Chapter 15

Cobweb and Lisia were alone at the dining table. Immediately after dinner Swift had excused himself, leaving the house for a meeting in town. Seel meanwhile went upstairs to work with Azriel on some caste training, as he and Swift had decided to work with him even before his Feybraiah. Somewhere along the line Tyson drifted off to his own pursuits.

"So," Lisia began. "You'll tell me more?"

Cobweb nodded and spoke with his silent voice. "Yes. But not here. Let me take you out."

Together they rose from the table, just as a servant was entering to clear away the dishes.

"It's amazing how you live here," Lisia remarked. "So different."

"I know," Cobweb agreed. "We're very privileged. I'm spoiled, always have been. Unlike you."

Lisia laughed as they exited the French doors that led into the garden. "Oh, I'm not so unspoiled. I've got some status, being director. There are privileges I get from that, even at the school."

"Ah, but you work." Cobweb was leading the way through the garden but not towards the greenhouse.

"It's a great job," Lisia replied. "It's work, but I can't think of anything else I'd want to be doing and it makes me feel useful."

They'd arrived at their destination, a small wood and stone outbuilding. Cobweb pushed open the door, which offered up some resistance before revealing a shadowy interior, half filled with folding chairs. "These are for when we have big events outside, especially festivals," he explained. "I thought it would be a good place to talk and do things uninterrupted."

Lisia looked at Cobweb askance. "'Do things uninterrupted'? Exactly what things?"

In answer Cobweb took Lisia's hand and led him inside. There were two small windows and it was still early enough that the natural light was more than adequate.

"I know what you're thinking," Cobweb said, sinking to the floor and indicating for his companion to do the same. "You think I'm going to be like Vlaric now, like in the potting shed."

Lisia shuddered, then laughed nervously. "Yes, well, maybe I did think that... but... that's not what you're planning?"

Cobweb shook his head and glanced around. The place was musty and a bit damp but otherwise adequate for their needs.

"No, this is something different. This will be a ritual. You'll need your caste training."

Lisia grinned. "Magic?"

"Yes, and about time we did this together! It's important to me, but until now, the two of us have never touched on that."

"Except for aruna." Their eyes met. Certainly they had experienced magic in aruna.

"Exactly." Cobweb rose gracefully from the floor. "But first, I just remembered something. We need supplies. You stay here, I'll go inside and get what we need. The ritual won't work otherwise."

Lisia nodded, his smile still lingering. Obviously the idea of magic excited him, which is exactly what Cobweb had counted on.

Making his way up to his room, Cobweb mulled over his idea. In essence, he planned to lead Lisia on a journey, not of the body, but of the spirit. The destination was unknown, but their companions were those that had been spoken of at dinner: the Sulh.

Although he'd been separated from his tribe for a good ten years, sticking strictly to life among the Varrs, the peace and tribal bridge building that occurred after the Fall had brought him back into contact.

The initial contact had been through a Sulh har named Tara. Swift had met Tara on a mission to Fogta, a small former Varr outpost. Living in an isolated cabin in the heart of a nearby forest, Tara had been found sheltering an adolescent human son, whom he'd been protecting from the Varrs for years, hoping to protect him until he was old enough for inception. Swift, Seel and Ashmael had brought father and son into town and reintroduced them to society. After Tara incepted his son, it had been Swift who had sealed the althaia.

A few months afterward Tara had gone with his son into Sulh territory. He'd had little problem finding acceptance and community. In fact, because of his connections to Swift and the government, he had ended up becoming a tribal representative. Two years after their rescue, Tara and Ranat had visited Forever, taking up Swift's invitation. It was then that the Sulh had met Cobweb, re-establishing a link that had been too long broken.

Cobweb returned to the storage shed with a satchel of supplies as well as an explanation for Lisia, who listened eagerly to the proposal. After explaining his relationship to the Sulh, including a trip he had made in person some years earlier, he went on to explain an additional aspect of his connection, one that neither Swift not Seel were aware of. This was Cobweb's own secret; he still had to keep some mystery about him.

During his visit and on two later occasions when Sulh representatives had come to Galhea, Cobweb had learned that it was possible to visit the tribe without leaving home. Instead of traveling with his body, Cobweb was able to raise himself up and commune with the tribe at a distance.

"Do you mean through a thought transference unit?" Lisia asked, trying to follow along.

"Not at all," Cobweb replied. "This is about individual psychic powers -- that and a rather fantastic innovation on the part of our tribe."

The Sulh had conjured with a unique method of long-distance communication, he explained. Each traveling group had its own psychic beacon, which was more than a thought transference unit to communicate with one or two hara, but a means via which hara could enter into communication with the group as a whole. It was a powerful beacon, tied into the entire group. This allowed tribal members to communicate at will without needing a thought transference units and also allowed outsiders a way to into the group.

While tribal members were familiar enough with the system to communicate with the outside in a normalized manner, without undue effort, outsiders making contact were required to enter into a ritual meditation and make a psychic journey. Depending on the distance involved, the journey could require the use of various herbs and charms. Such was the present case and accordingly, Cobweb had gathered the supplies from the house accordingly.

