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  “You shall have the congratulations of the entire nation,” said President Suarez. “Does this mean that Kantor is to become the home of Duke Dalek of Targa?”

  “I do intend to have a fine home built here in Kantor,” answered Oscar. “I will, of course, still maintain my homes in Dalek and Bordon. I imagine Callie and I will spend time in each depending on the needs of my business. I hope that John will live in our Kantor home and use it as his own.”

  “I offer whatever help the Republic of Cordonia can give in finding a site for your home, Oscar. The Secor family is fondly thought of here and I am happy to add your name to the list of their members. When will the wedding be?”

  “The wedding will have to wait at least two weeks. I would never be forgiven if we married without my mother here as a witness. Callie and I will leave tomorrow by ship for Dalek. Hopefully, we shall return with Duke Whitley and my mother on the return voyage. John told me that you would be gracious enough to perform the service. Would your schedule permit a small wedding in two weeks time?”

  “If not,” President Suarez laughed, “I’ll change my schedule. I can’t promise a small celebration, though. John Secor is a bit of a celebrity here in Kantor and the marriage of his daughter will bring many requests for admittance.”

  The rest of the dinner was spent in pleasant small talk and soon it was time to leave. They returned to John’s studio and Callie went off to pack a travel bag. Egam roamed the studio looking for a suitable painting for Jenneva. He finally settled on a picture of Kantor’s harbor from the edge of the marketplace. The picture sported one of Dalek’s ships approaching the dock. When Egam went to pay John for the picture, John waved him away.

  “No, Egam,” John stated, “Oscar has already made me a very wealthy man. Please take it with my compliments. I cannot afford to give my paintings to Oscar for he is my largest customer. I can, however, give one to his friend and my friend too.”

  The next morning, John escorted his daughter to the ship and waved goodbye. The weather was pleasant and everyone spent the days on deck. Egam spent a lot of time with Callie and got to know her well.

  Far to the east in the town of Paso, three black clad figures hid in the bushes not far from the wall of the Temple of Dori, goddess of soil. The night was moonless and the townspeople were sleeping. One of the black clad figures detached from the shadows and leapt at the wall. He hoisted himself to the top with a cat-like grace and peered into the courtyard below. He signaled for the others to follow and soundlessly jumped into the courtyard. The only light visible was from a candle near a second story window.

  The first figure extracted a long, thin piece of metal from his clothing and went to work on the rear door of the temple. The board holding the door shut hit the floor with a loud thud and the figures froze. Hurried footsteps could be heard approaching the door from the inside and the black figures melded with the shadows. An elderly priest flung the door open. He looked around the courtyard in confusion. He stepped through the doorway for a better look and one of the shadows stepped forward and seized him from behind, slicing his throat with a small, sharpened dagger. The shadow propped the body against the wall and crept into the temple. Down the corridor was an open doorway with candlelight flickering patterns on the floor of the hallway. The shadows crept down the hall and peered into the room. The room was deserted and the black figures stealthily approached the staircase.

  Aurora knew that the temple’s acolytes lived in a building alongside the temple. There should have been no one in the temple except a priest to guard the library. The other priest must have had some unfinished work to be in the temple at night. She followed Dalgar and the other Black Devil up the stairs. The three figures stood in an alcove outside the doorway to the library, barely breathing.

  Aurora stripped off her garments, knocked on the door and stepped back five paces. The priest opened the door and peered into the hall. The candlelight flickered off Aurora’s pale, naked skin and the priest was speechless and confused. He took a couple of steps forward and shook his head as if trying to clear his vision. Dalgar wasted no time. He stepped out of the alcove and looped a thin metal wire around the priest’s neck. He viciously tightened the wire and the priest frantically tried to claw at the restriction around his throat. In just moments the priest’s struggles ceased and Dalgar lowered the body to the floor. Aurora hastily dressed and dragged the body into the library.

