ELEVEN - Discovery
Gamina sat up, screaming.
Within moments Katala was in the child’s room, holding her. Gamina sobbed for a short while, then quieted, as a sleepy William came into her room, followed by a grumpy-looking firedrake. Fantus padded past William and placed his head on the bed by Katala. “Was it a bad dream, baby?” asked Katala.
Gamina nodded. Softly she said, “Yes, Mama.” She was finally learning to speak, not always relying upon the mental speech that had marked her as a special talent since birth.
With her family dead, Gamina had been reared by Rogen the blind seer, before he brought her to Stardock. Rogen had aided Pug in discovering that the Enemy was behind all the troubles besetting the Kingdom, though he had suffered injury in uncovering this secret. He and Gamina had stayed with Pug’s family while he recovered, and over the last year had come to be as members. Rogen had been as a grandfather to William, while to Gamina, Katala was a mother and William a brother. The old man had died peacefully in his sleep three months before, but at the last he had been happy his ward had found others besides himself whom she could love and trust. Katala hugged and caressed the child while she calmed down.
Meecham, the tall franklin, hurried into the room looking for the source of any danger. He had returned from Kelewan with Hochopepa and Elgahar of the Assembly shortly after Pug had departed in search of the Watchers. Their other companion, Brother Dominic, had returned to the Ishapian abbey at Sarth. Meecham had taken it upon himself to act as protector of Pug’s family while the magician was upon Kelewan. For all his fierce appearance and stoic demeanour, he was one of Gamina’s favourites. She called him Uncle Meecham. He stood behind Katala, smiling one of his very rare smiles at the tiny girl.
Hochopepa and Kulgan entered the room, the two magicians of different worlds, alike in so many ways. Both came and fussed over the girl while Katala said, “Still up working?”
Hochopepa said, “Certainly, it’s still early.” He looked up. “Isn’t it?”
Meecham said, “No, unless you mean early in the morning. It’s an hour past midnight.”
Kulgan said, “Well, we were involved in some interesting discourse, and -”
“You lost track of time,” Katala said. Her tone was slightly disapproving, slightly amused. Pug was title holder to the property of Stardock and since he had left she had assumed control of the community. Her calm nature, intelligence, and ability to deal with people tactfully had made her the natural leader of the diverse community of magic users and their families, though occasionally Hochopepa was overheard calling her ‘that tyrannical woman.’ No one minded, for they knew he spoke with respect and affection.
Kulgan said, “We were discussing some reports sent by Shimone at the Assembly.” By agreement, the rift between the worlds was opened for brief periods on a regular schedule so messages could be exchanged between the Academy at Stardock and the Assembly of Magicians on Kelewan.
Katala looked up expectantly, but Hochopepa said, “Still no word of Pug.”
Katala sighed and, suddenly irritated, said, “Hocho, Kulgan, you may do as you like in your research, but poor Elgahar seems almost ready to drop. He does almost all the training of the new Greater Path magicians, and he never complains. You should bend some of your efforts to helping him.”
Kulgan took out his pipe and said, “We stand properly corrected.” He and Hochopepa exchanged glances. Both knew Katala’s brusque manner was born from frustration over a husband absent a year.
Hochopepa said, “Indeed.” He also unlimbered a pipe, a habit acquired in his year of working beside Kulgan. As Meecham had once observed, the two magicians were two peas in a pod.
Katala said, “And if you intend to light those foul-smelling things, take them and yourselves out of here. This is Gamina’s bedchamber, and I’ll not have her room reeking of smoke.”
Kulgan was on the verge of lighting his and halted.
“Very well. How is the child?”
Gamina had ceased her crying and spoke softly. “I’m all right.” Since she had learned to speak, her voice had never been raised above a soft, childish whisper, save for her scream of a few moments before. “I . . . had a bad dream.”
“What sort of dream?” asked Katala.
Gamina’s eyes began to brim with tears. “I heard Papa calling me.”
Kulgan and Hochopepa both looked down at the girl intently. “What did he say, child?” asked Kulgan softly so as not to frighten the girl.
Katala went ashen, but showed no other signs of fear. She was born of a line of warriors and she could face anything, anything save this not knowing how her husband fared. Gently she said, “What did he say, Gamina?”