Jay - Ahern's Burden

“What’s wrong?” Barclay said, rushing into the room.

“Candela Segreto,” Jay said, grabbing another journal. “It’s Candela Segreto.”

“Candela Segreto?” Barclay asked.

Nuvi and Arina joined Barclay in their nightgowns.

“This type of candle makes letters visible,” Jay explained. “It only works on my mother’s poems. Here, read the instructions.” He handed Barclay his mother’s book.

Jay scribbled down more letters.

“Is this an Ondorian candle?” Barclay asked Nuvi.

Nuvi raised her hands. “I’m not sure. We’ve had that candle for years.”

“It has to be,” Jay said. “Only a candle of this type would bring the letters to life.”

Barclay walked to the table.

Jay called out other letters. “It’s working,” he said with excitement.

“Let me write the letters down,” Nuvi offered.

Tired but excited, Arina joined them.

“Where should I start?” Jay asked.

“There will be a pattern,” Barclay said. “Try starting at the top. Let’s go through them one at a time.”

Jay called out the letters as they appeared.

l, g, u, i, d, e, y, o, u.

He grabbed the second journal and called out more.

y, k, e, y.

Then another.

d, e, a, r, s, o, n, a, h, e, r, n, w, i, l.

And a fourth.

h, o, l, d, t, h, e, o, n, l.

And the final book.

w, i, t, h, a, b, o, n, d, e, t, e, r, n, a, l, y, o, u.

Barclay watched Nuvi write the letters down. He looked towards Jay when he stopped speaking. “Is that all?”

Jay nodded.

“Ahern’s name is right there,” he said, pointing.

Nuvi underlined his name.

“They are other words,” Nuvi said, “but some are incomplete.”

“Mark the words we can make out,” Barclay suggested.

Nuvi started at the beginning and marked out guide, you, key, dear, son, Ahern, hold, the, on, with, a, bond, eternal, you.

Jay watched Barclay study the marked words.

“Are you sure there were no other letters?” he asked Jay.

“Should we go through them again?” Jay asked.

“We need to be thorough.”

Jay looked at the poems again and verified the letters.

Barclay and Nuvi studied the text.

“This is a message from Milla, to Jay?” Nuvi asked, seeking confirmation.

Barclay nodded. “The journals were written for Jay.”

“Then wouldn’t his mother begin by addressing him?”

Barclay looked over the words again. “Dear son,” he said.

“Right,” Nuvi said. She wrote “dear son” towards the bottom of the page. She crossed the two words out of the text above.

“Ahern would be next, I believe.” Nuvi said, looking to her husband.

Barclay didn’t respond. He stared at the page, focusing intently on the original series of letters.

“Barclay?” she asked.

He blinked. “They’re out of order.”

“What is?” Jay asked.

“The poems,” he answered. “Which one started with dear son?”

Jay grabbed the journal he thought contained those words and lined up the candle. “This one.”

“What is the last letter?” Barclay asked.

“I can read it,” Jay answered. “Dear son Ahern wil, with one l.”

“Will has two l’s,” Arina said.

“You’re right,” Barclay said. “Which one starts with an l?”

Jay set the first journal aside and grabbed another. “Not this one.” He grabbed the next in the pile. “Not this one either.” Jay grabbed the next journal. “This is the one.”

“The first l finishes the word,” Barclay said. “What’s next?”

“Guide you,” Jay said.

Nuvi wrote guide you to the end of her clean phrase.

“Dear son, Ahern will guide you,” Jay said quietly.

Nuvi sat back in amazement. The simple but powerful phrase caught her by surprise. She had heard of Ahern from her husband’s stories. He was a legend. She never thought she would find a message directed to one so close to her from him.

“Three journals to go,” Barclay said. “Which one starts with a full word?”

“Two of them,” Nuvi said, pointing to the combination of letters, “with and hold.”

“Do they end in full words?” Barclay asked, looking at the page.

“Two of them do,” Nuvi confirmed, “but not the same ones.”

“Then we add the one that doesn’t begin with a whole word to the end of the one that does not.”

Nuvi pointed to the two lines. “Hold the only key.”

“What is the other line?” Jay asked.

“With a bond eternal you,” Barclay responded.

Everyone looked at the phrases and thought about a different order.

“Dear son,” Jay began quietly. “Ahern will guide you with a bond eternal. You hold the only key.”

