over next to the lounge. “He’s definitely your son, Aylem. That was ten wagon-days of reach and he’s a child still. We should train him to use the Great Crystal formally regardless of which shrine he attends. His math scores are so high that he could easily do a double consecration like you did. Send him to Giltak and have him crosstrain here. Given our joint project with the Building Shrine on timekeeping, this could be doable and to Heldfirk’s advantage.”

“I could do that?” Helfirk tried to sit up.

I gently pushed him back down. “Slowly. Don’t get up all at once. You just overextended your magic. This isn’t a normal fainting spell. You will stay there until I say you can get up, young man.”

“You could train here for the next half year until the Building Shrine starts its next class,” Foyuna offered. “Our classes are small and we do a lot of one-on-one instruction here already. Accommodating instruction for you will be easy for us. With your taking classes at the Building Shrine, we can credit those for most of your requirements at this shrine."

“But the Holy Raoleer said I could start attending at the Building Shrine now because I’m already ahead of this year’s class academically. And I can place out of law and cultural studies entirely. She’ll take me right now, midterm.”

“Oh!” I gave my son an accusing look. “You’ve already been in contact with High Priestess Raoleer about attending her shrine without talking to your parents first?”

“Yes, mom,” he squeaked. “Just like Opa consulted with the Holy Senlyosart to attend the Singing Shrine of Sassoo behind Father’s back last year.”

Foyuna broke out laughing, “Heldfirk’s got you there, Aylem. He’s just following his big sister’s example.”

“Alright, young man,” I tried to glower at my son and failed, “I will convince your father to let you to enroll at the Building Shrine. I will be pleased if you take your cousin Foyuna up on her offer for double consecration here in addition to the Building Shrine. You can use the Great Crystal with a reach exceeded only by myself and your cousin. You might be able to surpass your cousin in a few years. You can turn down the offer to be a trainee here, but you can not turn down learning how to use the Great Crystal. I’m afraid you will not have a choice in this. The talent to use the Great Crystal is too rare.”

“I’ll do all three, Mother, if I can,” Heldfirk smiled for the first time since he arrived, "training at the Building Shrine, training here, and learning how to use the Great Crystal.”

I was actually pleased with him and the maturity he displayed. He wasn’t acting like a spoiled, arrogant child anymore. My boy had made me happy today. I believe I had Garki to thank for that. Adopting Garki was one of the best things Imstay and I had done. He had been a good friend and a good influence on my son.

I studied my boy and how pale he looked after using the Great Crystal. Because they were new to magic, talented but untrained children often depleted their immature reserves. Heldfirk didn’t realize how far he had pushed himself. He was always trying to do as well as Opa and Garki even though he would never have as much stamina as those two. I was happy to discover he had a talent he didn’t share with his siblings.

I planned to use Heldfirk's newfound ability as leverage with Imstay. Heldfirk’s father would not be happy that his son was not enrolling at the Peaceful Shrine of Erhonsay. I wondered if I could recruit Foyuna's mother, Irralray, the High Priestess of Erhonsay, to help convince Imstay.

“I think you need to stay here for the day, Heldfirk,” I told my son as I assessed his exhausted magic. “I’m not overreacting, young man, so stop giving me that look. The Revered Lyappis or your cousin Foyuna can confirm my evaluation if you don’t want to believe your Priestess Healer of Mugash mother. It was my mistake not to stop you before you depleted your magic reserves. You can walk around the shrine or go for a leisurely ride on Asgolt later if you’re bored, but no running around or climbing. And you’re not allowed to go fishing or dive bombing today with that disreputable layabout griffin. Foyuna, can we assign a priest to follow this troublemaker?”

“That won’t be necessary, Great One,” a disembodied man’s voice said. “His wraiths will have a word with the Blessed Asgotl, and we won’t allow the Prince to exert himself for the rest of the day.”

“Hey!” Heldfirk protested.

“You forgot your shadows, didn’t you?” I grinned. “Don’t feel bad, son. I have some shadows too.”

“Oh.” Heldfirk relaxed his shoulders. “Most of the time, I forget that they’re there.”

“Thank you for the compliment,” the voice said, sounding amused.

“It’s been more than a millenium since someone male could use the Great Crystal,” Foyuna smiled down on Heldfirk. “You just made history, cousin.” Foyuna looked at me and grinned, “and Kamagishi wasn’t here for the momentous occasion, for a change. Her precog must be on break.”

“She’ll be disappointed that she didn’t get an invite for today’s events,” I grinned back. “I wonder what she’s doing, given she’s not here.”