  The library was small and the three Black Devils would have no problem emptying it long before morning. They carried the books downstairs and out the rear gate of the temple’s courtyard. Through the bushes they had a cart waiting in a clearing. It took many trips to completely strip the library and Dalgar made a mental note to have more Black Devils available for the larger libraries.

  Dalgar dragged the first priest’s body into the room he had been working in. He searched the room for more books. Aurora’s knowledge of the layout of this temple was very helpful in assuring the success of the raid. He pondered how they could get information on other temples while he closed the back door to the building.

  He secured the gate to the courtyard and scampered over the wall. When he arrived at the cart, Aurora and the other Black Devil were covering the books with the hay that was originally in the wagon. He jumped up on the wagon and started the horses moving.

  Chapter 2

  Doors

  The ship arrived off Atar’s Cove and was holding steady instead of anchoring in the cove. Oscar could hear shouting and raced up on deck to the helm. “What is it, Captain Hill?”

  “I’m not sure, Oscar. There are jagged rocks throughout the cove as if the sea bottom was jutting upward.”

  Oscar ran to the bow and gazed at the cove that he had seen several times before. There was no way a ship could enter the cove without ripping its hull on those jagged rocks. He became concerned for Jenneva. If some upheaval had occurred to destroy the cove, she might have been harmed, as well. He knew Egam could communicate with his former student and went below to wake him.

  Egam staggered onto the deck still half asleep. He silently looked at the cove and smiled. “Full ahead, Captain. Just ignore the rocks.”

  Captain Hill did not issue any orders. Instead, he waited for Oscar’s instructions.

  “Come, come,” called Egam. “They’re just illusions. Jenneva’s fine and is preparing breakfast for us.”

  Oscar nodded to the captain and Raymond shouted orders to proceed. The crew was tense as they approached the first of the rocks and passed through it. Callie appeared on deck and stood fascinated as the ship progressed through the columns of stone. The ship anchored and a rowboat was lowered for the shore party. Captain Hill joined Oscar, Callie and Egam for the trip to Jenneva’s home.

  They landed on the pristine beach and wandered to the jungle path. Oscar started heading for the small clearing where the hut was that he dropped Jenneva off at, but halted when a wide pathway appeared off to his left. The pathway was lined with brilliantly colored flowers and seashells and Egam led the way down it.

  The path wound quite a way through the jungle before it came to the base of a small mountain. At the base of the mountain was a large door positioned between two massive stone pillars. A thin, young girl opened the door and allowed the party to enter. Oscar stared at the girl’s short, blond hair and wondered if Jenneva had gotten married. The girl did not speak, but led the party to a sitting room and left. Jenneva entered the room and Egam smiled when he saw that she was dressed in a long, purple kaftan with red flowers, just like the one that her mother, Kirsta, had worn. The little girl returned with a tray of refreshments and Jenneva introduced her.

  “Welcome to my home. This is Shanor. She lives with me now.” Jenneva went over and gave Egam a long embrace. “Captain Hill, Oscar, I’m so glad you decided to stop for a visit. Oscar, you seem to have the look of a lovesick puppy, introduce me to this beautiful woman.”

  Oscar laughed and introduced Callie. He explained about their
forthcoming marriage and invited Jenneva to the wedding. Jenneva turned to the young girl as Shanor left the room.

  “She has mind speech capability,” speculated Egam.

  “Yes,” replied Jenneva. “She was washed up on shore after the boat she was sailing on broke up in a storm. Her parents did not survive. She refused to speak when I found her, so I started probing her mind. After a few days she mentally answered my questions. She soon realized that I was not a threat to her and was able to speak again. She is a wonderful girl and has been a big help to me here. You are the first visitors that she has seen, so expect her to be quite shy.”

  “Oscar,” she continued, “I am so happy for you and Callie. I wish you many years of happiness. I am proud to be considered your friend and look forward to attending your wedding in Kantor.”

