Radiant Page 4

  “Your father was sucked into a portal between the two worlds. He had not meant to cross over, and when he tried to return to Zaman, he found that the portal had closed.”

  “There are portals between the worlds? How come no one has ever seen one on Xanos?”

  “They are rare and do not remain open for long. I imagine that is why. Although it is possible that there have been Xanians crossing over accidentally the way your father did.”

  “Is my father still alive?” Sena asked. “You said he is Zamani, that means he’s alive, right?”

  “He is,” Sya confirmed. “And were it not for the fact that living on Xanos was slowly killing him, he would never have left you and returned home.”

  Sena stood up, pacing up and down along the side of the stream. She had a father out there somewhere. She came to a sudden stop with a frown. So her parents hadn’t been from a neighbouring town, and they hadn’t died with Phylgia. So the couple that had died, that meant they had not been her real parents.

  “It is a lot to take in, I know,” Sya said soothingly. “It makes you question yourself and who you really are. Nothing is as you believed it to be, I understand that it is not easy. And I am sorry for that. But you needed to know the truth in order to begin your training.”

  Sena looked up. “Training?”

  “Yes. Had you been born on or lived on Zaman, you would already have gone through your first transformation by now, but as you live here and are only half Zamani, it was necessary to wait. Your planet does not have the same magic as Zaman. In order to undergo your transformation, you will need to be prepared and trained.”

  “What transformation?”

  “Here on Xanos, when a child reaches maturity, they begin to manifest their powers, which then defines which caste they belong to, Hectian or Sybeli. It is a transformation of sorts. Well, on Zaman, a youth nearing maturity must undergo a series of rituals and quests. These are necessary for the child to commune with his or her inner spirit. Zamani are Shamans just as the Hectian are Mages, and the Sybeli are witches. The Zamani are a peaceful people who have a deep bond with nature.” Sya reached out and gently stroked Sena’s cheek. “There is much more I have to teach you, young one, but I think that it will have to wait for another day. I have given you more than enough to think on already.”

  Sena had so much more she wanted to ask. It seemed as though the more Sya explained things the more new questions arose. “But—”

  “It is time for you to go back,” Sya chuckled at her new young charge’s curiosity. “We will meet again soon. In fact, we will be spending much time together from now on, and I am sure I will be able to answer all that you seek to know. But please, I must ask one thing of you. All that I have told you, all that you have seen, you must not tell anyone about this. Not yet anyway.” And with those final words, she brought her hands together in a delicate dance, drawing symbols Sena did not recognise in the amber air around them; and before she knew what was happening, Sena found herself back in the forest standing next to Kyan by the large rock she had previously entered.

  “Sorry, my mind must have wandered,” Kyan said, a dazed look on his face. He looked around the clearing they were in. “That’s weird, I must have been really zoning out. I don’t even remember us leaving the woods.”

  “I think I’ve worked you too hard,” Sena said with a calm she did not feel. Sya must have spelled Kyan to forget what he had seen, either that or time had somehow moved backwards while she was in the Hyios. Her mind was whirling with all that Sya had told her. She needed some time alone to make sense of it all. “Anyway, I should be getting back home, my mom will be worried that I’m not back yet.”

  “Oh, yeah sure,” Kyan nodded absentmindedly. “I should be getting back too. My band will think someone has kidnapped me when they notice how long I’ve been gone. Well, that’s if any of them are even up yet!”

  Sena chuckled at the rueful look on his face. “Thanks again for all your help. It was nice meeting you in person.”

  He looked at Sena. There was something very intriguing about her. She was not like anyone else he had ever met. And there was something oddly calming about her presence too. His interest in her had nothing to do with the fact that she was beautiful, albeit in an unusual way. “Listen, we are headed back to Sylios this afternoon,” he commented. “But I was thinking, well, we don’t have any tours or shows planned next month, and I will actually get to take a break. Well, I was thinking that maybe I could spend part of my time off here in Jya,” he said flushing a little.