Lisia marvelled at the idea and agreed immediately to try to make the communication. They did not, Cobweb explained, necessarily need to actually go in a talk to anyone -- although they could certainly do so -- but after announcing themselves they would be allowed to explore the group network. There were rules of etiquette involved, for the protection of privacy, but in Cobweb's experience many hara were open to letting outsiders in to observe and experience -- so long as the visitors were friendly and polite. Cobweb had made the journey often enough that there were a dozen different hara who would welcome them in without a thought. It was a bit like making a trip and staying in the house of someone you know.

"Like the first time I visited here," Lisia commented.

"Right." He picked up the satchel untied the knot at the top. "Now do you want to help me set up?"

It took about ten minutes to prepare the room. Once the candles were lit, they covered the windows with a couple of disused tablecloths that had been stowed in a corner. The room was full of flickering shadows as they laid out the herbs and censers on the floor. Cobweb would light a mixture that would assist them entering into trance and free their mind for the journey. In addition, there were a number of herbs they would ingest.

After a few minutes of meditation, they would join together in mind and Cobweb would lead them out to a group of Sulh. How long they stayed would depend on whether their was anything interesting to observe and if they struck up any conversations. That said, thirty minutes was probably the limit, given that this was Lisia's first experience. The journey would likely we somewhat tiring and with Lisia's schedule of appointments the next day, he would need most of his strength.

The ritual proceeded as planned. As he had many times before, Cobweb entered into trance and made the journey up and out to join the Sulh. The only difference was that this time, he had a companion. Lisia, who had reached Acantha level, had sufficient training to follow along, but did need some assistance and assurance, as he'd never attempted anything similar. Through the bond they fused, Cobweb could sense Lisia's wonder at the strange universe through which they travelled. It was in some ways physical, with a sense of distance, out and out, away from Galhea, while in other ways it was purely mental, a sense of the spirit rolling outward like a wave.

At last they lost all awareness of their surroundings, the darkened room, the swirling, heavy incense in the air, and found themselves at the beacon. Cobweb signalled to Lisia mentally that they had arrived. His first move was to summon a familiar mind, a har named Shadow, who let them enter in before drifting off. They would be free to explore together, Cobweb intimated, his thoughts flowing directly into his companion's.

Cobweb decided to visit with a couple of different hara, introducing Lisia and showing him what level of communication was open to them in this realm. The beacon was very powerful and was able to convey even undirected thoughts, unlike a thought transference unit. Cobweb felt Lisia marvelling at all of it and then wanting to go exploring elsewhere within the tribe. He was interested in the observation aspect, seeing what they could gather by subtly moving among minds.

He was slightly apprehensive, not wanting to offend, but Cobweb assured him that so long as he observed any requests for privacy and stayed away from what were obviously private situations, he would be just fine. In fact, for the next ten minutes, he could try exploring the network on his own. Cobweb still had a couple of other contacts he wanted to visit. When their journey time was up, he would find Lisia and together they would return their minds to Galhea.

Lisia agreed and Cobweb separated from him, leaving only a threadlike connection between them, just in case there was trouble. This was, after all, Lisia's first time and in a strange environment, it was possible that something could go awry.

At was a while later that Cobweb first sensed trouble. He was finding out about a new herbal preparation when he felt a shift in the tension on the psychic thread. It was impossible to immediately gauge the nature of the trouble, and so Cobweb excused himself and traced himself back to Lisia as quickly as he could.

Even though he'd moved with speed, by the time he arrived in Lisia's proximity, the level of distress had risen considerably. Lisia was in a panic, so much so that when Cobweb linked up with his mind in full, at first he didn't even seem to notice. Instead his mind was locked on a horror he had not expected: Vlaric.

The name came as a whispering chant in Lisia's mind. Cobweb knew that the heart within Lisia's body, back in Forever, would be beating fiercely.

This was the har that had served as an instructor to the hara raised to be hostlings at the breeding facility. Vlaric had been Lisia's teacher in the art of aruna, and not only in the early years, but later on. Vlaric had given Lisia the experience of betrayal, initiating a relationship which he had protected with secrecy and promises of loyalty when in fact no loyalty existed. Vlaric had taken on several hostlings in a similar manner, assuring each of them they were special to him, above all others. When Lisia had learned of this deception, he had turned Vlaric away. When the facility had come to an end, Vlaric had gone along with the others. Like most other facility staff, hostlings, and harlings who had escaped, he had never been located.

Here he was. Cobweb did not recognize him from previous visits, having never initiated any communication. Lisia was another matter. How long had he been observing his former lover? Had they had any communication? Lisia's spirit was vibrating with shock, although surprisingly, little anger.

Cobweb did not have a problem getting angry. The moment he realized from Lisia what har he had found, his mind was gripped by thoughts of revenge. This was not allowable of course, given the stricture of the network, but it was what he wanted. Of all the characters Cobweb had read about in Lisia's published journey, aside from the chief administrator and doctor, this was the har who had rankled him most. A lover's betrayal -- Cobweb had identified with that and sympathized with Lisia. Now that sympathy was turned into a desire to see the har punished.

