"It is as much as I can say."

"So this is between two states of being?"

"You desire to know my secrets?"

"Don't avoid the question."

"I am not; I have answered as much as I can. Do you desire to know my secrets?"

This was unlike anything Ticca had said, but it was real. He could smell the flowers, he could feel the sun, and the wind tickled his skin. "I do."

"What price would you pay for them?"

"I can insure you shall be remembered."

"I do not need this. I am loved, and once I pa.s.s from here I will have no use for anything else."

Lebuin looked around. "We are between. Money has no meaning; you do not desire to be named. What can I offer?"

"I cannot affect things in your realm."

Lebuin understood then that she was holding herself here but unable to cause change, or manifest in the physical world. "What would you ask me to do?"

She smiled, and it was like lightning. "You see, good. Three things I will ask of you: Get Ticca to wear my boots, always, until this is done. Protect Ditani as much as he protects you. Finally, do not hesitate to risk all, for all is at risk."

Lebuin considered. "I can agree to the first two, but I do not understand your third request."

"You will, you have only to promise me these three things and I shall teach you all my secrets. We have pa.s.sed the point of the necessity of your ignorance."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You will come to know that too, in time. I am aware of more than I should be, because of this place and of how I can interact through my creations. I cannot say more for fear of ruining hope."

"This is Rea-Na-Rey; you are a silver elf. Your secrets will be of little use to me."

Kliasa laughed, and it was as beautiful music with ringing tones, high and wonderful. "You know the name! Yes, this is Rea-Na-Rey, and I was what you humans call an 'elf lord'. I have hidden this from Ticca so she wouldn't be frightened." As Lebuin watched, Kliasa's form thinned slightly, becoming more elegant as her skin shifted to light silver. "I promise you will be able to learn and use the skills and secrets I share."

Looking out the window, he now saw the children were a mix of human and elf.

"Very well, I will do as you ask, provided what you say is true."

She smiled at him, and he was joyful. "Lebuin, we are between, it is impossible to lie here. Come, sit there, and we shall begin."

"How long will this take?"

"Time may pa.s.s differently here. I can give you as long as you need; I expect you will need at least a full year, perhaps more. Though it will seem like you have spent a year in study with me, only a single night will pa.s.s in your realm."

Lebuin thought about it and then smiled. "This will be the best dream I have ever had."

Kliasa motioned to him. "I picked this time because it was a wonderful one. We have three celebrations each year, and tonight's is the first. You will get to meet and know Duke and Magus Vestul as I know them. My love has already left, so there is no fear of any of my feelings for him intruding on this time. I have finished his boots and he took them with him, although he still doesn't wear them. There were a quiet few years after his departure that were full of happiness, which I can share with you."

Cycles pa.s.sed and Kliasa was true to her word. Lebuin did meet the large wolf and laughed at the stories he told. Duke loved the children and was always playing with them or telling stories. Duke also had a deep love of Kliasa and came around often, just to chat with her; during these times Lebuin would sit and listen, or wander around the city as directed by Kliasa. Finally Duke left to build a better tavern, he said, and he had an emotional farewell with Kliasa. The summer festival had the honored guest of Magus Vestul; Kliasa introduced them and he found he liked him deeply. Lebuin learned that Magus Vestul had had many interactions with the elves, and they loved him completely for his sacrifices for them. All three festivals had ritual requirements on which Kliasa drilled him until he knew them perfectly.

They spent every day together; Kliasa taught him the art of making her boots and journals. She also taught him how to trap and prepare the animals. He roamed the vast forest with her. He learned her trap routes as well as she knew them herself. She taught him to use the sword, knife, bow, and sling as well as any elf. They spent marks every day sparring with weapons. She also taught him to read and write in the ancient language of the elves...