“Oh. I know!” Heldfirk blurted. “Garki said this morning that the Holy Kamagishi is busy with her new kitten. Galt gave it to her last night.”

“Galt what!?” We were all gobsmacked.

I summoned Raoleer, who arrived that evening. I was mean. I didn’t tell her why. I think Lyappis disapproved of that. She kept giving me those displeased looks common to all mothers and teachers of wayward children. I kept myself from becoming angry with her by looking forward to teasing Raoleer.

When Roaleer’s griffin, Zebliefr, landed and she dismounted, I noticed that he was missing his charm gem of control. I was pleased that Raoleer had removed it. More than half of the Convocation had freed their mounts already. The social pressure of the Convocation was huge and this could be the start of a cascade of voluntary emancipation from the top down. I hoped it was.

After Raoleer made her obeisance, I remarked “Not much is happening right now and it is almost the seventh bell. Let us retire to Foyuna’s dining chamber for the evening repast. Someone waiting for you there.” I smiled. I suspect my sense of mischievousness showed because Raoleer gave me a wary look in return.

“Someone is waiting, Great One? For me?” Raoleer looked just a touch nervous. Then she noticed the disgusted look on Lyappis’ face and relaxed. Now she was merely frowning at me. I managed to heft my increasing girth off my lounge and plowed my way out of the dome and through the corridors to the dining chamber. Carrying twins was not as easy as my two previous pregnancies. It would be a long two seasons before I gave birth.

Foyuna ran ahead of me and opened the doors. Heldfirk was sitting at the dining table reading Lisaykos’ first draft on chemical equations, written with help from both Emily and me. I wondered where he got a copy. Then, I remembered his adopted brother, the book addict Garki, had the run of the library at the Fated Shrine. Heldfirk must have brought it with him. My son watched us enter the dining chamber, fell to his knees, and made a perfect obeisance.

Raoleer’s face was everything I had hoped for. “Oh. I see,” she said in a quiet, restrained voice. “Prince Heldfirk must have told you we have been in consultation with each other.”

I sat down at my place next to Foyuna’s chair at the head of the table. “Please, Raoleer, sit.” I waved to the place across from me and smiled sweetly. I caught Lyappis rolling her eyes at me and shaking her head. I think is was the first time I had ever used informal address with the manic mekaner Raoleer. “Heldfirk, sit next to me, please.”

“Yes, my Lady Mother.”

I gave him a disapproving eyeball for reverting to formal address. Was he nervous? I decided to restrain my teasing. I kept forgetting how frightening I could be. I knew I was better upstairs and could control myself, but many of those around me were still unsure about me. I sighed in resignation.

“We can talk while we eat, cousin,” I told Foyuna, who signaled the servers to start setting out the first course. I noticed Raoleer eying the unoccupied sixth place at the table with a question on her face. I did not oblige her.

“Do you mind if we keep this to informal address, Holy One?” I asked Raoleer with sincerity. “It’s just the five of us, and three of us are family. For me, this is a family matter and I do have a few questions for you before I speak to Imstay about your proposal. Right now, I feel that titles will just get in the way. Do you object if I call you by your name?”

Raoleer looked gobsmacked and then composed herself, “Feel free, Great One.”

“The name is Aylem, Raoleer,” I said with conviction.

“Your will, Great...” She made a face. “Oh, bother. Some habits are hard to abandon.” The smile on her face pleaded with me for understanding.

I laughed, “Kamagishi had the same problem.”

“Well, then I am in illustrious company. Do I understand correctly that training Heldfirk at my shrine is not distasteful to you?”

"My son made a convincing case why he should do so. I will not obstruct him. I will be honest that I would prefer him to study here at the Crystal Shrine or at the White Shrine of Landa.”

“But he didn’t pass the exams for those two places,” Raoleer pointed out.

“Actually, Raoleer,” Foyuna jumped in, “he did pass the examination for my shrine. His clairvoyance was added up incorrectly and not discovered until today.”

“Which brings me to our counter proposal for you,” I took the opening and ran with it. “It turns out that Heldfirk can use the Great Crystal.”

“Oh,” Raoleer’s face fell. “So, he’s not coming to my shrine, after all.”

“No, we’re proposing for him to train at both shrines with the goal of double consecration,” Foyuna said. “Your magic curriculum should have a large overlap with my shrine. Besides, he can use the Great Crystal, so he’ll be obliged to spend time here anyway. Since that's the case, he might as well train here formally. We’ll make your shrine his primary training and we will work in appropriate classes and one-on-one instruction here. It will take some juggling on both our parts, but it should be doable.”