Nuvi wrote down the rest of the phrase without questioning the order. “How did you know?” she asked.

“I didn’t.” Jay admitted. “It feels familiar.”

“I believe you’re right,” Barclay said. “Do you know what it means?”

Jay looked to Barclay, then to Nuvi and Arina. He did not know the meaning of his mother’s hidden message. Neither did anyone else.

“My Lord, your guest has arrived.”

“What guest?” Seneca asked, questioning his secretary.

“He said you would approve of the late hour,” his secretary explained.

“The hour is late,” Seneca agreed. “Send him away.”

“He is waiting in your office.”

“He’s where?”

“In your office,” repeated his secretary. “He was there when I arrived.”

Seneca wanted to yell at his secretary when the man in the office called out.

“Soko. Raspberry tea. Hot.”

Soko walked past Seneca without a word.

Who is in my office? Seneca thought, striding down the hall. He stood in the doorway and saw a man with his hood down, looking at his bookshelf.

“You don’t read much,” stated the man.

“I do when I have time,” Seneca responded. “Who…”

“For example,” the man said cutting him off, “the one who should rule, written more than two hundred years ago by an anonymous author, contains powerful methods of how to push an agenda.”

Seneca wanted to say something, but the man continued.

“How to defeat your enemy,” he said, pulling the book off the shelf and flipping through without reading. “This book helped the Trykinian King, Menkor, defeat a Mation invasion despite being outnumbered four to one.”

The man had yet to turn around.

“Who are you?” Seneca asked, holding his hands out.

“But one of my favorites,” the man said, ignoring Seneca’s question, “is Control.” He pointed to a slender book to his right.

“My Lord,” Soko said, asking Seneca to move out of the doorway. Seneca moved and Soko entered the office. He placed the tray with a fresh pot of tea on the small table next to the bookshelf. He poured some for the man and stood back. “Will you require anything else?”

“No,” the man said moving to the table. “You may go.”

Soko didn’t ask Seneca if he needed anything, nor did he look him in the eye before he walked around him and closed the door.

Seneca looked to the table. There was only one cup.

The man picked up his tea and turned towards Seneca. “Many years have passed, but I am surprised you don’t remember me.”

Seneca looked his visitor up and down. The man couldn’t be more than forty, but the wrinkles around his eyes made it difficult for Seneca to pinpoint his age.

“I may look older,” he said, “more than a hundred years older, but no matter. My name is Baid. I first planted the idea of revolution in your mind when you were a green apprentice.”

“Baid,” Seneca said under his breath, recalling a distant memory.

Baid sipped his tea. “This is good.”

“I looked for you,” Seneca said, “I thought you were dead.”

“In the eyes of many I am a ghost,” he said, putting down his cup.

“How are you still alive?”

“I’ve taken the same potion you have,” Baid said, looking down.

Seneca opened his mouth several times, unsure of what to say.

“Do you even know why I chose you?” Baid asked. “Do you know why you were granted the illusion that you are king over this broken people, over this world?”

Seneca didn’t know what to say. He felt like his life was over.

“You were not the first I tried to manipulate,” Baid continued. “Others rejected my offer, because they were strong. But you, you were gullible. I knew you were weak when I first saw you. Do you think I cared about a young brat missing his parents?”

Seneca thought back to their secret meetings, years ago. Baid made him feel important, like only he could make a difference. As if the world needed to change and it was up him to make it happen. He promised him that he would rule the world and have everything he ever wanted, and he promised him eternal life.

“The end goal was never to overthrow the kings,” Baid continued, “or for you to rule. The end goal has always been to retrieve the Garrison.”

Seneca looked to the floor.

“Where’s the Garrison?” Baid questioned.

“I don’t know.”

“I know you don’t.”

“We’ve devoted our resources to finding Ahern, to discover where he hid it,” Seneca explained, “but we also believe he told a young boy?”

“Ah yes,” Baid said, “the young boy. One of more than a dozen you believe Ahern gave information. How did the others end up?”

Seneca looked away.

“They knew nothing,” Baid said bluntly.

“We have a letter from Ahern to the boy’s parents,” Seneca went on. “In it, he tells them how the boy will have special abilities. How the boy will need to come to him to develop his powers.”

“Did the letter provide a map?” Baid asked sarcastically. “What does that tell you?”

“It tells us that the boy’s parents know how to find Ahern.”

