From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [45]
“Your gift is stronger than mine, but as your body is weak and I am touching you, I could destroy you. Did you know that?”
Achan’s eyes flashed open. He drew up his shields, and what felt like the bite of a cham bear bit down on his head. He gasped.
“Relax. I will not hurt you. Open your mind.” Her gaze was focused on her hand. “And close your eyes.”
It went against all logic, but he blew out a short breath and obeyed. He had no reason not to trust this woman, but blazes, she had a shocking way with words.
“Touch, skin to skin, increases the connection between gifted minds. Like having a key to one’s soul. You may have other defenses to keep me out, but touch reduces the biggest obstacle.” Her fingertips shifted. “Let us play a bit.”
Achan swallowed.
“Sir Shung, stay close to your prince as we practice. Keep the connection open between your minds. Listen to his conversation with me, though he could block you from our words should he wish to. If you do not hear from him often, speak to him. If he does not respond, or you suspect he is in danger, wake him. Do not leave his side until he returns to his body. Should you wait too long, it is possible he will never wake. Do you understand your responsibility?”
Achan opened his eyes to see Shung bang his fist against his chest. “Shung will not fail, my lady.”
“And please make sure I do not fall off the bed.”
Shung lunged to the bedside, hands out.
Duchess Amal smiled. “Not yet, Sir Shung. First connect your mind to the prince’s.”
Shung’s knock came almost instantly. Shung Noatak.
Achan opened his mind to his Shield. Any clue what she’s going to do?
None, Little Cham. She is her own kind of warrior.
Achan took a jagged breath. That she is.
The duchess caressed Achan’s cheek. “Relax, Your Highness, and please, close your eyes.”
He obeyed, willing his hands to stay still, his heartbeat to calm, his breathing to slow. Suddenly, he was flying up through the ceiling, through the rooms on the levels above his, out the roof, and into the sky. Hovering over Castle Granton, he could see the stronghold beneath his bare legs.
Bare legs?
His heart leaped into his throat. They were in the Veil. He did not want to be here again. And in his undershorts!
Trouble, Little Cham? Shung asked.
Achan looked to his left and found Duchess Amal holding his hand, floating in the sky beside him. Oh, horror. He couldn’t breathe. I am well, Shung. It’s just … She took me into the Veil and… No pants, Shung! No pants!
Yet Achan would knight Matthias for having chosen such a long tunic. It hung to his knees like a nightshirt. He prayed the duchess would assume it was just that.
To Duchess Amal, he said, How did you… ?
She flashed her disarming smile. I have stormed you.
Achan squeezed her hand. Isn’t that a bad thing?
Not how I have done it, for I mean you no harm. But you understand why this is dangerous?
Achan shuddered at the memory of not being able to get back to his body. Aye… I mean, yes.
When our mind is away from our body for too long, it yearns for the world beyond and drifts to one of the gates.
Gates?
The Pearly Gate or the Fiery Gate.
How does the mind know where to go?
It doesn’t. It is pulled by Light or Darkness. Only Light can go to Shamayim. All Darkness goes to the Lowerworld.
Achan considered this. You must know Câan to reach the Pearly Gate, for Câan is Light.
Precisely. When you storm someone in battle, you push their mind from their body and strip it of its recent memories. This way, the mind is lost, drifting until it reaches one of the two eternal destinations.
How long does that take?
That varies, I think, depending on Arman’s will. Some go within days, some linger for years.
That’s… horrible.
No more horrible than being run through by a sword and left to bleed to death. As you can see, it is a peaceful, ignorant death. I suspect many believe they are dreaming.
And some would know that they are not?
Those trained to navigate the Veil would