Irralray’s knock pattern rattled the door. It startled Raoleer.

“Come,” Foyuna said and opened the door with her mind’s hand. She got up, “Mother!”

“Hello, dearest,” Irralray embraced her daughter, still in her cloak over her red and green flying clothes. “You look well, daughter.”

“Aunt Irralray, please sit,” I waved at the empty place waiting for the High Priestess of Erhonsay. “We just started the first course only a few moments ago.”

Irralray raised an eyebrow at my use of familial address and then gave me a speculative look. “What’s this I hear, Niece-by-marriage Aylem? My great nephew will not train at my shrine as his father wishes?”

“That is why I asked you here, Aunt,” I said. “Foyuna and I propose that Heldfirk should train at both the Crystal and Building Shrines with the aim of double consecration. This little criminal,” I pointed at my son, “was already in cahoots with Sister Raoleer to study at her shrine behind my back. The situation has been complicated by the discovery that Heldfirk can use the Great Crystal.”

The dour and unflappable Irralray was startled speechless. She took more than a long moment to gather herself.

“That’s...I see...well. Surd save us, that’s extraordinary,” she pursed her lips. “He will still need to spend time in Kas learning how to use an army if he’s to be King. Is it possible he could be both King and Queen? One person holding both offices hasn’t happened in more than a millennium.”

“We don’t know,” I replied, “and we won’t know for at least three to four years. He’s not begun his growth spurt and his voice hasn’t broken yet. But he used the Great Crystal to see as far as the sink of the Vanishing River today.”

“Merciful Mugash,” Irralray looked across the table at Heldfirk, “you’ve inherited your mother’s talent for clairvoyance. That will be a good skill for leading an army.” Irralray looked back at me and frowned, “So, is this all? You asked me to fly down for just this, Niece Aylem?”

“Aunt Irralray, it’s a little more complicated than that,” I smiled and tried to keep the pleading from my voice. “Imstay is set on Heldfirk training as a war mage at your shrine. I was hoping to assemble a united front to convince the King to allow my son to train elsewhere. You know how Imstay gets when it comes to Heldfirk.”

“Double consecration? Isn’t that too much of a load on the boy?”

“I trained and took consecration at two shrines,” I pointed out.

“You were very much an exception, Niece Aylem, whereas the Prince appears to be average for a silverhair. His stamina may not be enough.”

“He may be smaller than his sister and adopted brother,” Foyuna jumped in, “but he guided the vision in the Great Crystal at least ten wagon-days earlier today. He is anything but average, mother. Besides, he’s already ahead of most trainees in terms of non-magical education. His training at all three shrines can be tailored for just him. I believe he can do this.”

“And what do you think, Heldkirk?” Irralray asked. “You’re the most important person here concerning where you want to train. Do you really want to be known as the Mekaner King?”

“I want to train at the Building Shrine, Aunt Irralray,” the Prince said. “I’m not really thrilled about soldiering. I never imagined that I could use the Great Crystal but now that I know I can, I realize I must learn how to use it properly. Because of that, it makes sense to become a Priest of Tiki.” He sighed, “It’s not like I’m a normal person, Aunt Irralray. I know all of this will be a burden for me. I’m a Prince and that means I must lift a greater weight appropriate to my station in life.”

Irralray studied her great nephew for a more than a moment. Then she sighed, “I will admit I was looking forward to having you as a trainee at my shrine, Heldfirk, but I respect you choices.” Irralray looked back to me, “You have my support in convincing that stone-headed nephew of mine to allow his son to train at both Raoleer’s and Foyuna’s shrines. I wish to send tutors starting immediately so he can train every morning in self-defense. He was training with his father but Imstay is now with his army in Impotu and I suspect someone is not keeping up with his training.” She gave Heldfirk a telling look. My son’s expression made it clear that Irralray’s suspicion was correct.

“Weapons training will be difficult when he starts his hands-on training in metallurgy, mining, and potions,” Raoleer said. “Some of that training is around the clock, with no breaks. Potions and hot metal don’t care much for mere schedules.”

“I’m sure we can find a workable schedule for the Prince,” Irralray moored her position, all set to weather any objections. “Let us negotiate, but first, let us consume this wonderful smelling pottage before it gets cold. Did you steal one of Lisaykos’ cooks, daughter?”

“Maybe,” Foyuna smiled knowingly.