She truly pa.s.sed on to him all her secrets. The training was much faster than he expected. Kliasa explained that this was because they were between and the connection of thoughts was superior, and so he understood what she was teaching better and faster than if they had done this in the physical realm. Kliasa also warned that although his mind knew all the skills, his body was without proper training, and he would injure himself should he push too far, too fast. She taught him the strengthening techniques used for recovery from injuries that caused long disuse and atrophy of the muscles.

A year pa.s.sed and Lebuin knew the elven woods as well as he knew the library at the Guild. He understood the flows of energies that were part of the elves, and how they worked without the necessity of channeling because they were part magic themselves. He had mastered making boots that could change size, color, and texture to need. He knew how to make the journals' papers and inks that would create permanent records which would be nearly impossible to damage or alter. He knew how to fight and hunt as an elf. He knew all the elven traditions and rituals. And he loved Kliasa as deeply as Duke, Vestul, and apparently all who knew her.

He had almost forgotten about how it all started. One morning Kliasa came to him. "You have mastered all I have to teach you. It is time for you to fulfill your part of our bargain now."

"Kliasa, you are truly the marvel Ditani speaks of, I thank you for all your efforts. I will do all I can to fulfill my part."

She smiled. "Lebuin, know you are as much loved and cherished as I ever was. I am glad for this time we have had, I wish we could have more. You have things to attend to, however. I am better for having known you." She gave him a strong hug and then turned him around and pushed him gently out the door into the forest. "Be well Lebuin, and remember your promise."

Rolling over, the smell of hot arit came to his nose. He opened his eyes. I am camped in the woods with Ticca and Ditani. Today we start weapons training with Ticca. This is going to be fun surprising her. Smiling, he sat up, feeling immensely refreshed. None of his muscles complained and he felt strong and able. Oh these really are marvelous boots, Kliasa. I think I will be making myself a pair as soon as I can... and I do remember my promise.

Ditani was making some breakfast from the provisions and handed him a cup of arit. "Thanks, Ditani." He looked at the older man and felt a warm friendship for him. "Ditani, I ... I mean ... Well I'm glad to have you with me." Ditani looked him in the eye and nodded in response as a wide smile grew on his face.

Ticca was already up and doing her morning stretches barefoot. Lebuin swallowed some arit and joined her, also taking the boots off and doing them barefoot. Ditani set aside the breakfast to stay warm and joined them too.

Lebuin followed along as she did each motion slowly, as she had done in the days before. He found that some were already familiar from what he had studied with Kliasa. In fact, most of the warm-up was exactly as he had learned. The only problem was that his physical body hadn't had the benefit of the year of training his mind had. It wasn't long before he was sweating and his muscles were fatigued. Ditani had also followed and had the same difficulties in the same areas he did; however, Ditani was obviously in better shape, so when they sat to breakfast, Lebuin was the only one sweating profusely.

Ticca smiled, putting her boots back on. Looking at him as she ate, she commented, "You both did pretty good."

"Yes, well, there is a reason for it."

She raised her eyebrows. "Oh? And what would that be?"

"I have studied these moves, I just haven't done them. You are doing some differently than I remember, though. There are also a few moves I didn't know before."

"Nose stuck in books too much. Well, we'll get you over that. What about you, Ditani, how do you know the same patterns as Lebuin here? You both stumbled in the same places, so I a.s.sume you both have studied the same patterns."

Ditani laughed. "My people are taught this from youth, we call it 'the Path'. Many of my people do it every day together in open fields or parks. I haven't done it myself in a few years, but I remember many of the concepts it contains. Only warriors are taught the full martial aspects of it. Most only do it for the exercise and stretching."

"Well then, you two are going to be at least proficient by the time we get to Algan. If you both already know this, it is only a matter of removing the imperfections and adding the missing components. I still need to get you both to stop being so dramatic."

"What do you mean? I thought we needed to learn the moves?"

"That is what many think, but really it is about eliminating wasted motion; for example, in a fight, most people swing widely and block with more motion than needed. Really a very little diversion is needed to cause someone to miss. The less energy you need to redirect an attack, the more energy you have to sustain yourself. Most people who do these patterns tend to add drama to it, exaggerating some of the moves. You both were doing that. What is needed is the absolute minimum."