“Did they tell you how to find Ahern?” Baid asked.

“No,” Seneca said, “but the boy is powerful, and we are watching for him everywhere. When we catch him, we will determine what he does know.”

“What else are you doing?”

“What do you mean?”

“What else are you doing to retrieve the Garrison?”

“We don’t have other leads,” Seneca said, lowering his head.

“You have one letter from Ahern telling a boy’s parents that their son will have great abilities and he will need to search him out. Is that correct?”

Seneca nodded.

“You have nothing else?”

Again, he nodded in agreement.

“Let me tell you what I know,” Baid said. “You’ve hired outside help, but they have been unable to contain the boy. Your latest efforts failed in the Library of Cedar. The wolves were a good idea, but useless. You have scouts looking everywhere, but you have nothing.”

Seneca didn’t say anything.

“You’ve lost him,” Baid said. “The only lead you have is weak and you’ve lost him.”

“We’ll find him,” Seneca said, trying to sound strong.

“If the choice were mine,” Baid explained, “I would never give you eternal life. You were given a lifetime to secure the artifact and your time has all but expired.”

“But you did promise me eternal life,” Seneca petitioned, remembering their discussions from years before. “You did.”

“I did not,” Baid corrected him. “I may have said those words, but the choice and the promise were not mine. They were the words of my master.”

Seneca felt a shiver rush through him. Baid has a master?

“My master’s promise is still valid,” Baid continued, “and if in the short time you have remaining, you are able to present to me the Garrison,” he paused, “you will have what you seek.”

Seneca didn’t know what to say. Their brief conversation was unexpected, and he couldn’t decide if he should feel good or be terrified.

Baid walked back to the bookshelf and removed the last book he’d pointed out. He blew the dust off the top and wiped his hand over the cover. “I said this was my favorite book for a reason.” He handed it to Seneca. “Why do you think Soko is doing everything I ask, and ignoring you?”

Seneca looked him in the eyes and then looked to the door. “You’re controlling him,” he whispered.

Baid nodded. “You have forgotten much in your arrogance.”

The two locked eyes.

“Don’t forget who controls you.”

“You’re still awake?” Barclay whispered, closing his bedroom door.

Jay hadn’t left the table. The thrill of discovering his mother’s message was too much for him to shake. Barclay sat across from him. “What are you reading?”

“Nothing,” he said in a tired voice. “I thought I would scan my father’s journals about an eternal bond. I don’t know what that means.”

“I’m sorry,” Barclay said, “I don’t either.”

Jay closed the book and set it down. “This seems different.”

“What?”

Jay thought about how he could explain. “Each time I find a problem, or a riddle, I’m given a direction. My father gave me the words to enter the Hall of Sispo. You took me there. You told me about my mother’s talents and helped me find her book. I don’t remember anything about an eternal bond in my father’s journals. I’ve never heard you talk of it. The only bond I can think of is a marriage bond, or something between siblings.”

Barclay looked at Jay, not sure what he should say.

“I feel so close,” he said. “Where do I find the answer?”

“It can be frustrating not knowing where to turn,” Barclay said. “I am just as curious to see what Ahern left you.”

Jay stacked his father’s journals and made sure they were perfectly aligned.

“I didn’t know when your father asked me to work for him that we’d be here today.”

Jay looked up at Barclay. He was trying to rub some of the sleepiness out of his eyes.

“I never thought any of this would happen.”

“Any of what?” Jay asked.

“Everything we’ve been through,” Barclay said. “Ahern told me it would happen, but I didn’t believe him.”

“Ahern told you all of this would happen?”

Barclay nodded.

“What is a bond eternal? How do I open the box?”

“He didn’t tell me specifics,” Barclay said. “He told me I would need to protect you and…”

“And what?” Jay asked.

Barclay put his hands on his lap and looked into Jay’s eyes. “He told me that you would be more powerful than him.”

Jay looked at him with his mouth partially open. “How am I more powerful than him?”

“I don’t know if I should be the one telling you this,” Barclay admitted. “I remember what he told me, but I don’t know how it works.”

“What did he tell you?” Jay asked.

“You want to know?”

Jay nodded with emphasis.

