His eyes met large, darker ones, and he felt paralyzed as the string of obscenities ceased, and Benedict stared back up at him. He was covered in soap bubbles, the area thoroughly drenched as Osgar felt warm water hit his legs and boots. His teeth clamped together as he tried to glare.

  Benedict stopped mid-word as he splashed the persistent blue creature vindictively with water. Instead of touching his personal demons, it splashed over the edge of his tub and hit the last person he wanted it to. His world crumbled as he tried to think of something clever to say to redeem himself. Standing awkwardly, he reached out a hand as the sky blue eyes never left him, and he touched the older Catalyst's arm in appeal.

  The main doors banged open, and they both jumped, the spell broken, and Osgar stepped back hastily.

  “Osgar...?” Benedict tried to grab his arm.

  “Don't!” Osgar cut him off as he looked up and saw Cuthbert's head appear at the end of the cubicles. He stifled a groan.

  “Why won't you talk to me? What have I done?” Benedict moved from the tub, disregarding his nakedness as he reached forward again. “I only want to know you, to-”

  “No-” Osgar barely got the word out, avoiding the hurt eyes as he pushed away from the wet cubicle and slipped past Cuthbert without a word.

  “Osgar?” Cuthbert turned and half followed him. “Hey! Osgar-” But his friend had gone, and he frowned, turning back to where his young protégé waited. He approached the cubicle and looked in.

  Benedict sat on the side of the wooden tub, towel clutched tightly to his chest, with his head down. His pose was unreadable.

  “Benedict?” Cuthbert moved forward, getting confused, wondering what had happened between the two. He got no verbal answer; instead, the young Nyx raised his head and met his eyes. They were darker than normal and filled with despair and disillusionment as a single tear ran down the smooth cheek.

  “So, where have you been hiding?” It was the wrong thing to say, and Cuthbert knew it the instant the words left his mouth. His closest friend and partner just glared at him.

  They were in the Seminary Dining Hall for the evening meal, and it was crowded as usual. Noise bounced against the stone walls with elaborate paintings on them, while crumbs fell on the ornate, red and gold rug that lay beneath the black tables over the wood floor.

  Novices, Catalysts, Bards, Healers, and Blues all sat at their allocated tables, talking away. Cuthbert sat at the residents' table for full Catalysts as he cautiously eyed the silent man next to him. Since Osgar’s hasty exit from the Baths last night, he had wanted to question his friend about his uncharacteristic behavior. He was getting worried, especially as his friend appeared to be isolating himself, becoming introverted. It was a trait he hadn't seen in his partner since their early days together as Novices, and then, that had been caused because of Osgar’s sheltered and rigid background. This was now something totally different.

  “Are you planning on eating any of that, or are you just going to continue to push it around the plate?” He tried again, glancing pointedly at his friend's silver dinner plate. The light from the chandelier overhead caught the glare in Osgar’s eyes.

  Osgar just sighed heavily and put his fork down. “I'm not good company tonight. Sorry, Cuthbert.”

  “I can cope with that. Come and have some wine with Opeline and me tonight?” Cuthbert offered, leaning back in his ornate, black chair. “Maybe even play a song or two.”

  “Cuthbert, I can't. Not tonight.”

  “Why?” The bigger man demanded, his blond brow narrowing down. “You know we haven't had a proper practice session in months!”

  “I know.” Osgar glanced up. “Maybe after the ball?”

  “That is three months away still,” he protested. “Look, what's wrong Osgar, maybe I can help.”

  “Nothing's wrong. I've just been busy, like everyone else.” He looked out across the huge Hall, and his expression froze suddenly.

  Cuthbert's frown deepened as he caught the look before Osgar turned away again. He surveyed the Catalysts across from them, trying to guess what might have disturbed his friend, but nothing was out of the ordinary. Next to him, Osgar was muttering quietly to himself as he poured more wine. Scanning the room again, Cuthbert saw it was its normal chaotic self. Remembering the previous evening's incident, he curiously glanced over at the Novices' tables to see whether Benedict was present and saw the dark head bent down.

  Rubbing his bottom lip in thought, Cuthbert looked back at Osgar worriedly.

