the first time he’d come. It was different than what the kingdoms had erected. Whereas this was a thick blanket of ice and fog, the barrier along the borders of the kingdoms was clear and shaped from each of the elements to keep shapers out. As far as Lacertin could tell, the intent of this barrier was simply to keep everyone out. It did not discriminate.
How did Norilan manage to maintain this barrier? He hadn’t managed to determine that the last time that he’d been here, and he still didn’t understand what they had done. The water shaping used was complex, rivaling the shaping that he’d seen from Wallyn, but this wasn’t water used to heal.
Maybe had another shaper, one stronger in water, come with him, he might be able to understand. There would be value in closing the borders entirely.
Lacertin made his way to the east, pressing against the barrier and not able to get any farther toward land he knew had to be there, land he couldn’t see. What had prompted a shaping like this? What would make a nation want to fully isolate themselves? Were it not for the reference in the archives, Lacertin might not have known a place like Norilan even existed. Norilan might be safe with a shaping, but what did they lose?
What would the kingdoms lose by place the barrier around the border?
Lacertin had never considered that before. They might find safety, protection from Incendin attacks, but would there be other consequences that they hadn’t considered?
Maybe that was a question for the archivists. Or for Theondar to manage once he became the First Warrior. Lacertin would continue to serve the kingdoms, likely sent to fight Incendin. Anything more than that… he would have to find a way to be happy with what was asked of him.
The air pulsed suddenly, pressing him back.
Lacertin resisted, pushing against it with a shaping of fire and earth, but holding himself here drained him. He couldn’t attack Norilan—and didn’t want to even if he could—not if he wanted to return.
With one last glance at the barrier, he turned away and started back to the kingdoms.
* * *
W hen he returned , he noted that the stones of the shaper circle outside the university had chipped. Lacertin wasn’t sure whether his shaping had anything to do with it, or if it had been another shaper. As he leaned in to examine the stones, he heard a rustling of fabric behind him that told him he wasn’t alone.
“You keep following me,” he said without looking up. Earth sensing had told him that Jayna stood behind him, if not why.
“I wanted to check on you.”
Lacertin stood and wiped his hands on his cloak. Moisture remained from his travel and he smoothed the fabric. He wore borrowed clothes that were finer than his own, but not his sword. In time, he’d have to find that as well. It felt wrong to be without it.
“I think I’m fine,” he said.
Jayna smiled. “Fine? Master Wallyn told me what was needed to heal you. It sounds as if I underestimated your injuries.” The frustration in her voice didn’t match the wide smile on her face.
“Oh, he claims I would have died had I not accepted healing when I did. I think he was being overly dramatic.”
Jayna touched him on the arm and a shaping built from her quickly. Her eyes widened slightly and she shook her head. “You were masking your injury from me.”
“I don’t think I masked anything. Haven’t you learned that I’m not all that strong with water?”
“You’re plenty strong; you just don’t have a delicate touch with it like you need in order to be an effective healer.”
Lacertin laughed and stepped away from the shaper circle. The air had taken on an edge of energy that tugged on his fire sensing. He’d come to listen when he sensed things like that. Usually, it meant a different kind of shaping.
“I never claimed an interest in healing,” he said.
A rumble of thunder echoed suddenly. Lacertin glanced up to the darkening sky. Streaks of color swirled
How did Norilan manage to maintain this barrier? He hadn’t managed to determine that the last time that he’d been here, and he still didn’t understand what they had done. The water shaping used was complex, rivaling the shaping that he’d seen from Wallyn, but this wasn’t water used to heal.
Maybe had another shaper, one stronger in water, come with him, he might be able to understand. There would be value in closing the borders entirely.
Lacertin made his way to the east, pressing against the barrier and not able to get any farther toward land he knew had to be there, land he couldn’t see. What had prompted a shaping like this? What would make a nation want to fully isolate themselves? Were it not for the reference in the archives, Lacertin might not have known a place like Norilan even existed. Norilan might be safe with a shaping, but what did they lose?
What would the kingdoms lose by place the barrier around the border?
Lacertin had never considered that before. They might find safety, protection from Incendin attacks, but would there be other consequences that they hadn’t considered?
Maybe that was a question for the archivists. Or for Theondar to manage once he became the First Warrior. Lacertin would continue to serve the kingdoms, likely sent to fight Incendin. Anything more than that… he would have to find a way to be happy with what was asked of him.
The air pulsed suddenly, pressing him back.
Lacertin resisted, pushing against it with a shaping of fire and earth, but holding himself here drained him. He couldn’t attack Norilan—and didn’t want to even if he could—not if he wanted to return.
With one last glance at the barrier, he turned away and started back to the kingdoms.
* * *
W hen he returned , he noted that the stones of the shaper circle outside the university had chipped. Lacertin wasn’t sure whether his shaping had anything to do with it, or if it had been another shaper. As he leaned in to examine the stones, he heard a rustling of fabric behind him that told him he wasn’t alone.
“You keep following me,” he said without looking up. Earth sensing had told him that Jayna stood behind him, if not why.
“I wanted to check on you.”
Lacertin stood and wiped his hands on his cloak. Moisture remained from his travel and he smoothed the fabric. He wore borrowed clothes that were finer than his own, but not his sword. In time, he’d have to find that as well. It felt wrong to be without it.
“I think I’m fine,” he said.
Jayna smiled. “Fine? Master Wallyn told me what was needed to heal you. It sounds as if I underestimated your injuries.” The frustration in her voice didn’t match the wide smile on her face.
“Oh, he claims I would have died had I not accepted healing when I did. I think he was being overly dramatic.”
Jayna touched him on the arm and a shaping built from her quickly. Her eyes widened slightly and she shook her head. “You were masking your injury from me.”
“I don’t think I masked anything. Haven’t you learned that I’m not all that strong with water?”
“You’re plenty strong; you just don’t have a delicate touch with it like you need in order to be an effective healer.”
Lacertin laughed and stepped away from the shaper circle. The air had taken on an edge of energy that tugged on his fire sensing. He’d come to listen when he sensed things like that. Usually, it meant a different kind of shaping.
“I never claimed an interest in healing,” he said.
A rumble of thunder echoed suddenly. Lacertin glanced up to the darkening sky. Streaks of color swirled
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