Livog, South Province
Telena stood on the balcony outside the ballroom and pondered the events that had led up to this crazy journey. It was a little of everything, and yet, it felt like nothing much had really been accomplished. She heard the rustle of fabric and kept her back to the new arrival.
"When are we gettin' out of this place? There are too many people here, and these clothes itch!"
Telena stifled a laugh. Her apprentice was rough around the edges, but the girl was good. No matter what she had thrown at Alea, the girl had risen to the challenge each time. And there had been many on the journey to Livog. Now, if they could just survive the next three weeks, they might yet arrive at the Negrazul Mountains in one piece.
"Yes, there are, and wearing fancy things is something to be proud of, Apprentice. Many girls would envy you right now."
Alea snorted. "Then I'd gladly give them the clothes off my back. Ugh, when are we leavin'?"
Telena glanced over her shoulder. "Is the great thief ready to quit? Tsk, tsk. I thought you had more staying power. We haven't even accomplished our goal." She held back her laugh at Alea's disgruntled expression.
"I never quit. We've been here for hours, and I haven't heard a thing like what you told me to listen for. All you got here are drunk rich folks who never work and live off the poor man."
"Is that so? Then maybe, Apprentice, you should take a closer look."
"What do you mean?"
Telena moved from her spot and went right up to Alea, who defiantly stood her ground. She cupped the girl's face in her hands.
"You still don't see. We of the Water Element are the keepers of dreams. Beneath every smiling face here is a dream. A dream so perfect that they will chase all their lives to find it. Yet, most don't even know they have it. They think the things they desire every day - money, power, fame - are dreams that will or have come true. You must learn to see through the clarity of water, the true dream that drives them."
"But...,"
"No. Watch." She spun Alea around and covered the young girl's eyes.
"Hey!"
"Quiet. Now, listen with your whole being and not just your ears."
"That makes no sense. How do...,"
"Stop asking questions that I will not answer. Keep quiet. Breathe like I showed you and clear your mind."
Alea muttered something crude, and Telena smiled. She felt her apprentice go still beneath her hands. She gently used her element to touch Alea's power and watched as the girl tried to follow her instructions to "listen." After a moment, Alea lost concentration.
"I can't do this."
"Yes, you can. Stop being a hardship. You're fighting your instincts. Let the water guide you. Of the four elements, we are the most adaptable. Or don't you trust yourself?" she goaded.
"You're gettin' on my nerves, Mistress Telena. Fine!"
Telena felt the building of power, and then it lashed outward. Alea fidgeted beneath her hands for a brief second. That was the only warning Telena had before the girl's power flared and burst, spilling out and toward the unsuspecting guests in the ballroom.
"Alea!" She spun the girl around, saw the unfocused stare, and slapped her apprentice hard.
The power immediately died, and Alea blinked.
"What the? You hit me! You're crazy, Lady!" Alea struggled in her grasp.
"Stop that! Your power was going out of control. Now, we're leaving before the people below suspect us."
Alea glared and stomped after her. Telena took them down the back way and out without so much as an alarm being raised. Her mind was already analyzing the problem. Alea was powerful, too powerful. She needed to be trained and soon, before she hurt others. They were halfway to the inn where they were staying when Alea broke the silence.
"I saw it."
Telena stopped and turned to her. "Excuse me?"
"There were two men who were by the main doors to the left of the rich, fat man with the three women hangin' on him. They were not blue with water like the others in the room."
Telena sucked in an excited breath. She knew it! She calmed herself. She would have to tackle one thing at a time.
"What color were they?"
In the waning light, Alea's hazel eyes looked gray as she looked Telena in the eye.
"Black, like death."
"You did well. I want you to draw them for me when we get back to the room."
Alea glanced away, and Telena sighed. She had discovered by accident that the thief had a good eye when it came to remembering people and things. She could also draw. Though Telena dearly wanted to know who had taught her, she chose not to pry. Alea looked sad every time she used that blue and red pencil she carried everywhere with her.
"Yes, Mistress Telena."
Back in their small room, she handed Alea two sheets of paper and left the girl alone to draw. Telena went downstairs, bought soup, bread, and water from the common room, and returned just as Alea was putting the finishing touches on the drawings. She handed her apprentice food and drink, gathered up the sheets of paper, and went to the window to get better light. She studied the pictures intently. She didn't recognize either man, and neither had any marks identifying their region. That meant they didn't want to be remembered.
"I'm gonna take a bath."
She looked up. "Go ahead, I need to go outside and get some air. Make sure you come back and go to bed when you're done. We have to leave early in the morning."
Alea's eyes narrowed, but Telena ignored her.
"I know that already. I'm not a baby that you have to keep sayin' stuff like that to me," Alea grumped before stomping from the room.
Telena finished her own meal and went outside to the pond behind the inn. She kneeled on the frozen ground and held her right hand out above the water's surface. A blue glow enveloped her hand and shot down into the water without so much as a ripple. The water swirled gently before a face appeared in the middle of the swirl.
"Master Zuc, I am reporting in."
"Ah, Mistress Telena, you are the last to check in. How did your Apprentice search go?"
"I have my charge, and we are in Livog at the moment. We shall leave in the morning to begin our trek toward Negrazul."
"Good, good. Being on task is always a great idea. Having goals is even better. So what do you think of your apprentice?"
"She is strong and powerful, which will only grow with time and training. Her attitude and distrust are going to hinder her if she doesn't get over them both and soon."
"Hmm, that is something to keep in mind. Will she be able to get along with others is the question."
"I honestly don't know. I think she could go either way."
"I see. Keep working on her. She needs to be able to at least tolerate others."
"Yes, Master Zuc. Now, for the reason I called." Telena held up the two pictures. "I'm sending the images to you now."
"Ready to receive on this end."
Telena held up her left hand over the area to the side of the swirling water. This time, a pale blue light filled her hand and hit the water, causing small ripples to begin spreading outward. She placed the first picture face down into the water. The ripples increased and then slowed. She removed the still dry picture, placed it beside her, and repeated the process with the other drawing. She flicked her fingers once she was done, and the ripples vanished.
"Drawings received. Do we know who they are?"
"No, Master Zuc. They are unknown to me, and they bear no regional mark."
"I will send this to the others. We shall keep watch for them. Yelena, Belena, and Melena are all safely tucked away at their designated winter places and will be getting underway within the next four days. They too have reported an increase in the number of men without regional marks. They also lack marks specifying their Lord or Lady. You are the first, however, who has provided sketches of those we need to watch for. "
"Glad to be of some help. I must go. I don't like to leave my apprentice alone for too long. Trouble seems to find her when I do."
Master Zuc laughed. "Good luck and may the First Ones protect you as you travel to us."
"May the First Ones protect," she added and dispelled the image with a flick of her fingers.
She rose, dusted off her skirt, and went back inside. Things had begun to move. She only hoped that time would be on the Elements' side.