  “I'm just tired, Cuthbert. Leave it, please?”

  Nodding slowly, he agreed easily as Osgar did indeed sound tired and worn out. Pushing his plate away also, he looked back at Benedict, considering the problem. The young Nyx had his face up this time, a small smile on his features, and Cuthbert realized his pupil was looking past him. The dark eyes lost the smile suddenly and lowered as a flush started to stain the Nyx's cheeks, and Cuthbert followed the gaze to find Osgar’s cold, stern eyes. He shook his head. “Osgar?”

  “Don't say a word,” Osgar whispered furiously as his eyes challenged Cuthbert.

  “But Osgar, it's not as if-”

  “Don't, Cuthbert!” His tone was icy. He pushed back from the table and walked to the massive doors, the Guards opening them automatically.

  Genuinely concerned and puzzled, Cuthbert watched Osgar’s back for a second as the wooden doors closed behind him. Maybe Osgar was ill, or maybe the Nyx reminded his partner of someone else or maybe even had said something to Osgar that had mortally offended him. Though that should have been unlikely. Rubbing his nose, he pondered all the signs and clues he had been given, never having seen such a personality clash before. Glancing back over at Benedict, he found his pupil's dark eyes centered on something else. Something important... The young man's expression was hurt and fixed as his eyes blazed with anger and resentment, and Cuthbert turned to see what the young Nyx was focusing so hard on. It took him a moment, but he spotted Benedict's target, as suddenly the Guards by the massive doors Osgar had just left through turned and slapped frantically at the old wood.

  Puzzled, as a worrying thought grew, Cuthbert stood up and approached the Guards as other Catalysts also turned to see what the commotion was all about. The old cedar wood had started to smolder, the varnish blistering from intense heat, as the Guards quickly smothered the beginning-to-burn wood. The area was small, about head level, Osgar’s head level, Cuthbert acknowledged with a sick feeling, and he swung around to confront Benedict.

  But the Nyx was gone.

  Instinctively knowing Benedict was responsible, Cuthbert debated going after him. It was becoming more and more obvious that Benedict’s Vigors weren't simple, and there was the very real possibility he could turn into a dangerous menace if not curbed. Closing his eyes briefly, he decided he couldn't keep this sort of information to himself and deliberately caught one of the Palace Guard's attention.

  “Nikka, do you know if Opeline is still in the meeting with Lord Swithin?”

  “I think so. I could go and check for you,” she offered.

  “No, could you please just tell her to meet me at the Stables?”

  “Of course.” Nikka smiled.

  Glancing at the timepiece, he prayed Opeline could get away from the meeting soon. Guessing where Benedict had gone after that little display of temper, Cuthbert headed for the Stables also.

  CHAPTER 7

  It was dark and quiet outside as Cuthbert walked slowly down the old stone pathway, taking his time as he debated what he would say to the young Nyx. This was an old part of Govine, the cobbled pathway dating back centuries to the original Catalyst-Mage and King of Arisvale. He had been the one who had created the Palace, Seminary, and the City of Govine, the one who had introduced magic into the land and who had started the unique relationship every Catalyst now enjoyed with their Compatriots. Since that time, so many things had changed. The Throne still remained in the King's Catalyst line, but for how much longer? It had once been ruled by only Catalyst-Mages, but on their dying out over four hundred years ago, the Heir had only been a Catalyst. And now it seemed the Catalysts were dying out also, and he wondered what would happen to Arisvale and the Compatriots if the Catalysts disappeared from the land the same way the Catalyst-Mages had.

  It was a sobering thought, and Cuthbert shivered as he glanced up at the night sky. It was going to be a chilly evening.

  Cuthbert lit a wax lamp at the entrance to the Stables and silently walked down the worn passageway. He stopped briefly at his Compatriot's stall and found Janne still awake. He smiled and caressed his Compatriot's ears briefly, sending a mental 'hello' before continuing down to find the young Nyx.

  As he had guessed, Benedict was with Starguard, muttering angrily to himself as he sat on a pile of straw roughly polishing his Compatriot's saddle and tack. Starguard was standing beside him, and next to the big stallion was Osgar’s Compatriot, Heath.