  “You sure you won’t be bored?” Sena was surprised. “There isn’t much to do here for someone used to city living.”

  “I think that’s the appeal actually,” he replied honestly. “There’s something so peaceful about your town. Almost as though time had slowed down,” he continued, not noticing the sudden pallor on Sena’s face at his words. “Maybe you could teach me more about herbs and their uses when I come back.”

  “Sure,” Sena smiled. He was nice, not anything like she had expected from what she heard in the papers, but even so, she doubted he would really be back. So many tourists had holidayed in Jya seeking a break from the fast pace of Sylios, all swearing that they were going to be back and yet most never did.

  Chapter Five

  Sena raced home once she had showed Kyan the way to the town square. She practically flew through the front door. “Mom?” she called out, as she carefully placed the herbs she had collected on the kitchen table. There was no reply. Allaya must have been called out to attend to a patient. Breathing a sigh of relief that she would get some time to herself, Sena went outside to her tree lodge and impatiently stepped into the mistall. The particles of magic wrapped around her, soothing with their familiar feel, and transported her up to her den. Allaya had designed and constructed the tree house herself when Sena was just a toddler. First, it had been a playroom of sorts; and then later, as Sena had gotten older, it had turned into a haven where she could read and study in peace. It may have seemed like a well put-together stack of logs to anyone viewing it from the outside, but to Sena, it was much more than that. This place was like an old friend, a confidante who had heard all her secrets, and been with her every step of her life. It was her sanctuary.

  She passed her hands over the entrance and spelled the mistall to allow entry to no one. If intent was what drove a spell, then not even Phia would be able to enter now, such was Sena’s will to have a few moments of peace. Satisfied that she was finally alone, Sena sank into the soft armchair her mother had given her. Closing her eyes, she thought back to earlier that morning. She had a father! And what’s more, he was still alive! It still didn’t seem real somehow. And the fact that he was of another race, from another world. Sena opened her eyes and held her arms up, inspecting herself carefully to see whether she could spot anything different about herself now that she knew the truth. Her skin was much fairer than her father’s, and where his eyes were the colour of honey hers were blue. And Sena, although on the tall side for her age, was definitely no giant like her father.

  The only thing they seemed to have in common was their almond shaped eyes, nothing else seemed to fit. Unless, unless that was the transformation Sya had kept alluding to. Was she going to turn into something else, someone else? Would she look more like her father once she had undergone the rituals Sya had told her about? A part of her was excited with all that she had found out, yet there was also fear there in the background. Did Allaya know anything was different about her? She had after all adopted Sena when she was mere weeks old, and she was a healer. Would she not have realised that there was something different about her own daughter? Oh, she had so many questions for Sya. How she wished she had asked more when she had the chance.

  Sena woke with a start as she heard her name being called out a little frantically. “Sena! Sena! Can you hear me?”

  She rubbed her eyes, feeling m
ore than a little disorientated. It was dark outside. When had it become night? She must have slept all through the day! Maybe entering the Hyios had drained her, either that or too much thinking about too many different things.

  “Sena, are you up there?” her mother called again, a little more panicked this time. “Honey, answer me. The mistall isn’t letting me up!”

  “Sorry, Mom!” Sena quickly unwarded the mistall and ported down to where her mother stood.

  “Gods above!” Allaya exclaimed. “I was so worried when you wouldn’t answer, and I couldn’t get up to you.”

  “I know, I’m sorry,” Sena hugged her mother. “I fell asleep. I never even heard you.”

  “Have you been up there all day?”

  “I guess so,” Sena shrugged. “I went out early this morning to get the herbs, I must have been more tired than I realised.”

  “I saw what you gathered,” her mother nodded. “You certainly came back with more than I expected.” She frowned. “Maybe you overdid it a little?” She placed a hand on Sena’s forehead. “I hope you’re not coming down with something, maybe I should give you a check-up.”

  “I’m fine, Mom,” Sena laughed. “I probably just overdid it like you said. I never get sick, you know that.”