  “Oscar,” interrupted Egam, “Jenneva and I will both try to attend the ceremony, but if we are unable, do not take it as a slight. We both are very happy for you and Callie and will make every attempt to be in Kantor.”

  Oscar realized that Jenneva was not privy to Egam’s intentions and decided that he would not probe any further into their plans. “No slight will be taken, Egam. I know that the two of you are very fond friends and if you are able to attend, we will be happy to see you.”

  Shanor returned with two parcels gaily wrapped and gave them to Jenneva. Jenneva presented one to Oscar and another to Callie. “These are tokens of my love to you and your bride, Oscar. You have been a dear friend to me and I trust that your friendship will be shared by Callie.”

  Oscar and Callie opened the packages and removed two magnificent matching gold necklaces and put them on.

  “They are special necklaces,” Jenneva continued. “They will give you the ability to share your thoughts with each other.

  Oscar smiled as he realized what Jenneva meant.

  “Oscar!” shouted Callie, “what if they can hear?”

  Jenneva laughed. “It’s okay, Callie. They only work for Oscar and yourself. I couldn’t possibly allow Oscar’s thoughts out in the open for the world to hear. The world’s not ready for what goes on inside his head.”

  “I’m sorry, Jenneva,” Callie began. “I am not used to this magic stuff. Oscar explained that you and Egam have some very special talents, but I guess I was not prepared for all of this.”

  “There is nothing to be sorry for, Callie,” Egam consoled. “Different people have different talents. Your father is a great artist and has abilities to do things with a canvas that none of us here could even approach. Jenneva and I have abilities in a different area. Each of us strives to make the best of the abilities that we have and we each learn to admire the abilities that others have.”

  Jenneva gave the group a tour of her home. It was a massive structure and finely decorated, but not opulent. Jenneva’s tastes obviously leaned toward functionality. Her study had an enormous desk and fireplace and the walls were covered with bookshelves. The view from her window included the cove and Oscar’s ship could be seen at anchor. Her library was massive and the bookshelves not only lined the walls, but were freestanding as well. There were several tables sprinkled about and a pair of couches by the windows.

  She had many bedrooms and Oscar lost count of them. The kitchen was also quite large and roomy. At the rear of the house was a large garden that reminded Egam of his own hideaway. The garden had spring-fed fountains and benches placed sporadically along the paths. Lining the paths were rows of several varieties of seashells, pearly white and pink in the morning sunlight. Oscar picked up one of the large shells and held it to his ear to listen for the ocean. There were countless varieties of plant life in the garden and Egam caught sight of Tofu roaming through the plants. Egam smiled at the sight of the tiger. Jenneva had adopted the home of her mother, but she was not living in fear or sorrow. She had built a paradise that was comfortable to study in.

  Oscar and Captain Hill returned to the ship to unload Egam’s goods. Callie was frightened of the large tiger at first, but Jenneva had shown Callie that he was as gentle as a kitten. Callie was sitting on a bench in the garden and scratching Tofu’s head. Jenneva drew Egam aside. “Egam, you seemed to indicate that we might miss Oscar’s wedding. Is something wrong?”

  “No,” replied Egam. “I have made a startling discovery and I wish your help investigating its potential. Oscar and Callie will be continuing on to Dalek and we can discuss it after they leave.”

  After Egam’s goods had been brought to the house, farewells were said and Oscar, Callie and Captain Hill departed. Shanor showed Egam to a bedroom and he deposited his luggage. “Shanor, are you happy here?”

  “Oh, yes, Master Egam,” she answered. “Jenneva has been wonderful to me and there is so much beauty here. I miss my parents, but I know that they are gone and that I must live without them. I am very happy that Jenneva has taken me in and treated me as her own.”

  “I’m glad too, Shanor. You will make good company for Jenneva. She is a very special person and we are both fortunate to know her. If anyone can develop your abilities, Jenneva is the one to do it. Come, I have two more packages outside and you can help me bring them to Jenneva’s Study.”

