“He came upon us like a shadow in the place between worlds, took hold of us and drew us into the next world. I knew who he was instantly, but Roslie did not. He looked at me first, then at her, reading our minds.
“He said only two things. First, he ordered me to go back to my family. Then he stared at Roslie and…”–Lejikh shuddered at the memory–“… his face changed. I looked to her for a clue why, and saw in her mind that she wasn’t even aware of it. She was completely and utterly enthralled by him. To her he was perfect. I had never sensed such attraction in her to me, and I was not surprised that, when he held a hand out to her and told her to come with him, she did so without hesitation.” In Lejikh’s recollection there was triumph in the sorcerer’s expression.
The ache of betrayal had dulled over time, Rielle saw. But the fear hadn’t. It was as sharp as his guilt at not arguing or fighting for Roslie. He’d been too angry at her lack of resistance to the Raen’s charms. I was young, he reminded himself.
“My family accepted me back among them only because the Raen wished it, and they could not endanger the pact between him and all Travellers that allows us to trade between worlds.” He lifted his gaze to Rielle’s. “I recognised his name in your mind, the first day you were with us. We could not abandon you there, in the desert, but we cannot endanger our people either. I also did not want to frighten or anger you by telling you the truth about him. It would have been better if you returned to your world ignorant of the lies he has told you.
“It is possible that the sorcerer who took you from your world is not the same man, but it is unlikely. It is too great a coincidence that they look alike, have the same name and your Angel arrived and left your world at around the same time as the Raen disappeared and reappeared. And we must behave as if he is the Raen, because of the danger we are all in if he is and he finds you.”
Rielle’s jaw began to ache. She realised she was clenching her teeth, and tried to relax. Lejikh’s story had chilled her. Even if it does show that the Raen could have changed his hair and skin colour, it does not prove that he is the Angel. The Angel is warm and kind. Her heart skipped a beat. That is how I know the Raen is not the Angel!
“A story spread among the Travellers, more than twenty cycles ago,” Lejikh continued. “About a message left by a well-known rebel. It said he intended to lure the Raen into a dead, unpopulated world. He was never seen again. Nor was the Raen. People began to hope that he had succeeded, but without signs of a great battle, or better still, a corpse, it took a long time before any were brave enough to defy the Raen’s laws.
“Over time they have. Sorcerers have begun travelling between worlds again, and teaching others how to do so. Schools of sorcery have formed. All this in defiance of the Raen’s laws. Things will not go well for them if they do not learn of his return in time. They will have to hide, or offer him their loyalty–and even that may not save the stronger of them.”
He believed they would be slaughtered simply for being powerful enough to be a threat, Rielle saw. Her certainty grew that the Angel and Raen were not the same. The Angel was not a callous murderer. He had forgiven the tainted, and freed the prisoners at the Mountain Temple.
“Only his allies and the Travellers are free to travel the worlds,” Baluka added in a low voice. His eyes were bright again, and she saw that he’d always been fascinated by stories of the Raen. He’d not grown up dreading an encounter with the immortal sorcerer. He was, however, concerned for Rielle.
She shivered as she saw why. He believed that the Raen would kill her, if he discovered she was still alive.
“Why would he want to kill me?” she blurted out. “He wanted me to live in his world.”
She saw the answer in Baluka’s mind. He had noted that Inekera had stranded her after Rielle had shown how powerful she was by reaching for as much magic as she could.
“You’re strong,” Lejikh told her. “I don’t think the Raen realised how powerful you are, and when Inekera did she decided to get rid of you as a favour to him.” He grimaced. “He often leaves the more unpleasant tasks to his allies.”
Rielle went cold. “He wouldn’t do that!” She saw their grim expressions and shook her head. “Besides, why didn’t she just kill me? Why abandon me in a desert?”
“Probably because you’re stronger than she is,” Baluka answered. “Attacking you directly is a risk. She must have guessed or learned you couldn’t travel between worlds. Abandoning you between them to suffocate or stranding you in an unpopulated desert world was the least risky way to get rid of you.”
Rielle looked from one Traveller to the other. They were so convinced that the Angel was the Raen, and his intentions were malicious, that they would find an explanation that fitted their ideas no matter what she said.
And she couldn’t resent them for that. They only wanted to help her and keep their family safe.