  “Hmm, you’re probably right. Okay, I’ll let you off this time, but please don’t spell the mistall to keep me out again. I was really worried!”

  “Sorry, Mom, I just wanted some peace and quiet to read. I was worried that the girls would come over to talk about the show last night.”

  Allaya laughed. “Enough said, although now that you mention it, there was a note on the door from Phia and Mysia. I think you may have had a lucky escape, young lady!” She grinned. “Anyway, the reason I dared to disturb you in your lair was that I have a surprise for you,” she teased as she ushered Sena into the main house.

  Chapter Six

  “Auntie Zehra!” Sena squealed in delight when she saw who was sitting at the kitchen table.

  “My dearest child!” Zehra got up with a grace and energy, which belied her advanced years to wrap her into a big hug. “Gods above you are growing like a Xani vine! What is that mother of yours feeding you?” She drew back a little, holding Sena at arm’s length. “Let me look at you properly.”

  Sena grinned and performed a little turn and a pose.

  “Cheeky child!” Zehra laughed. “You are looking more beautiful each time I visit.”

  Zehra wasn’t really her aunt, she was Allaya’s grandmother and had brought her up as her own when Allaya’s parents had both died of the Phylgia. Sena knew her aunt was nearing her two hundredth birthday, although you would never know it from looking at her. Zehra’s dark silver hair still shone with health, and her blue eyes sparkled with youth. She was like a whirlwind of energy, never stopping for a second, which was just as well considering that she was in fact an Aya, one of the three elders of the triumvirate elected by the people of Xanos to lead them.

  “So, where have your travels taken you this time?” Allaya asked her grandmother. “It has been months since you visited.”

  “Five months and three days to be precise,” Zehra sighed. “I have missed you both terribly, but the council has kept me so busy that I have barely had time to breathe, let alone think!” She sighed dramatically. “So busy in fact that I barely had the time and energy to find young Sena a present.”

  “That’s okay, Auntie,” Sena smiled sweetly. “The best present is seeing you anyway.”

  Zehra grinned, a mischievous glint in her blue eyes. “I said barely, dear heart. And as wonderful as it is that you take such pleasure in the company of an old woman, did you really think I would come to see you empty-handed? Not all the problems of Xanos could prevent me from finding you the perfect birthday present!” she snorted. “You didn’t really think I would forget that it is your birthday in two days, did you? And such an important one too, it isn’t every day that a girl turns sixteen after all.” She reached for the lavender silk handbag on the table and muttered a quick spell under her breath. The bag sparked with magick before doubling in size and snapping open. Zehra smiled and turned towards Sena. “Well, what are you waiting for? Reach in and find your present.”

  “But It’s not my birthday yet!” Sena giggled as she put her hand in the bag.

  “I wanted to be the first to give you a present,” Zehra replied, watching indulgently as her young niece drew out a slim, beautifully wrapped box.

  Sena took a moment to admire the shimmering package. Different hues of blue and turquoise silk paper covered the box, silver spark of magick dancing around them. The ribbon changed colour before her very eyes—dark blue one moment, aqua the next. It seemed a shame to ruin her aunt’s workmanship and tear it all apart.

  “Well? Come along, my dear,” Zehra commented impatiently. “I’m not getting any younger, you know!”

  Sena gingerly untied the ribbon and peeled back the paper. Inside lay a gleaming box of Kina wood. She gasped. “But Auntie! How did you get this?” Kina trees were rare and protected by the council. Kina wood was coveted by all due, not only due to its beauty but also for its magical properties. Only the most skilled carpenters could carve the wood using a special technique. Very few carpenters on Xanos had magick powerful enough to work with Kina. “Thank you, Auntie,” Sena whispered breathlessly. “But this must have cost you a fortune!”

  “Never mind that!” Zehra exclaimed. “Open the box!”

  The box itself wasn’t the present? Confused, Sena gently opened it and gasped again when she saw what was inside. There, nestled in a pillow of dark blue silk, lay the most exquisite necklace she had ever seen.