Barclay sat back and took in a deep breath. “A few months after I moved to the capital, your father had a visitor. The man was well dressed, and I thought him to be about forty years old. I remember the day; it was warm and peaceful, relaxing,” he said, looking off to the side. “I brought the man to your father’s study and he asked me to stay. When your father had visitors I usually stayed outside the study. I needed to be within earshot, but I never wanted them to feel like I was part of their conversation. I told him I would bring your father to him but unless he wanted me to stay, I could not. The man, Ahern, nodded and I escorted your father to his study. I mentioned to your father that his guest had requested my presence. Your father looked at Ahern and he said, it has as much to do with Barclay as it does you. Your father looked at me and pointed to an open chair. “For a long while I didn’t know why I was there,” Barclay continued. “Your father introduced the man as Ahern but beyond that, everything they discussed had to do with the current political environment, of which I already knew. I thought I should excuse myself. They never looked at me and I thought Ahern was being overly polite when he asked me to stay. As I squirmed to break into their conversation, Ahern turned to me and asked me if I could do magic.”

“Was magic legal then?” Jay asked.

“No, and that’s why his questioned bothered me. The Idols had recently decreed all magic illegal. I told him I had no magical abilities and he asked if I wanted to learn.”

“Ahern asked to teach you?” Jay asked.

Barclay nodded.

“What did you say?”

“I didn’t know what to say,” Barclay admitted. “I raised my hands and told him that I didn’t need to learn anything, but he waved my fear off and turned towards me. He asked me to stand. After I did, he said, you are strong, a good trait, but speed will be required, and not with your legs.”

Barclay saw Jay smirk.

“I thought he was crazy,” Barclay said. “And then he said, do you think you could draw your sword before I can reach the entrance to the study? I looked at your father, but he leaned forward and took another sip of his tea. I glanced to the door and back to Ahern. Should we try? Ahern asked me.” Barclay was trying to animate his actions to sound like Ahern. “He said, if you best me, you can take your leave. If I win, you must let me teach you.”

“Ahern taught you how to teleport,” Jay said.

“I didn’t even get my hand opened,” Barclay said. “Your father clapped as he walked back to his chair. He and your father discussed a few separate details and then Ahern ate dinner with your parents. Ahern taught me the basics of teleporting the rest of the night. When I woke the next morning, Ahern was gone. I spoke about him with your father and he told me how he met Ahern when he was a young boy. He also told me Ahern had helped your family at other times over the years.

“That evening, I was patrolling the grounds when a man appeared in front of me, then vanished. I felt someone behind me, but when I turned, the figure disappeared. I felt someone else behind me a third time but when I turned to see who was there, I was alone. It bothered me, and I ran to the house to see if everything was alright. I found the front door open and sprinted to your parents’ room. The door was partially opened, as it always was, and I peeked inside. Everything seemed in order. I heard a noise in the next room, your room, and stepped inside. I saw a figure standing by your crib and I drew my sword. I was halfway across the room when the figure vanished. I looked around and heard the door click shut behind me. I turned around to see no one, and then I heard a voice behind me, near your crib again. I walked towards the figure and was about to call for help when a voice said, I told you speed would be a requirement.”

“Ahern?” Jay asked.

Barclay nodded. “He showed me the power of teleporting. He stood next to your crib when he spoke. He was looking at you. He told me about the agreement your parents and I had, about me taking care of you if anything were to happen to them. Then he asked me to take his hand. I didn’t know why but felt compelled and when I placed my hand in his, we teleported.

“When we landed, I staggered to get my footing and he poured me some tea. I asked him where we were, and he told me, ‘In my study.’ The room had a huge fireplace and was full of books. He sat in his chair and asked me to join him. He asked a lot about my family, my parents and Nuvi, but he also told me what he had done for your parents. He told me that your parents were already wanted by the Idols and that I needed to be ready to leave in a moment’s notice. He told me that you would be special because of the potions your parents took to have you. That’s why you have abilities, powerful abilities, many you don’t know about. He said you would have ancient healing powers and other strengths, that you would develop as you grew older. Many would manifest as you needed them.”

Jay thought about Barclay’s words. Most of his abilities did come when he needed them.

“He never told me about the box or your mother’s clues, but that he would leave a trail for you to follow. That night, in his study, I teleported for the first time.” Barclay looked beyond Jay, recalling the emotion. “He took me to Taq. Nuvi had no idea where I kept getting the fruit.” Barclay stopped and nodded to himself with a half-smile. “I am sorry Jay. I don’t know the answer to the riddle.”