Lebuin nodded. "Ah, I see, conserve strength and let the opponent waste their own, thus tiring faster."

Ticca nodded. "Right. Now, if we are finished with breakfast, grab your knives and we will do some practice drills based on the patterns. These will likely be some of those martial aspects you spoke of, Ditani. So, congratulations, you are both entering the warrior caste."

"Shouldn't we use wooden sticks or something?"

Ticca smiled an evil little smile. "No, this will encourage you to concentrate on getting it right."

Lebuin swallowed hard. No kidding. Once she started the training he almost laughed. She had them standing facing each other, doing something like the Path, but also very slowly. It was like a dance, where he did one side and Ditani did the opposite.

"You will learn all twelve patterns from both sides by the time we are done. Since you know the patterns already these will come very fast. However, you must both concentrate on always, and I mean always, doing them exactly correctly. If you make a mistake, recognize it, stop, and do it correctly."

After Ticca was satisfied they had learned the first pattern, she made them switch sides and practice, paying close attention and correcting any mistakes through example. After he and Ditani had learned the first pattern dance from one side she traded places with him against Ditani and did the drill again and again, each time moving slightly faster. When Ditani made a mistake, she stopped as if frozen until he fixed it, and then they continued. Watching Ticca and Ditani, Lebuin was struck by how much it looked like the fight she had with the man in green, only much slower. Once she had set a certain pace that still couldn't be called fast, she stopped.

"This is the speed you will use to practice all the patterns. You will see that they can be strung together in a loop where you do one side, then the other, and then the next. A complete workout would thus be doing the Path once correctly, at a speed that would complete it start to finish, in half of a mark; followed by the patterns for a complete loop in another half mark or perhaps a full mark. Meaning you can do the entire practice by yourself in one mark. If you do both the weapon and the barehanded patterns you will need one and a half marks to complete the entire set. You do not need a partner for the pattern dances, but it is best if you can have one. Once you have learned these you should do them every day for the rest of your life. So from now on I expect you to do this in the morning every day as we travel, and I will teach you more each evening."

Lebuin repeated some of the pattern dance then looked at Ticca. "This is the fight you had with the man at the gate."

"You have an excellent memory, M'lord. This is one of the twelve practice patterns based on the Path that use weapons. There are also twelve hand-to-hand practice patterns that are also based on the Path. The fight we had used components of all of them as the situation permitted."

"So the Path is a foundation of fighting techniques, with and without weapons?"

"Correct. The Path is a fighting technique and a mental training exercise. If done correctly, it calms the mind, and eventually, your body will respond within the Path."

"What do you mean?"

She pointed to a spot in front of her. "Stand there." He did. "Now, try to attack me." He just looked at her stupidly. She smiled that evil smile. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you."

"I'm more afraid of hurting you."

"Yes, I know, I need to beat that out of you. When you are fighting it will usually be for your life. Therefore, you cannot hesitate as you did when thinking of trying to help me from the safety of your high window. Come, try to shove me, push me, kick me, or come at me with a knife, Lebuin."

The jab was dead-on and she knew it, too. He felt embarra.s.sed at being reminded of his inactions. So he thrust his knife at her midsection, but not so hard that he couldn't stop it, and then she wasn't there. Her midsection had turned and shifted slightly out of the way, so his knife was pa.s.sing a hair's breadth from her shirt. Her arm came up just as in a move from the Path, and he saw it was binding his own arm so that as her other hand came around, it would have broken his arm backwards at the elbow... except his knees had lowered, and he was moving his arm to turn it into an elbow jab to her belly, being supported by his other hand. Ticca twisted away from that using a different move from the Path, pushed his jab down and pulled him forward and off balance while bringing her knee dangerously up towards his groin, his own knife pointing at his chest while still in his hand. She stopped, but not before Lebuin had already shifted a little, so her knee would have hit his inner thigh instead. She held him there, slightly off-balance, his knife pointing at his chest, and because of her hold, his arm and the knife were entirely under her control.

