I stepped through the door and into a sea of monochromatic greens. Every so often the trees and bushes were broken up by splashes of color with exotic looking flowers. Sweet scents mixed in the air as birds called to one another. My body felt like it was letting out a big sigh. After being cooped up in a ship, and then the palace, I had missed being out in nature.
“It is quite lovely, isn’t it?”
I nodded absentmindedly. “It is. I can see why you make it a point of come here when you visit.”
“Come. There’s a sitting area not far from here.”
I let Master Kiev lead the way. We moved down a white-stone path and I walked slow to enjoy the scenery. It wasn’t long before we rounded a bend and discovered a small grove of smaller trees with bright pink blossoms. Underneath the trees was a half circled bench. Kiev walked toward the bench, and motioned for me to take a seat.
“There’s many nice places to sit, but this is one of my favorites.”
“I can see why.”
“And forgive me for not responding earlier to your question, but I did not feel comfortable having that discussion in front of your guard.”
I looked around the small clearing and realized that my guard was no where to be found. I was surprised at the ripple of fear that raced through me. It must have shown on my face.
“Oh don’t be concerned. Your guard is just around the corner, and I know we just met, but I assure you, I have no ill will toward you.”
I felt a little foolish for my fear, but it also wasn’t entirely unjustified. “Forgive me. I had a rather unpleasant experience with someone on Vang’s ship during my travel to Ethia. I am afraid it has made me a bit jumpy.”
“It is understandable, Highness. You have nothing to apologize for. Considering all you have been through, and the things facing you, you have every reason to be cautious.”
A moment of awkward silence sat between us before Master Kiev cleared his throat. “As I was saying before. Yes, I knew Aragon quite well. I trained him, in fact, at least in his Mind Bending abilities.
“I’m not sure if anyone had told you, but the Mind Bending Dome-ni is not a common talent. So the community is rather small, especially for those pledging themselves to the Protectorate Program. It is my responsibility that any of those going through the Protectorate Program with the Mind Bender talent are assessed and trained thoroughly in their Dome-ni. Aragon was actually one of my first students after taking up my role there.
“He was a very promising lad to be sure, but when I was informed of the locks he had placed in your mind, I was surprised. He had never shown any ability to complete such complex locks while he was under my tutelage, or after he was bonded to King Rainus.
“But, of course, I can’t completely attest to his service with the King, our relationship had progressed beyond teacher and student at that time. But it is common for those seeking advancement in their Dome-ni to inform their Master Teacher of significant progress.”
“So the locks he put in my brain are considered advanced?”
“Oh yes, it’s only a skill a Master Mind Bender could accomplish.”
“Then how did he reach master status?”
Master Kiev looked perplexed. “That, my dear boy, I do not know. Either he did it in Ethia before he left and told no one of his accomplishment, which I find highly unlikely, because that sort of cavalier attitude is greatly frowned upon in respectable society. And despite the status Aragon now has, he was once well respected and from what I remember of him in his College days, quite against being a rule breaker. Or it is possible, he mastered his talent after he left the Empire, which I’m more inclined to believe.”
That made me stop for a minute. What Kiev said did fit with the man I knew. Dad had always expected us to follow the rules and have respect for other people. He didn’t even go over the speed limit while driving. He always drove right at or below the limit, which annoyed anyone who happened to be in the car with him.
The idea of my dad now being some traitor in Ethia was the difficult part for me to come to terms with out of everything that I had learned so far. And I probably wouldn’t have believed he had actually done what he’d done, if my parents hadn’t confessed it themselves.
I suppose it showed that even the best of people have their breaking points. That lines they wouldn’t normally cross, could be under the right circumstances. It made me feel an uncomfortable amount of guilt. If it hadn’t been for me, my dad wouldn’t now be one of the most detested men in Ethia.
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It took me a moment, but I realized that the same feelings of hate I usually detected when my dad was mentioned wasn’t present at all with Master Kiev, or maybe he was hiding it somehow.
“You don’t hold him in as much distain as the others, do you?”
Kiev grunted. “Why would I have hard feelings against the man? It wasn’t my son he ran off with. And while I make it my business not to get in other people’s business, if Aragon did the things he did, then he must have had yavit good reason. I could not imagine him being capable of the things they have charged him with otherwise.”
“Yeah, I kind of feel bad about that. I can’t help but think this is all my fault.”
Kiev turned so he was looking me in the eye. “Like I said, I don’t pay much attention to the going ons of others, but as I recall, what happened with you was pretty big news. A person would have had to been holed up on a deserted moon, not to know about all that business.