  “Here, let me,” her aunt offered, lifting the delicate necklace from its box. The silver chain gleamed with an almost black hue in the light, and it was so fine that it was a wonder it even held together. A small pendant, carved from the same metal, hung on the end.

  Dipping her head so that her aunt to fasten it around her neck, Sena touched the necklace reverently. “It’s beautiful, Auntie. I have never seen anything like it. But what is it?” She held up the pendant for a closer look. It was of an animal, but not one she had ever seen before.

  “It is a mystical creature called a Dyx. In legends, it is described as a wolf-like animal, but it has wings and claws.”

  “I have never heard of it before,” Sena said with awe.

  “Well, according to the legends, Dyx are protectors. They defend those they are loyal to.”

  “Thank you so much!” Sena threw her arms around the older woman and hugged her tight. “It is the best present ever!”

  “It is lovely,” her mother chimed in, leaning forward to get a closer look. “Gods above!” she gasped.

  Sena looked up at her mother worriedly, missing the glance Zehra cast at Allaya. “Mom, what is it?”

  “It is made of Lixor,” Allaya explained, still slightly shaky. “If you thought Kina wood was rare, well, let’s just say that Lixor is perhaps the rarest metal on all of Xanos. It is completely indestructible and very valuable,” she finished, casting an odd look at Zehra.

  “Nothing is too good for my Sena,” her aunt shrugged. “She is about to turn sixteen after all. And soon, she will find out which caste she belongs to. Perhaps she will be a Hectian like me?”

  “Or a Sybeli like me,” Allaya countered.

  Sena sat at the table and sipped her tea, listening bemusedly to the light-hearted debate they were having over whose caste she would share. Reaching up to stroke her new pendant, she lurched forward as a small but sharp bolt of electricity shot through her. Her mother and aunt were still too busy teasing each other to have noticed her jerk reaction. Tentatively, Sena touched her necklace again, bracing herself for the jolt. Though uncomfortable at first, after a few seconds, her nerve endings got used to the intensity of magick flowing through her. The small amber e
ye of the Dyx seemed to glow and pulsate under her touch, almost as though it were alive. Sena shook her head in disbelief at the direction her thoughts were taking. A metal that came to life? Her friends would tease her mercilessly if they heard that their usually logical fact-loving friend was taken to such flights of fancy. The mere thought of a living, breathing metal was too ridiculous.

  “How so?” a voice asked, bemused. “Why should a metal not be alive?”

  Sena stood up abruptly startling her mother and aunt into silence. “Oh, I, well, I am still very tired. Would it be okay if I went to bed? I promise I will be better company tomorrow, Auntie Zehra.”

  “Of course, of course, dear heart, you do look a little pale. Your mother was just the same around the time of her sixteenth birthday. It is your body adjusting to all the magick bounding around. Ah, to be young again,” she winked making Sena laugh. “Now off you go, tomorrow we shall spend the day together you and I.”

  Sena gave each woman a quick hug and kiss and practically flew up the stairs to her room. Once she was alone, Sena touched the necklace again, not even flinching when the now familiar tingle of magick seeped into her. “Okay, either I am going completely mad or you just talked to me,” she whispered to the pendant.

  “Nope, you’re not losing your mind. Well, not that I know of, although that said a few of my previous owners were definitely passengers on the crazy train if you know what I mean.” The eye of the Dyx blinked and stared at her sceptically for a moment. “Nah, you’re all good. No alarm bells to be rung just yet. You seem normal enough.”

  “Gods above,” Sena muttered under her breath, sinking onto her bed in disbelief. “I really have gone completely mad. I can’t believe I am sitting here talking to a necklace.”

  “Uh hum!” the Dyx snorted. “I am much more than just a pretty bauble to hang around your neck, missy! I am offended down to my beautifully carved talons that you are dissing me like this. I am Zirh, and I will have you know that all my previous owners, crazy as some were, all appreciated me and knew my value! Ugh, how did I end up with a child who doesn’t know anything about anything? Teenagers!”