The problem was, Lisia wasn't feeling the same anger. In fact, within a minute or so, he had become calm and, cognizant of Cobweb's presence, assured Cobweb that he was going to fine. The shock was still there, but somehow he had willed his mind beyond it.

Now he was concentrating on Cobweb, whose resolve to attack was waning. "I want to talk to him!" Cobweb cried out. "I want to tell him what I think of him!"

Lisia was horrified and gave him the equivalent of a mental slap. Cobweb felt himself jolted. Could Lisia still have feelings for this har? How could he possibly not be against exacting some sort of punishment, even if it simply meant rubbing in Vlaric's face just how well he had done on his own? Hadn't Lisia at one time talked of wanting the staff punished?

Cobweb couldn't understand it. Nevertheless, he let himself be pushed away, leaving Vlaric behind. It came to him only then that, concentrating so much on Lisia's reaction, he had barely even had a chance to see what Vlaric was doing and thinking. Now it was too late and Lisia was expressing a desire to return back. Their journey was at an end.

Traveling back was quicker than their way in, since Lisia had grown confident. Although they were aware of one another, they did not share their thoughts as they flew back to Forever.

At last it was over. Cobweb felt his body about him, his heart beating, sweat running down his neck. He opened his eyes to see Lisia heaving upon the floor, weeping.

Cobweb crawled over and took his friend into his arms. "Oh, Lis, I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I had no idea." He held him firm, waiting until the worst of the sobs had passed before releasing him.

"I know you didn't know," Lisia said, shaking his head sadly. He reached up to wipe his eyes. "I was there on my own and found him."

"I wish I'd been with you! I would have--"

"No!" Lisia shot back, again with the fierceness Cobweb had felt in the mental slap. "I don't want that!"

Again Cobweb was bewildered. "I don't understand. You found him! I thought you would want revenge, that you'd want--"

"No." Lisia straightened his shirt and got to his feet, pacing over to a window, where he unhooked the covering and stared out into the darkening twilight. "Not now."

Cobweb went over to him. "Why?"

Lisia continued to gaze into the night. "You didn't... experience him. You don't... know him."

Cobweb took this in. By now he was more than a little impatient to learn exactly what was going on in Lisia's mind. Whatever it was, it wasn't something he was letting on, nor was it a motive Cobweb could reason out on his own. He placed his hands on Lisia's shoulders. "Tell me, Lis. Tell me about Vlaric."

Lisia let out a heavy sigh, then turned back toward the narrow confines of the room. "All right. Let's sit."

Abandoning the floor, which had been appropriate to the ritual, they pulled out chairs. Once they were both seated, Lisia began to explain.

He'd left Cobweb to go exploring and had taken in everything with a sense of awe. It was incredible, the freedom, the delicious undercurrents of thoughts, ordinary and profound, he'd found within that group of hara. He would have been Acanthi content to float above it all, not even coming in close to any individual situations, except that all at once, he'd sensed something familiar. Someone familiar.

It was Vlaric. Lisia had known it at once. He had once shared Vlaric's spirit, just as he had shared his body. Now, here it was, among the Sulh.

Lisia didn't understand it, but he knew he had to investigate. He didn't even direct himself to zero in on it -- it happened in an instant. He was there, so close and yet, very deliberately, concealing himself. Considering his inexperience, it was obviously all instinct, this concealment. He would not be sensed within the network, he somehow knew, but he could gather the thoughts around him. Vlaric would not know. Thankfully, it had all played out perfectly -- at least as far as not being discovered.

Vlaric had changed, Lisia quickly learned. At the moment Lisia had coma across him, he was nurturing a small harling, obviously only a few weeks old. Two other harlings were nearby, their presence clearly discernible. He was their hostling.

From Vlaric's mind, occupied with the harling, Lisia learned that years ago, after the group of facility refugees had broken apart, Vlaric had encountered the Sulh and found refuge. Moreover, he'd found a partner. They had become chesna. At first Vlaric had been a broken har, overcome with regret for what he had done in his position at the facility, but his chesnari had forgiven him and even healed him. They fell in love. The oldest harling was four years old. They had a happy family. Vlaric had found peace. Lisia did not want the situation to change.

"So you see," Lisia said in conclusion, "although you desire vengeance, it's not what I want. He's found happiness, Cobweb, and I won't begrudge him." He grimaced and laughed darkly. "Call it a weakness, but I have compassion and, I will even admit, a little bit of love left for him. Despite everything, he was in some ways good to me."

Cobweb reached out and took Lisia's hand. "You're so good," he offered. "I... I really don't know what to say except that. I can understand what you're saying but I... No, you're so good, a better har than I."

"Oh, no, don't say that!" Lisia protested.

"Why not?" Cobweb snorted. "I've got such a temper."

"Which is nothing to be ashamed of," Lisia asserted. "It's alright to get angry. I just think sometimes we need to restrain ourselves, think about things carefully, not just strike out."

After that, there were no words, for both of them dropped to the floor and slowly and languorously, they dipped into the pool of relaxation and release of aruna. By the time they finished, the candles had burned out.