Chapter 2
Desmond and Mariah were in meditation in the outside garden, having not said a word to each other for nearly an hour. It was one of his favourite ways to spend quality time with her – locked in the magic, feeling nothing else but her presence and the strong life force that beat around them. Some witches didn't meditate, although he didn't know how. Nathaniel had never taken to the practice, often unable to quiet his mind, and Desmond was baffled by his talent despite his busy thoughts. Mediation was the only way to centre himself, he found. That, and be alongside Mariah.
“You are troubled,” she said, quietly, unable to keep it from him any longer. She couldn't quite read his mind, but she could feel the dark cloud over his head like impending rain. He sighed, opening his eyes.
“Yes,” he said. “But I trust in the magic that the answer will come to me soon.”
“Is it Sienna?” Mariah asked, knowing that it was. He had been troubled over her situation for the better part of six months, seeming foggy whenever he looked for a future for her. He sighed.
“I feel like I'm failing her, Mariah.”
“You are not,” Mariah spoke quickly. “Without you, she would not be here at all, and she would certainly not be as healthy. You and Nathaniel saved her from almost certain death, and allowed her to thrive.”
“Yes, she thrives,” Desmond said. “Because we block her magic. But there is no future for her in the witches, and both you and I know that. The tests need magic, so where do we go from here?”
Mariah remained quiet for a long time. “What are you going to do?”
Desmond sighed. “I don't know,” he said, and then changed his mind. “That's not true. I do know, but I don't know if I have the strength to do it.”
She put a hand on his arm, giving him strength just from her touch.
“If Nature intends it, you will follow the path you seek,” she said. “And it will not be as difficult as you feel it is.”
“Maybe,” he replied. “It's unprecedented, though.”
“Your entire life with Sienna has been unprecedented,” Mariah pointed out. Desmond let out a deep breath, not realizing he had been holding it.
“I just don't know where to go from here, Mariah. There is no future, and continuing to train her is a waste to you, waiting for me, to the magic, to the resources. She is smart, and she is strong, and she could have a path outside of this Order if she only thought it was an option. But as long as Nathaniel and I continue to stand by her, protect her, keep her under our wing, she will not see what greatness she can achieve.”
“And if you leave her?” Mariah answer. “She is attached to you, Desmond, she will crumple if she is alone.”
“Possibly,” Desmond said. “For a moment. But then she will rise to the occasion, as she always does.”
“Nathaniel will not leave her,” Mariah said. “He is devoted, he will train her for a half a hundred years if that's what it takes.”
Desmond sighed. “But that is their relationship,” he said. “I cannot interfere with that. I can only do what I think is best for her and I.”
“On this quest?” Mariah asked, and he squeezed her hand.
“I don't know.” he said. “I don't know if the time is right now, or a few months down the road. But it is becoming clearer that is the path we must take. She will hate me for it, but she will be all right.”
“I don't know if she'll hate you,” Mariah said, after a moment. “Hate is not an emotion she has. Fear, sadness, but not hate. You have bred that out of her. She would make a good witch.”
“She is a good witch,” Desmond said. “Just…magicless” He patted her hand, and pulled her gently up, watching the time. “Nathaniel is in my head. He wants to leave for Jeffro soon, and you know what Nathaniel gets like when he wants to see Eliza. It's hopeless, even if we are early by months. But I'll be in contact with you.”
“If Sienna wants to talk,” Mariah said. “I'm here for her. Although she might direct her anger toward me, blame me.”
“I don't think so,” Desmond replied. “She encourages our relationship, as much as she shouldn't. She thinks that as soon as she passes the tests, I'm going to retire and run off with you.”
Mariah smiled. “Well, that's true, isn't it?”
“Is it now?” He desperately wanted to kiss her, but he resisted. They had been better about keeping their relationship under wraps since they were put on suspension. Desmond wanted to leave the Order on his own terms, and that meant being more careful about how much love he bestowed on Mariah. But he did love her, more than anything. Instead of kissing her, he took her arm, pretending she needed more assistance than she did to get back inside.
They were only four steps inside, when they were bombarded by Nathaniel, straight out of the class he had taught.
“We should just go now,” he said. “In case Eliza needs to brief us, it's a long escort And also…”
“Nathaniel,” Desmond put up his hand. “I don't need to hear your excuses. Can I have an hour to pack, at least?”
“You can,” Nathaniel answered. “Where's Sienna?”
Desmond's brow furrowed. “You don't know?”
“It's daytime, Desmond, that's your job,” Nathaniel reminded him. “I thought she would be with you.”
It was much harder to keep track of her without the bond that they were used to having. But what surprised Nathaniel more than forgetting her schedule was how often Desmond had been doing this. His Maestro had been shifting responsibility more often or letting her have far more freedom than they had agreed on. Nathaniel didn't like Sienna anywhere that people didn't know exactly what was wrong with her and how they could help if she fell ill. As she got older and took the more advanced classes, it was easier, for the classes were smaller and the teachers had known her half her life. Still, he assumed Desmond knew exactly where she saw when the sun was up.