Jay didn’t respond. He knew Barclay would help him if he could.

“Your father and mother would be proud of what you’ve done,” he said.

“Will you tell me about the day they were taken?” Jay asked.

Barclay had feared this day. He knew Jay would ask, and though he was there and remembered every detail, it didn’t make it easier.

“In the morning,” Barclay began. “It happened in the morning. After breakfast, your parents went to tend the garden. They would do that most mornings while you were sleeping. I walked the grounds and visited the quarters of a man your father hired a week prior to help guard the house. His name was Hager. He was a single man, a good man. He was a few years older. I was concerned because he had yet to relieve me. When I came into his room I knew something was wrong. There was a smell of sick in the air and I knew he had become ill. I told him to stay in bed and I would cover him. After I told a maid about his condition, I went outside.”

“My parents had a maid?” Jay asked.

“Your parents had many servants,” Barclay continued. “I checked on you and exited the house. Your parents were still in the garden. I went to see Nuvi and let her know I had to cover for Hager. We lived in a guest home separate from the main residence. I stayed only a moment to hold Arina. When I stepped outside, I saw a man running on the road toward the house. I thought it odd and jogged to the road. I looked in the direction the man was running and then I turned around. From our house I had a clear view of the front gate and saw the Idols’ military walking towards me.”

“The Idols’ military?” Jay asked.

“Yes,” Barclay said, “they rarely leave Mt. Vintori. They were dressed in all red uniforms and they marched in a six across formation. I didn’t stand around to see the depth of their ranks. I ran back inside and told Nuvi to get ready. I remember Arina crying at the urgency in my voice. Nuvi told me to warn the house but I told her the man who ran ahead would surely do so, and I needed to get them out. I knew our home would be their first target. She grabbed a few clothes for her and the baby and I took them to Boon. When I returned, I teleported to the garden to inform your parents and I saw the soldiers pillaging my house. Your parents were running to the house and I teleported to the front door. I waved them inside and we locked down the house. Hager was on his feet, but his face was pale, and I thought he would be sick. I told your parents I needed to get them out, but your mother insisted that I take care of you. Before I could argue, the front door was blown to pieces and everyone ran upstairs but Hager. Your parents ran behind me and when we reached the mezzanine I looked over the railing and saw Hager cut down. Your parents ran into your room. You were crying because of the noise. I came to the entrance of your room and your mother handed you to me. Your father threw a small bag over my shoulder. I knew I could teleport them all out, but two men dressed in black appeared in your room between us. I was separated from your parents and your mother yelled ‘Go!’ They disappeared with one of the men. The other turned towards me, and before he took his first step, I left.”

Barclay looked down and then lowered his head.

It comforted Jay to know that he tried to save his parents.

“I brought you to Boon,” he said, his head still down. “I had to let Nuvi know what happened and I hadn’t finished my preparations at Taq. I helped Nuvi settle and we agreed to stay together and raise you and Arina here in Boon. When I had time, I went to Taq and dug out the staircase and rooms. I stayed hidden from my friends here in Boon until we knew it was safe.”

Jay thought about his parents wanting Barclay to take him. In a way he felt abandoned.

“Ahern came to me while I was on Taq,” Barclay said. “He told me they had destroyed the house.”

“Have you ever gone back?”

“To your parents’ homestead?”

Jay nodded.

“No,” Barclay answered. “Ahern warned me that it would be watched, and I risked capture if I did so.”

Jay felt a strong desire to see where he was born, but he understood the counsel.

“Did Ahern tell you anything else?”

“He said he would leave me alone for a while.”

“He said those things about me?” Jay asked.

“Yes,” Barclay answered, “and so far, he’s been accurate.”

Jay didn’t know what to say.

“Do you have anything else you’d like to ask me?”

“No,” Jay admitted. “My mind is full.”

“Off to bed then,” Barclay said with a smile. “You’ve had a busy day.”

Barclay carried Jay’s book to his room and extinguished the candle.

Jay crawled under his covers.

“Good night,” Barclay said before he closed the door.

Jay didn’t respond. He was already asleep.

Barclay looked at his adopted son from the doorway. He thought about the amazing things Ahern said he would do. He hadn’t lied to Jay, but he was glad he didn’t ask him if Ahern told him how it all would end. He would have a difficult time telling him that he would be the Idols’ downfall.