  The ten-year-old girl helped Egam carry the two packages. Jenneva entered the study and Egam gave her the Secor painting. She was thrilled with the gift and Egam helped her hang it over the fireplace. Egam then unwrapped the other package. It was a door and frame very much like the ones that Jenneva had seen in Egam’s cave.

  “Jenneva, you remember my experiments with transportation. I think I may have made a breakthrough. If I am correct, we will be able to walk through this door to my cave.”

  “Egam, that’s fantastic! If you are right, we will be able to travel great distances instantaneously. How does it work?”

  “The doors are a matched pair. I found some transportation spells in Habas' library and didn’t quite understand them. I tried to apply the spells to the doors in my cave, but they didn’t appear to have any effect. Of course, I didn’t have a specific destination in mind. Then I tried casting the spell on the doors in pairs and then placing the doors at opposite ends of the cave. I was able to walk through one door and exit at the other side of my cave. If I am correct, we should be able to walk through this door directly into my laboratory.”

  “What if you are wrong, Egam?”

  “I don’t know, but I plan to try it,” Egam answered.

  “Couldn’t you have picked a closer location to try it?” Jenneva asked.

  “Yes, I suppose so. I sent another door to Lord Habas so that I can go from my laboratory directly to the Palace, but I wanted you to have a door, also. If I am wrong and the experiment does not work, I want you and Habas to know of it. I originally planned to perform the experiment by going to the Palace, but no one would know if I actually attempted it or not. I also think that you have a better chance at picking up on my studies than Lord Habas does.”

  Jenneva knew that a magician had to take chances to learn new methods of using their gifts and Egam was appropriately preparing for his failure. It would be a tremendous breakthrough if it worked; still, she would miss Egam greatly if it failed. “Fine, Egam, we will try your door, but not before we have spent a few days together, first. If I am to lose you too, I plan to be prepared for it. Come, let’s go to the laboratory and I’ll show you what I’ve been working on.”

  They left the study and Shanor tagged along. Jenneva first went out the front door of the house and mumbled some words. The mountain disappeared and only her home remained. It was a magnificent structure standing eight stories tall. The outside surface was a fine, white stone -- smooth to the touch. There were windows on each floor and a small tower extending from the roof. “I started to continue my work on illusions when I first came here. The Eyes of Lothar got me started, but I wanted a spell that could create an illusion to people who weren’t present when the spell was cast. You had something similar in the Boulders for your laboratory, but Lothar actually t
ook it much further. This illusion is physical as well. You could actually climb my mountain and not realize that it was an illusion.” She waved her hand and the mountain reappeared, even the entrance was gone. Another wave brought the entry door back.

  “Impressive,” Egam declared. “You will have to share this with me before I leave.”

  “That and more, Egam.” Jenneva led the way into the laboratory. “I’ve been spending a lot of time on the theories of Universes. I wonder where Sarac is and if he has the capability to return here. His library is quite extensive, but the information regarding Universes is inadequate. From the reading that I have done, the Origin Scroll seems to be a fairly benign spell. According to the theory, parallel universes exist in a sort of onionskin arrangement. It is as if the geological features of planets transcend all layers of the onion. In other words, each layer or skin of the onion would appear geologically the same to a person who had switched layers. Life in the different layers could be dissimilar, though. The Origin Scroll, when used to destroy a universe, peels a layer off of the onion. I believe the life forces drop through to the next layer with no feeling of movement.”

  “You mean that the layers are like another dimension, such as time?” Egam questioned.

  “Yes. Time may even be the distinction. I don’t know, but it does indicate that the destruction of a Universe does not necessarily mean the end of life in that Universe,” she explained.

  Egam pondered this revelation for several moments before speaking. “That might explain the sudden discovery of other races. The elves, for example, appear to be a much older race than man; yet in some old manuscripts where you might expect mention of them, there is no reference. If our whole civilization was suddenly dropped into their world, they would appear to be a mystery just uncovered.”