  A little amazed to see Heath awake and present with Benedict, he wondered if Osgar was aware of it. He also wondered if that was why Osgar was so touchy. It was definitely a new angle to the problem. Shrugging off the disturbing idea and thought, he stopped and crouched down in front of Benedict. His lamp lit the area, and he saw the silver trails of tears mark the set face. They were tears of frustration and anger, and Cuthbert sighed.

  “Benedict-”

  “I don't want to hear it!” He muttered bad-temperedly, throwing his hands up. “You saw what he did! Why! Why does he do that to me?” He glanced out, his eyes very large and beseeching.

  “I don't know,” Cuthbert said softly. He heard a noise and turned to see Janne standing in the stall's entrance way. His frown increased. *Lady love?* he sent curiously but just received a batted lash of eyelids from his Compatriot, and he turned back to Benedict as the young man started to swear. “What happened between you and Osgar?”

  Benedict huffed angrily again.

  “What has he said to you?” Cuthbert persisted gently.

  “Said!” Benedict exploded, and Starguard leaned down and touched his shoulder gently with his nose. Benedict calmed a little. “Nothing!” He cut back. “His royal highness refuses to even look at me! He treats me worse than manure on his over-polished boots! Always glaring down that straight, perfect nose as if he's-”

  “Alright,” Cuthbert stopped his words, getting the picture.

  “Cuthbert?” Opeline was behind him, a little breathless, and he turned, smiling. “What is going on? Nikka said she thought your message was urgent.”

  “Yeah.” He turned back to Benedict, but the young Nyx refused to look up at him. “We have a small problem.”

  Opeline took in Benedict's anger and re-enforced her Barriers as she raised a questioning brow to her lover and soul bound.

  “I believe we have all read Benedict's Vigors wrong,” he started by way of changing the volatile subject from Osgar Swithin, giving an explanation to both Opeline and the young Nyx. Benedict grunted and met his eyes, some of his anger dissolving. “I don't believe you have any Command ability. In fact, I don't know what your ability is - yet -, but I think it is very important that we isolate it soon.” He half-smiled as his tactic worked, and he saw Benedict chew over the new information.

  “Cuthbert?” Opeline moved further into the stall, absently reaching out and rubbing Heath’s nose. “If Benedict's ability isn't Command, then isn't it Landyn's place to decide what must be done?”

  “Normally yes,” he nodded. “But tonight, Benedict caused the Dining Hall's doors to smolder.”

  “He what!”

  “I didn't mean to,” Benedict defended. “It just sort of happened because-”

  “Yes, I know. You have no control over anything you do,” Cuthbert reassured gently. He looked up at Opeline's white face in the lamplight. “Opeline, he's out of control, and I don't think we have the time to wait for Landyn to take the initiative and call the Coterie. I've asked Osgar to read him, but he won't, and so I was hoping you would.”

  Benedict's face hardened at the name. “I don't need anyone's help! Let alone Catalyst bloody Osgar’s so-called-”

  “Opeline?” Cuthbert placed a hand on Benedict's shoulder to silence the angry words.

  She glanced around at the three Compatriots then back at Cuthbert and Benedict. Why was Heath and Janne here, she asked herself as she bit her lip in indecision. She didn't like to use her strong Vigor of Spirit unless it was for Arisvale's good and strictly necessary.

  “I wouldn't ask love if it wasn't important,” Cuthbert went on gently.

  “Alright, but you know the Coterie wouldn't approve,” she said slowly.

  “I'll explain it to them,” Cuthbert offered.

  In the end, it wasn't Cuthbert's words or Benedict's undisguised interest that decided her; rather it was the feeling she received from her Compatriot Lonas. His echo of silent approval, coupled with the knowledge that Heath and Janne had seemed to already involve themselves with this young man, and they would not have done that unless Starguard or even Lonas had requested it.

  Sighing, she prayed she was making the right decision. Besides, Cuthbert would not have asked either unless it was very important, so she knelt down next to her lover.

  “What are you going to do?” Benedict swung his gaze between the two Catalysts and tensed.