“From what I remember, you had been given a rather bad start to life, and then it had only gotten worse once it became know about your potential abilities. I’m not condoning anything Aragon has done, mind you, but as I see it, he was trying to protect his charge. That is the creed of the Protectorate after all and the whole purpose as to why the College exists.”
I nodded. “That’s what mom said, but it still isn’t right that he’s being painted as some villain for doing what he thought was right.”
“Perhaps, though it might be better to learn to just ignore the opinions of others. It would be a lot less stressful way to live.”
I chuckled at that. It sounded like something my mom would say. “Maybe you’re right.”
“I’ve been known to be right a time or two.” Kiev stood up from the bench and walked in front of me. “Now hold still, and I will see what can be learned.”
This time I was ready, and like before, a white light filled my mind. Even with knowing what was going to happen, it was disorienting. I was glad to be sitting down. I was also glad when Kiev pulled away and the dizzy sensation started to recede. I noticed the perplexed look on Master Kiev’s face.
“What is is? What’s wrong?” I asked.
Kiev shook his head and he came to sit next to me on the stone bench. “ Nothing is wrong per se. I’m just surprised at the level he’s been able to alter your mind. I wonder if I mis-assessed his talent.”
“What do you mean?”
“It’s rather complicated, but when a student comes to a Master Teacher to be trained, an assessment is made of exactly how much the student has the potential to access that Dome-ni talent. Some can do it more than others. When I initially assessed Aragon, his potential ability was midrange, which meant he did not have the capacity to master his talent in any form. It was part of the reason he was allowed to continue through the Protectorate Program.
“Master Mind Benders are difficult to come by. If he had proven more skilled in his Dome-ni, it would have been highly suggested that he withdraw from the College and pursue his master status.”
“Maybe he knew that and didn’t want to take that path and found a way to hide his full potential?” I suggested.
Master Kiev eyed me. “That is a rather disturbing thought indeed, but I suppose it should be considered. It makes me wonder how much I actually knew that man. Perhaps, not nearly as well as I thought.”
“Yeah, I’m kind of feeling that way too,” I muttered.
“Without the person to question more fully, I suppose all of this is speculation. I wouldn’t take any of this too much to heart. I think the important take away here is that he did what he felt he had to do to protect his charge.”
I nodded. I had to admit that it felt good to be talking to someone who didn’t hate on my dad, and it helped that Kiev’s words resonated with me.
“So what did you find out?” I asked, bringing us back to why we were here in the first place.
Master Kiev shook his head. “I’m afraid not much more than what was reported by Lieutenant Danton. You have three distinct locks in place. One closed, and two that are adaptable. There is not a thing I can do about the closed lock, but I can do a little about the other two.”
Hope filled me at hearing that last part. “Oh?”
Kiev held up a hand. “Don’t get too excited. I can’t remove them, but I can show you what to look for so that you will know when one of the adaptables are getting close to releasing.”
“You can’t help the adaptable locks along?”
Kiev frowned. “I am afraid not. If Aragon had been sloppy with putting them in, then perhaps I could have poked around the edges and gotten them to release sooner, but they are quite well crafted. All that can be done is to wait until the right circumstances have been reached for them to be release.”
“How will I know the right circumstances?”
Kiev got a thoughtful look on his face. “Have you experienced any sort of familiarity or distinct recognition of anything since you have come back?”
It didn’t take long to come up with the only two times I felt any sort of familiarity. “There was this one moment when I was first brought on to Vang’s ship. I saw the circle crests on their shoulders and I had the distinct sensation that I had seen that symbol somewhere before. I also got a familiar sensation when I first entered the White Palace. It was like I connected with it on a deep level. I’m not sure how else to explain it.”
Keiv nodded. “That is good news then. When I received the report from Danton, I had been assuming that at least one of your adaptable locks was holding the majority of your memories from your childhood in Ethia. If you experienced familiarity with anything related to a strong emotion, which in your case would be your Zahn bloodline, then it supports my theory.”
“What about the others?”
“You tell me. I would imagine that you know Aragon a lot better than I.” Kiev gave me a piercing look and I had to look away, knowing exactly what he was getting at.
It took me a moment, but finally I responded. “I think the closed lock holds my memories of what happened with my brothers and I. It’s the only thing I could even imagine him trying to lock away forever. The other adaptable lock, I really don’t know.”
Kiev nodded. “Then I suppose only time will reveal the secrets of Aragon Remeer and those he locked away within you. I can show you some exercises you can do to help promote a release of the adaptable locks, and tell you of what signs to look for that an adaptable lock may be close to releasing. Mind you, this is not a quick fix. It could still take some time for the locks to finally release.”
“I understand.”
“Excellent. Then let’s get started.”