Anders waited for Maija to break it to him, wondering if this was why she had blood on her clothes.
“Solomon’s dead,” she said.
Anders got slightly light-headed again and blinked, “What? Dead? How?” Maija recounted the story Natalia had told her. When she finished, he said, “I met another family member without even knowing it.”
“It sounded like he didn’t know either.”
“Ivan was there, too,” Anders said.
“I don’t think they knew either. After Solomon left the throne he didn’t come back to Southland until after Ivan, or William, had left the capital.”
“And now he’s gone, too,” Anders said, looking at the box.
“His body might be, but his mind still lives in there,” Maija said.
“I suppose that’s what Natalia told you,” Anders said flatly.
“I thought this would make you happy, give you hope,” Maija said, putting her arms around him.
Anders nodded, “It does, but if it’s anything like the way Tarron is trapped in Lazuran’s sapphire, then it will take another bonding to bring him to life again and we might not get that opportunity before this is through.”
“That’s not a sapphire, though,” Maija said, pointing to the box.
“What’s inside could be,” Anders shrugged again.
“Which is why you need to crack it open.”
Anders shifted, looking up at Zahara and Raffa playing as if there weren’t a care in the world. “We should be getting back,” he said with a sigh.
“Let them enjoy this moment a little longer,” Maija said. “I still haven’t told you about my dealings with the kurr and people of Aquina.”
Anders turned and looked at her astonished, “How long were you gone again? I thought it was only three days.”
Maija nodded, “A lot can happen in three days.”
***
“Focus,” Anders said. Thomas held the dimly lit crystal in his hand. Anders tried to sooth his nerves with his mind. “You can do this, if you just focus,” he said in a calm tone.
Thomas flicked his wrist and opened his eyes. “Did I do it?” he asked, looking to Anders.
Anders shook his head, “Keep trying; you’ll get it eventually.”
“I better. Everyone else seems to understand,” he said in frustration.
“Just focus on what we went over at the beginning of today’s lesson; control your mind and the energy will come,” Anders said.
Thomas rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the tree he was aiming at with the crystal’s powers.
Anders walked back to Zahara’s side and looked at the small training squad he’d managed to assemble over the last several days. Since Maija’s return, they had accepted two more of the Revolution’s soldiers into their group of crystal trainees at the leader’s request. With two elves already trained in the arts and two of Britt’s crew learning to use the magic, Tony and two of the other leaders pushed Rune to make Anders take on two of their own. Tony had insisted he come himself, but Anders knew if he found out Evans was quickly becoming his star pupil, Tony would find some reason to pin it on Max and challenge him to one-on-one combat once and for all. It had almost come to that outside Mott’s house and Anders didn’t want that kind of behavior and distrust to spread throughout Westland’s only army.
It will be easier when the others arrive, Zahara said, sensing his worry as he watched Evans work with Maija.
I hope so, Anders said.
With so many elves, dwarfs, and humans all in one place, Max should be able to stay clear of that madman, she said.
It’s not Max I’m worried about Tony seeing; it’s Evans. He’s becoming the best of them, even better than Kirsten, control-wise.
That’s why you’re having Maija work with him?
I was thinking it would help her to try to teach someone else how to use her powers. She said she almost used battle magic in the fight with the kurr. That’s something I didn’t show her.
She did train with Natalia quite a bit before we parted ways, Zahara said.
I just hope this peace lasts a few more days, until they get here, Anders said.
I haven’t sensed anything strange happening in or around the city. Perhaps Merglan is focusing his efforts on something else?
Anders leaned against Zahara’s shoulder and moved his hand to his hip, trying to rest it on Lazuran’s handle out of habit. He awkwardly fished for it before realizing he’d given it to Max, Kirsten and Sanka. A break from Tarron’s interruptions was nice, but he felt like he was missing a part of himself without the sword at his side.
How is Thomas doing? Zahara asked.
I’m afraid he’s not going to get it, like Britt said. From what Zorna said, it sounded like anyone would be able to use them, but I don’t know. He hasn’t been able to use the energy at all.
And you’ve had him try with and without the pink sapphire?
Yes, Anders said. That clearly works in a different way than these inhabitance crystals.