“I'm sure she's fine,” Desmond answered. “Does she know that we are going so soon?”
“I'm sure she suspects,” Nathaniel answered.
“Well, why don't you find her,” Desmond said. “I'll take Mariah to the class she is teaching, and then I'll meet you in the hanger? I assume you have already secured a ship?”
“Yes, of course.” Nathaniel gave him a funny look. “Is everything all right, Maestro? You seem troubled.”
“I'll see you there,” Desmond repeated, leaving Nathaniel a bit confused. Still, Desmond got like this sometimes, and Nathaniel knew it was nothing to worry about. Desmond had far more experience riding the ebbs and flows of magic than he did, and it always worked out.
Reaching a tablet console in the academic hall, Nathaniel logged in to find Sienna's schedule, scrolling to the correct day.
His Tiro was in advanced linguistics, which was her favorite course. It was due to end in ten minutes, and he moved through the hallways, trying to stay quiet as the classes around him continued his progress. It seemed a lifetime ago that he was a Tiro, sitting in those seats. But at the same time, he felt like it was just a moment ago. He certainly didn't feel like a Maestro most days, and still turned to Desmond for advice, navigating the world by the skin of his teeth.
He knew part of that uncertainty came from the life he had chosen for himself. He had taken the tests so late because he wasn't sure if he was ready. And then, unlike other young Maestros, he didn't take solo missions as expected. Some of his colleagues left for years on solo missions, finding who they were as witches before coming back to teach. But Nathaniel had never left Desmond's side, and now he was teaching Sienna. It didn't fill him with the greatest confidence, although he faked it relativity well.
“Well, hello there, stranger,” came a voice and he looked up in surprise. Laura was standing there, a grin on her face. Laura was Devon's former Maestro, and she always sent a pleasant shiver down his spine. Beautiful, tall and lean, he and Laura had found solace in each other for a time, getting to know each other on uncomfortable med bay chairs, while their Tiros wasted away on medication. Now that Devon was off world, and Sienna was healthier, they didn't see each other much. It surprised him that Laura had a young Tiro in tow, dressed in training robes. “Long time no see.”
“Is this yours?” Nathaniel asked, in surprise. She and Devon had been so close that he thought his departure would scar her forever. But Laura seemed to be at peace with her Tiro's choice to live the rest of his life on his terms. She had never seemed scarred like Nathaniel got, the sicker Devon got. To be at peace with such a fate always amazed him. And now, to take another one soon after, to form a bond, that seemed impossible to him.
“Yes, this is Rago,” Laura said, putting a hand on the youngster, a purple alien with huge green eyes that seemed up at Nathaniel. “Rago, this is my old friend, Nathaniel.”
“Nice to meet you, sir,” Rago said, bowing and Nathaniel smiled, tightly.
“That was fast, Laura.”
She raised an eyebrow. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing.” Nathaniel didn't particularly want to start a fight in the middle of the hallway, with Tiros all around. “Just that...if I was separated from Sienna, somehow, I don't think I'd take another Tiro so fast.”
Laura's eyes flashed. “If you are separated from Sienna, your next Tiro will not be your choice. That's the deal you made with the Jurors, isn't it, so your potential isn't…”
Nathaniel raised an eyebrow haughtily “What?” he asked, and Laura shook her head.
“Nothing. We should go. It was nice to see you.”
“No, say it,” Nathaniel challenged her. “You think you're so high and mighty because Devon's departure doesn't bother you? Because he's somewhere wasting away without you, and you're here doing your duty to the magic?”
Laura gritted her teeth. “It is with Devon's blessing that I take another, if you remember. One day, Nathaniel, you will grow up and realize what doing your duty means. If it means serving the magic in a way that tears your heart apart, then you do it, for the good of the Order.”
She left him standing there, stunned, as the bell rang. Nathaniel could only gape after her. How had they once gotten a long so well? How had she turned into this person?
A sinking feeling came into the pit of his stomach as he considered another possibility. What if she was right?
“Maestro?” Sienna exited the classroom, confused to find him there. He shook his head, trying to smile.
She wasn't right. There was no way she could be.
“Is all well?” Sienna asked.
“Yes,” he said. “Just that we should go to Jeffro today, if you'd like.”
“Yes, please.” Sienna's eyes lit up. “Can I just get my homework for the next bit?”
“Of course,” he said and then her brow furrowed.
“Where's Desmond?” she asked. “It's daytime, normally he would…”
“He's just taking care of a few things,” Nathaniel said. “Don't worry about it.”
But as she headed down the hall to see her other teachers, he watched her go with concern. He knew Desmond was hiding something, but he didn't know what. He just hoped that whatever it was, it wouldn't interfere with the upcoming quest.