  “This won't hurt,” she assured him. “Just relax as I'm going to read your aura, your energy lines. It will guide us to understand what your basic Vigor is.” She closed her eyes and lowered her Barriers, feeling slightly vulnerable as she carefully and slowly let the emotions around her touch her mind. She smiled as she immediately felt Cuthbert's warm, loved-tinged presence next to her before she tentatively reached out mentally towards Benedict. At first, he seemed closed off, contained, and it took her a moment to realize he was being Shielded.

  She explored the Barrier, marveling at his strong mental safeguards, until she discerned that Benedict had not formed the Barrier, rather his Compatriot had. Relaxing, she looked more closely at it wondering if Starguard would let her in to gently touch Benedict's mind. As she embraced its strength, she found it shifted slightly and another facet of the puzzle and its strength became apparent. Not only was Starguard Barriering the Nyx, but so were Heath and Janne!

  Amazed, she rocked back and felt Cuthbert's hands on her back. Blocking out his feelings of protection and worry, she concentrated on Benedict again. Why did three Compatriots need to block the young man? Mentally she reached out for Lonas, her Compatriot, and sensed his support and strength. She couldn't Tether with him but was always aware of his feelings. With Lonas's help, she attempted to touch beyond Benedict's Barriers. It was hard, but slowly she began to feel, firstly his anger, then resentment, then his pain and confusion. Absorbing that, she pushed further, getting nothing for a long moment, and she pushed harder, suddenly breaking through the rigid barriers and being engulfed in a brilliance of energy. It shocked her, and she gasped, and if it hadn't been for Lonas, she wasn't certain she would have escaped his power field as Lonas pulled her mentally to safety.

  “Opeline... Opeline...!”

  She heard Cuthbert's voice, at first from afar, then his face swam into view, and she smiled, reaching up to touch his cheek in reassurance.

  “Lord and Lady!” he exclaimed. “What happened!”

  “Benedict was Shielded. It was difficult to get around Starguard at first,” she said slowly and clearly as she saw the Nyx listen intently.

  Cuthbert frowned, and she smiled again and shook her head. “Don't worry so much.” She placed an arm around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder for a moment, trying to hide the fact she was shaken from the inquisitive Nyx. What is he?

  “Well?” Benedict butted in impatiently. “What did you find? I felt nothing, so did you find out what my Vigor is?”

  “It is not Command as Cuthbert said-”

  “Then what is it?” he asked impatiently, eager to end the frustration in his soul.

  “I can't say for sure yet-” she saw his face crumble, “but I promise you I will do everything to help you. I'll talk with the Dean tomorrow, and he will decide what must be done.”

  Benedict grumbled quietly as he picked up the cloth he had been using to polish his Compatriot's saddle.

  “Be patient, Benedict,” she advised and looked at Cuthbert. He helped her to stand, and they walked to the stall's entrance. The young Nyx was not watching as he moodily began to polish the worn leather again.

  Walking away, Cuthbert kept his arm around Opeline's waist as they exited the Stable area, knowing how she felt exhausted after the use of her Vigor. Occasionally it hit her like that, depending upon the amount of energy she expended.

  “Well?” he whispered, eaten up with curiosity.

  “He thinks the entire world is unjust.”

  “I know that.”

  “Let's get inside first. I need to sit down.” She took a breath.

  Cuthbert kept quiet until he got Opeline safely inside and settled in a soft, lilac armchair in front of a white, stone fireplace. The gentle caresses of purple around the room soothed Oepline’s mood as paintings of flowers brought her to a nicer image.

  White frosted windows looked out in the courtyard. Cuthbert covered the glass with white, silk curtains. He took a deep breath and inhaled the lilac scent lacing the room. Then, he lit a fire in the fireplace. Once the room was warmed, he sat across from Opeline and gazed into her eyes.

  “Opeline, what happened out there?” He leaned forward, his eyes pinning her.

  She rubbed her brow and yawned. “I couldn't get through his Barriers at first,” she explained. “It took me a while to realize he was being Shielded by Starguard, Heath, and Janne.”

 

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