Heart of the Ocean

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Prologue

  Part One - Looming Threats

  One - Isolation

  Two - Father

  Three - The Trial

  Four - Exile

  Five - From the Sky

  Six - Mother

  Seven - In Defense of Terus

  Eight - Prisoner

  Nine - Leaving Terus

  Part Two - To the West

  Ten - Lake Artus

  Eleven - Treatise

  Twelve - Kios

  Thirteen - Affinities

  Fourteen - Nuriel

  Fifteen - Shelter

  Sixteen - The Island

  Seventeen - Tales

  Eighteen - The Straits

  Nineteen - Survival

  Part Three - Sacred Waters

  Twenty - Captured

  Twenty-One - The Elder

  Twenty-Two - Anrhe

  Twenty-Three - Legend of the Edonin

  Twenty-Four - Across the Straits

  Twenty-Five - The Tomb

  Twenty-Six - Awakening

  Twenty-Seven - To the Waters

  Twenty-Eight - The Source

  Twenty-Nine - Choices

  Thirty - Return

  Thirty-One - The Warden

  Afterword

  Heart of the Ocean

  The Equilibrium Cycle Book 2

  Jason A. Gilbert

  Copyright © 2015 Jason Gilbert

  Heart of the Ocean- The Equilibrium Cycle Book 2

  Argonaut Publishing

  All rights reserved.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For Julia and her enduring support.

  Prologue

  Clouds gathered in the west. Dark, heavy clouds. The wind blew from beyond the ocean and pushed the clouds to the east, toward Terus and the bottom of the world.

  Laila sat in the gardens of her house, legs crossed beneath her, stone staff settled across her lap. She pulled at the warmth and confidence within and felt comforted, in spite of the rain that fell on the city. It was a cold rain, heavy and dense and foreboding. Laila took a deep breath, holding in the strength that the staff provided her.

  Two months had passed since her confrontation with Casus, the young Consul assistant to Torin who had revealed himself to be the Aspect of Fire, Nuriel, in the Consulate hall. As she drew on her power, images of that fight snapped through her mind. Fire roared around her, and a deep laugh that burned with the flames that surrounded her, mocked her. The cry of the Aurai still echoed through her mind.

  There would be consequences for her failure.

  She was the Magusari, and regardless of whether or not she had had any power to save the Aurai, they would not take kindly to the death of their emissary, especially one who had come to accept the Consulate’s surrender of Terus. She could not guess what would happen, but she felt that something was coming. She knew this with the confidence she often felt when considering events while tapping the staff's power. At times she felt as though the Earth were speaking to her through the staff, much as it had done on Mount Obrussa.

  "Laila!" Clara's tight voice cut through her reverie, jarring Laila back to the present. "Come in from the rain, child."

  With a sigh Laila let the warmth from the staff dissipate back into the ground. She shivered as the unmitigated cold of the rain hit her in full. Climbing to her feet, she gathered her wet robes and walked over to Clara.

  "Oh, Laila-sa! Sitting in the rain like that. I've never understood why you do it." Clara smiled as she wrapped a large cloth blanket around Laila's shoulders. "Always sitting out in the rain, or the cold, deep in your own thoughts."

  Laila shrugged. "I don't know. It helps me clear my head."

  "Such a strange child," Clara said. Her tone carried a hint of worry and remembrance, but she let it drop. "Your father will be home soon. I can't have you sitting out in the rain when he gets here. Come, let's get you cleaned up."

  During the first few weeks after her return, Laila had found Clara's dotage overwhelming. She’d become accustomed to the hardship of the road. But, as time wore on and she continued to feel out of place in her own city, Clara's ministrations brought her a sense of familiarity that she’d sorely missed.

  "Thank you, Rara," she said, using her childhood nickname for Clara. She looked up at the menacing clouds overhead one last time before turning and allowing Clara to usher her back into the house.

  Connor sat under the overhang of a small cafe in the city center of Terus. The rain poured down on the city relentlessly. He leaned back in his chair after sipping absently at the steaming soup in front of him. He pulled his cloak tighter around his shoulders, trying to banish the winter cold that had seeped into his limbs. His days over the last two months had been relentlessly similar. Ever since the rush of events leading up to Laila's strange battle with the fire creature, his life had grated to a standstill. Laila never wanted to leave her house. Icarus came and went frequently, never explaining where he was going or when he would return. Alain, Laila's father, had been gracious enough to let Connor stay as a guest in his house, but the interactions between Laila, Alain, and her mother, Lunete, were often strained and uncomfortable, so Connor spent his days roaming the city.

  As he watched the rain pour into the city center and he saw the people of Terus going about their lives, he found his mind drifting back to Custos. He couldn’t say how long had it been since he had left the only home he had ever known. Four months? Five? Much of the time leading up to their arrival in Terus had blended together. It had been midsummer when he’d left with Icarus, and now it was the middle of winter. He remembered his old friends, Tristan and Nico, wondered what they were doing now. Likely staying indoors and trying to stay warm, much as he should be doing. He thought of his mother, hoping that she was well. The people of Custos were a close-knit group, and he knew she would be well taken care of. Not that she needed the support. She had been self-sufficient, taking care of both herself and Connor, for many years before his absence.

