figure out. We loved each other very much.”
“I suppose Kai was jealous?” said Gar.
“At first. But Kai loves Tyro, as do I…and we only want his happiness. I came to understand that when I would be joined with Tyro, Kai would always be a part of our family. And he has been.
He’s a joy to us and has been our brother and friend and uncle to Tilo. He couldn’t have been more of a family member even if he was related to us by blood. That’s why when he is gone I feel uneasy. When Tyro or my son are away from me I can always ‘reach’ and sense them. They are only a thought away from me. But, when Kai is away, I cannot. It’s a mother’s need, you know, to always be close to her family. I guess in our way both Tyro and I still want to protect Kai.” Gar thought Seema was wonderful. Tyro was definitely a very lucky man to have her. She was warm, loving and understanding, qualities he knew were lacking in his own person. It was apparent that they would be devastated should Kai be lost to them.
Having made a decision, he stood up.
“What are you doing?” asked Seema.
Gar cracked his knuckles, closed his eyes, and assumed the position the Healer had demonstrated with his palms facing out to the horizon.
“I’m going to get Kai back.”
In the darkness that filled his head he imagined he was stretching out in to the vast space ahead of him, feeling for the shell with his brain like the Healer had told him to. This family needed their friend home and if he was the only person to be able to find him, then so be it. This would be something he would do for them.
Yet, nothing came to him. No shell.
He unclenched his eyes and turned to Seema with defeat written all over his face.
“No luck, huh?”
He shook his head.
“Is there a reason you held up your arms?” she asked.
“That’s what you are supposed to do when you ‘Reach’. Isn’t it?”
She chuckled sweetly and squeezed his shoulder. “Gar, you’re reaching out with your mind . Your hands have nothing to do with it.” It was turning into a whole day where Gar was feeling pretty much like the village idiot.
Seema gave him an encouraging smile but the young prince could still see her sadness underneath. She began walking down the stairs, leaving him alone. He leaned on the wooden railing and watched her descend. He did not want to let her down. Now that he knew how much Kai mattered to her family.
Gar looked out onto the horizon and the beautiful landscape. Kai meant a lot to the people who loved him. Sure, there were those among the Aklesh who had a problem with him, but even those people were searching and that meant something.
He let his mind drift as he stared into the distance. It felt better than the forced concentration he’d been working at all day. A little rest, he promised himself, then he’d try again.
Gar let Seema’s words sink in. It was difficult to think of Kai as someone with a powerful mind. But he could understand in an environment such as this why these people would value brawn so much. Kai would seem inferior in that regard.
Yet the young tribesman was by no means unfit. Gar’s thoughts dwelled on this.
Kai’s body was muscular and firm with round shoulders and an impressive chest. His arms were well defined and lean. While his hands were large, Gar had seen him be very gentle with them.
Also, his face was handsome with a square jaw and high cheekbones. Kai’s eyes were deep and a soft, misty shade of grey. Had everything been different, had they met on Orestus, Gar knew he certainly would have…
A sharp sensation hit Gar like a bolt of electricity.
He shook himself and regained his focus.
The feeling had drawn his attention to the landscape, but it had been centered on one spot.
There were three hills on the horizon, past the blanket of forest below the keep, and he scrutinized them intensely, inexplicably pulled to them.
And he knew, he just knew that on the left side of the
“I suppose Kai was jealous?” said Gar.
“At first. But Kai loves Tyro, as do I…and we only want his happiness. I came to understand that when I would be joined with Tyro, Kai would always be a part of our family. And he has been.
He’s a joy to us and has been our brother and friend and uncle to Tilo. He couldn’t have been more of a family member even if he was related to us by blood. That’s why when he is gone I feel uneasy. When Tyro or my son are away from me I can always ‘reach’ and sense them. They are only a thought away from me. But, when Kai is away, I cannot. It’s a mother’s need, you know, to always be close to her family. I guess in our way both Tyro and I still want to protect Kai.” Gar thought Seema was wonderful. Tyro was definitely a very lucky man to have her. She was warm, loving and understanding, qualities he knew were lacking in his own person. It was apparent that they would be devastated should Kai be lost to them.
Having made a decision, he stood up.
“What are you doing?” asked Seema.
Gar cracked his knuckles, closed his eyes, and assumed the position the Healer had demonstrated with his palms facing out to the horizon.
“I’m going to get Kai back.”
In the darkness that filled his head he imagined he was stretching out in to the vast space ahead of him, feeling for the shell with his brain like the Healer had told him to. This family needed their friend home and if he was the only person to be able to find him, then so be it. This would be something he would do for them.
Yet, nothing came to him. No shell.
He unclenched his eyes and turned to Seema with defeat written all over his face.
“No luck, huh?”
He shook his head.
“Is there a reason you held up your arms?” she asked.
“That’s what you are supposed to do when you ‘Reach’. Isn’t it?”
She chuckled sweetly and squeezed his shoulder. “Gar, you’re reaching out with your mind . Your hands have nothing to do with it.” It was turning into a whole day where Gar was feeling pretty much like the village idiot.
Seema gave him an encouraging smile but the young prince could still see her sadness underneath. She began walking down the stairs, leaving him alone. He leaned on the wooden railing and watched her descend. He did not want to let her down. Now that he knew how much Kai mattered to her family.
Gar looked out onto the horizon and the beautiful landscape. Kai meant a lot to the people who loved him. Sure, there were those among the Aklesh who had a problem with him, but even those people were searching and that meant something.
He let his mind drift as he stared into the distance. It felt better than the forced concentration he’d been working at all day. A little rest, he promised himself, then he’d try again.
Gar let Seema’s words sink in. It was difficult to think of Kai as someone with a powerful mind. But he could understand in an environment such as this why these people would value brawn so much. Kai would seem inferior in that regard.
Yet the young tribesman was by no means unfit. Gar’s thoughts dwelled on this.
Kai’s body was muscular and firm with round shoulders and an impressive chest. His arms were well defined and lean. While his hands were large, Gar had seen him be very gentle with them.
Also, his face was handsome with a square jaw and high cheekbones. Kai’s eyes were deep and a soft, misty shade of grey. Had everything been different, had they met on Orestus, Gar knew he certainly would have…
A sharp sensation hit Gar like a bolt of electricity.
He shook himself and regained his focus.
The feeling had drawn his attention to the landscape, but it had been centered on one spot.
There were three hills on the horizon, past the blanket of forest below the keep, and he scrutinized them intensely, inexplicably pulled to them.
And he knew, he just knew that on the left side of the
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