"Do you see now?"

Shocked, he looked at the result of the maneuvers he had been learning but had not understood. "Yes, I clearly see the result. Are all of the patterns as dangerous as this?"

Ticca nodded. "The Path was long ago perfected, and there are variations but the core, which I am teaching you, is the same in every one. Every move is a dodge, a strike or a parry. The Path is the essence of all fighting styles, distilled to its purest form. It is also a form of meditation. I'd bet you will replace any meditation you do as a wizard with a much slower version of the Path. You might try doing it very slowly. I have been told many wizards that learn the Path do this."

"Are there no other patterns?"

"Of course, but this is the base, all others have extra moves which are wasteful or for show."

"So learn this, learn them all?"

"Pretty much. If you master this one, the others are but extensions, in slightly different order using different names for the moves. That is enough for now; we have ground to cover."

"Before we go, Ticca, I have an obligation to settle."

She looked at him oddly. "What can you do out here?"

"It isn't so much what I can do, as what I need you to do."

She waited, looking oddly at him.

"Ticca," he swallowed. "The boots are not the source of your odd dreams, but they are the conduit."

"This sounds interesting, let's get some arit and talk."

They walked back to the camp and Ditani made fresh arit. Lebuin swallowed and started, "I didn't learn the Path from a book. Kliasa taught it to me, along with many other things, in exchange for some promised favors."

Ticca sat perfectly still, listening.

"You see, last night I spent over a year in the great forest learning everything Kliasa knew, learning the ways of the elves, learning their city and people. I met Duke and Vestul on their visits to the elven city. I know how to make boots such as you are wearing now. I know how to make that journal you spoke of. It is all true. Everything you witnessed is truth."

Ditani made a sound, causing both of them to look at him. His head was down and he was staring at the ground. There were tears on his cheek. They both looked away, giving him his privacy for his grief. He knew and loved her, and to hear I spent a year with her must be a real blow.

Ticca looked back at him. "How can this be?"

"Ticca, there is a place where we all go after dying; between this realm and that is another one. I think it is the ethereal realm; Kliasa called it 'between'. She is purposefully holding herself there with all her power. She can connect with people through her artifacts. Ticca, she wouldn't tell me why, or what she wants to teach you; but she did say she has much to share with you only. She begged of me to convince you to put her boots on and to never take them off till the conclusion. It wasn't until we were finished with training today that I was able to see all I learned in the last year, overnight, was accurate."

Ticca shook her head, stood up and started pacing back and forth. "That is the second time a powerful ent.i.ty has told me to do something while referencing an 'end'."

Confused, Lebuin looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"The High Priestess of Dalpha told me, in the Temple, to come back and tell her how this ends, if I can."

Lebuin frowned and stood, starting to pace himself. "You know, when I was dead I had a strange experience that I wasn't sure was real... but, now I am sure of it. There are powerful beings who are working towards an end. They all fear some major catastrophe and there is something about it that keeps them from getting involved directly. They are being forced, either on purpose or by circ.u.mstances, to stand back."

Ticca nodded as they paced together while Ditani sat and watched. "Lebuin, I think we are on the verge of something very important. I just don't know why. We are blind, but many people are trying to give us hints... Why us?"

Lebuin shrugged. "I don't know, but I trust Kliasa totally. It is impossible to lie in the ethereal realm. She wants to share something with you. She wants you to have the boots, and all she asks is that you never take them off until after the end."