  With a deep breath, he shook off his longings for home. It was probably time to return. He would not get much wandering accomplished if the rain kept up, and it certainly looked as though it would. He picked up the half-full bowl of soup and took a long swallow from it before standing, waving his thanks to the owner, and making his way back out into the rain, picking his way slowly back toward Laila's house.

  Icarus sat in the Consulate, waiting. He sat in the long hallway that surrounded the main meeting room of the Consulate. Craftsmen had put up a makeshift cover over the burned-out hole in the dome, trying to protect the hall from the incessant rain, but there was still a steady drip through the fabric, creating an eerie cadence to the ceaseless parade of Consuls.

  One of the younger Consuls made her way toward Icarus from further down the hallway. He believed her to be Selene, one of Laila's friends.

  "Magus." The young woman addressed him directly; he had made no effort to hide himself. Too many had already heard the rumors regardless. "Consul Wardein will see you now." She lowered her head stiffly, uncertain about how to address a member of an order that had been despised in Terus for far longer than she had been alive.

  "Thank you, Shi." He stood and motioned for her to lead on. She spun on her heel and walked around the curve of the hallway and into the back offices of the Consulate. Icarus recognized the path she took from the day Laila had confronted Nuriel, but he had not been back into the hall sinc
e. Most of his time had been spent poking around Terus, looking for a library like the one in Balon, to no avail. He still had four of the books they had recovered from the ancient library, but the Treatise on Earth, the one that would have been most helpful to him, had been lost during their last visit to that city. The other four, the ones that pertained to the remaining elements, were of little worth to Icarus. He had been able to understand bits and pieces of the Earth book due to his affinity. But the others were next to useless, at least to him.

  And now he was struggling to bring Laila's focus back to her purpose. Of course, that was why he was here. He brushed aside his errant thoughts and followed the young Consul back to Laila's father's office.

  "The Magus, as you asked, Consul," said the young woman as they entered Alain's small office. Icarus followed in behind her.

  Alain looked up from a pile of documents on his desk. His face was drawn, and dark circles hung beneath his eyes. Icarus had initiated little interaction with the Consul in the last two months, which had probably been for the best. Alain’s position was precarious enough with tales of Laila’s exploits circling around the city. Rumors of the Magi’s return to Terus had begun to increase, and associating with one of those Magi would not have done Alain’s reputation any good. However, Alain was a senior member of the Consulate and was probably the main force holding everything together, even with the complications due to Laila’s role.

  "Magus," Alain said, motioning toward one of the large chairs before his desk. "Have a seat."

  Icarus nodded. "Thank you, Consul."

  Alain took a heavy breath. "You asked to see me. I don't enjoy the idea of being seen entertaining an audience with you, but my daughter comes first, as difficult as that may make things. So, please, do not thank me. Explain what you need from me, and I will see what can be done."

  "Very well, Consul." Icarus matched his own tone to the seriousness of Alain's; he had hoped to approach this subject in a friendly matter, but he was also willing to address the situation with the gravity it deserved. "I need you to convince your daughter to leave Terus."

  Alain's eyes widened. "Leave Terus! Why?"

  "You know why, Consul. The city grows increasingly wary of her. The Consulate would have tossed me out already if not for my association with Laila and the fact that she is your daughter. And, even without those factors, she needs to leave because she is not done. Your daughter has a task before her. One that I plan to help her complete. She cannot finish that task here in Terus."

  "And what would you have me do? Force her to leave in shame, as Torin will? Remove any small semblance of trust she may still have with me? I have done all that I can to keep her safe since her return, despite the intention of many of the Consuls! I will not force her to leave her home! I may lose my position here, but I will not jeopardize the trust of my daughter!"

  "And I would not ask that of you. I believe there may be another way. It is not the kindest way, but..." Icarus did not finish the rest of the thought.

  Alain considered for a moment. Icarus did not like what he was proposing either, but he needed to motivate Laila somehow. His own attempts to convince Laila had failed. He knew she was not happy in Terus, but she knew little else. Their brief journey to Grimmere had been enough to show her more of the world, but not enough to remove her fear of it. If anything, their journey had only reinforced Laila’s fears. Icarus locked eyes with Alain. The Consul studied the Magus intently, and Icarus could see the struggle in his eyes. Finally, Alain responded. "Tell me your idea, Magus."

  Icarus nodded slowly. He found that a part of him had hoped the Consul would refuse. Hardening himself, he began to explain.

  Torin sat in a small guest room in the lower part of the Consulate. At least they had not put him in the ancient cells under the foundation, as he had done to the Magus and Alain's daughter. Two Guardians stood at his door without fail. He was brought food and water and allowed the occasional visitor, but beyond that, he had been kept to this small room for the last two months. Ever since Nuriel had revealed himself. Revealed himself and destroyed Torin's credibility!

  They had been so close. Taking the Consulari's seat had been so easy. And with that move, he had started the process that he’d known would unite the cities of the Confederacy under his rule. The cities of the Red Bay, Balon, and all the lands between. United they would have been able to stand against the Aurai and whatever army they could muster. Nuriel had been sure of it. And after they’d defeated the Aurai, who knew what they would have been capable of.

  Damn him! thought Torin. I only needed a little more time! And damn that child. Where did that power come from?

  "The Magusari," a voice whispered into Torin's ear. He sat up, startled. His head swung back and forth, but there was no one else in the room. The Guardians still stood guard outside; they had not heard anything.

  "Only you can hear me, human."

  Torin's heart raced. "I don't... I don't understand."

  "And you are not meant to. Powers beyond your comprehension are on the move. Nuriel was only the first. But you proved yourself a valuable servant."

  "Who...? Who are you?" Torin whispered to the air.

  "You will learn."

  And with that, the presence was gone. Torin could not calm his heart. His breathing came in quick gasps for several minutes. It had not been Nuriel's voice. That voice had been burned into Torin's mind for over a year. No, this voice had been calm, logical, and certain. Torin shuddered and lay back on his small bed, the last words spoken by the voice echoing through his mind.

  Part One: Looming Threats

  One

  Isolation

  Laila was awake and watching as the sun rose up. The clouds that had hung over Terus for the last week had finally departed, leaving the city dank. Connor and Icarus had returned in the evening the night before, and Connor had tried to speak with her, but she had sent him away. Now, her hand absently rested on her staff. More and more she found it difficult to leave the staff behind. Even in the house she often carried it when walking through the gardens. She called up her power, letting it wash over her, warming her, strengthening her.

  A gentle knock at the door brought her back to the present. She sighed, releasing her hold on her power. She knew she would eventually have to face her friends and family. She could not hide forever. She just wished she could remain here for a little longer.

  The knock came again, a little more insistent. "Laila." Connor's voice.

  Laila padded towards the door and opened it a few inches. As the door opened, Connor straightened. He had begun taking his duties as Warden more seriously—or at least as seriously as Laila would allow—especially after what he perceived to be his failure at Grimmere.

  "What is it, Connor?"

  "There is someone here to see you. Your mother told me to come get you." His voice was rigid and formal, and Laila did not like it.

  "Who?" she asked.

  "Diodatus?" he hesitated, struggling with the name.

  "Dio!?" Laila felt a brief surge of excitement. She had not made it a point to see her friends since she had returned, but none of them had reached out to her either. With everything that had happened, her father had thought it best. The last person she would have expected to seek her out would have been Dio.

  "Aye," Connor responded. "He says your father sent him."

  Laila raised an eyebrow. "Truly?"

  Connor nodded, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes, as though he knew more about the situation than he was telling. Laila knew it would do her no good to ask.

  "Very well," she said, gripping her staff tighter and swinging the door wide. Connor stepped back, and she pulled at the shoulders of her robes as she walked past him, readjusting them out of habit.

  He fell into step behind her, an air of caution hanging about him. Laila began to say something, but then stopped herself. Connor would see how Dio was and likely realize there was no need to protect her from her old friend. Mov
ing through the gardens, she noticed her mother walk past, under the eaves, heading toward her own rooms. Lunete did not acknowledge either her daughter or her companion as she disappeared behind the door. Laila shook her head and continued to the main hall.

  Dio was standing patiently as she entered. He wore a brown tunic beneath a similarly colored robe. It was rather formal attire, especially for Dio, who often disregarded the tenets of Terun style. Laila’s lips curved slightly. Her father really did ask him, and he was taking the task very seriously.

  "Dio!" she said, moving quickly toward her old friend.

  "Shi Wardein," Dio responded, bowing at the waist.

  Laila laughed. "Come now, Dio. Shi Wardein is my mother. It was not too long ago that you were still calling me child. Why the formality?"

  "I..." Dio hesitated. "I... Your father... I just thought it was more appropriate." He lowered his eyes to the stone floor. Laila did not remember Dio ever being this awkward. It was more than odd.

  "Well, I don't care for it. Ask Connor here. He keeps trying to be like that, and I won't let him." She glanced back at Connor and smiled. She felt her mood improving and began doubting the months-old decision that had kept her locked away in her room for so long.

  Dio nodded toward Connor. "Connor and I have met."

  “When?” Laila asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Dio glanced at Connor who looked back at him. There was an uncomfortable moment of silence.

  “I have spent a lot of time in the city,” Connor said, “since you’ve been…staying home. Your father was kind enough to introduce me to Dio, and he has asked about you, a lot.”

  Dio shrugged. “I would have come by sooner, but Connor and Clara made it clear that you didn’t really want to be bothered.”

  Laila frowned. Dio could not understand what she’d endured. But, he was here now. "Well then, what brings you here now? Connor said that my father sent you. Apparently I’m not motivation enough."