Ticca stopped and looked at him. "Well, as odd as this sounds; I think I will agree. My trainer always said, 'Knowledge is the most powerful weapon you can hold.' If Kliasa really is holding on, just to tell me critical things, it would be silly to ignore her. Besides, I like how I feel in the morning after sleeping with these things on."

a After that the days fell into a pattern: martial practices in the morning and evenings, with long days of riding in between. As they rode, Ticca would teach them of Dagger tactics, signs, and the Dagger code. She also recited many of the Dagger histories, which she demanded they recite back to her repeatedly until they had them word-perfect. Lebuin was surprised to learn that Duke had started the Daggers and based them on an organization of military specialists. They were respected throughout the world before they had been forgotten during the Imperial times. There was a lot of emphasis on not losing sight of any one of the three guiding aspects of honor, courage, and commitment. Oddly, the commitment wasn't to the Daggers but to doing the right thing, having the courage to stand up for the right, regardless of the consequences, and the honor to always step up. There were a considerable amount of signs, tactics, and other skills that could only come over years of dedicated training. With every word, Lebuin felt as if he was growing and becoming what he should have been from the start.

Lebuin only required some simple practice to teach his physical body the skills his mind already knew, and sling, bow, sword, and knife came fast. Ditani mastered the sling and already knew knife and bow. They hunted as they rode so that they always had excellent meat to eat in the evening. He also found he liked the Dagger code of honor, courage, and commitment. The whole idea of upholding a high moral code resonated with his soul. He would recite the things Ticca told him over and over again in his head, making sure he would never forget.

After they had learned the Dagger skills, Ticca added survival techniques. When they came across wild vegetables Ticca would point them out and they would collect some for the next few days. It was discovered that food put in the pack did not spoil, at which point Ticca and Ditani taught Lebuin how to hunt deer and they spent some time preparing smoked jerky from the venison. Apparently there were deep family secrets to the jerky preparation methods; Ticca and Ditani spent a lot of time arguing over which was better. Ditani was willing to share his with Lebuin, but Ticca kept hers a secret. In the end they grudgingly admitted that each was an 'adequate' preparation. Lebuin laughed at them, as both tasted delicious.

Some mornings Ticca would be a little confused on first rising, but they all knew the cause. Ticca said nothing more about what Kliasa shared with her; during the second week, though, Ticca said something to Lebuin in the Elven language and Lebuin responded immediately. They were both surprised that Ditani also spoke the language, although he had to concentrate. For the remaining time they spoke nothing but Elvish. Ditani quickly remembered the language and was soon speaking as fluently as Ticca and Lebuin.

After a few weeks Ticca declared them ready for more advanced training and started teaching them how to fight together against a single opponent or how to fight against multiple opponents. So their morning sparring was spent fighting in pairs against each other, rotating until they had all had a turn fighting two-on-one or one-on-two.

During the second week Lebuin's powers started to return. He slowly and carefully exercised them while they rode and each day they grew stronger. With the physical, magical, and mental exercises, he felt better and more alive than ever before. Lebuin found himself dreading having to return to the city life. Of course he did miss baths and clean clothes, but not as much as he'd thought he would. He also found he enjoyed the diet they ate; simple roasted vegetables with seasoned fresh meats from their hunting. They ate better than any n.o.ble every day as far as he was concerned. Also Vestul had obviously been collecting herbs his whole life, there was a huge collection. Ditani knew most of them, and experimented with others.

a They were on the road almost six weeks before they came to the first outer farmsteads of Algan, and Lebuin had bulked out considerably. Lebuin had decided to shave his beard so he and Ditani looked a pair, both with similar dress, clean shaven, and with similar haircuts. Lebuin had also gained a dark tan that was not too far from Ditani's natural look.

Looking down the hill, they could see the main road was a short way off. Out of habit, he asked in Elvish, "Should we take the road? I doubt anyone here is expecting us." Looking at Ticca and Ditani, he added, "Or would recognize us, for that matter. I would swear Ditani is years younger and I know I have put on weight I never thought I'd gain."

Ticca looked them over, answering in Elvish as well. "You certainly have changed a lot. I would say that what you were was merely a shadow of what you have become, Lebuin."

He smiled back at her, in the easy way they had come to know each other. "Thanks. And you certainly look better for those city pounds you have lost, too."