Human by T S Alexander

Author:T S Alexander [Alexander, T S]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-25T16:00:00+00:00

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If Faun is old, Incene Sen’Diessa is ancient.

One look at the Seer, and it became clear why Maurien had insisted I should visit her, rather than the other way around. Spirit adepts were long-lived as a rule, and Incene had pushed this truth to its limit. She must be close to two hundred, a shadow of a woman immobilised into a floating chair. Her eyes are still alive, though, her mind still keen.

“Welcome My Queen and forgive me for not being able to attend to you. Nowadays, it’s more and more painful for me to move around.”

I never knew Incene in her youth, but she must have been quite a striking woman. Her bearing was still regal, hers the proper greeting between two adepts of close rank, or at least the close one could get to a Haillar queen.

Which we were. As Seer of the Sen’Diessa, she must have been within the top five adepts in her house.

“Greetings, elmera! I’m the one apologising for imposing on your time.”

I don’t know her, but I use the endearing appellative for an older relative, an aunt. I’m quite impressed with her appearance, her strength. I don’t know if I would age so well, as I never lived so many cycles in one body. My avatars tend to die young, case in point Ellandra.

“What can I do for you, My Queen?”

“I need you to deep-screen my mind, elmera.”

She’s startled for a moment. Volunteering for a mind deep screen is an unusual request, especially from somebody in my position. ‘Unheard of’ is likely a more accurate description. Being subject to this procedure means laying bare the most intimate thoughts, the deepest corners of your mind. It’s a last resort solution, for somebody with severe mental problems, one step away from madness.

Incene doesn’t prove me wrong in believing her still sharp, as she immediately figures the reason for my request.

“Your mind doesn’t meld properly with your alien brain. You fear for your sanity in this unusual avatar.”

These are statements, not questions. The old adept has seen many things in her life, so hopefully, she’ll have some frame of reference. I see no point to waste our time, so I come closer and take a seat on a low stool facing her, our eyes not quite level but almost so.

Incene closes her eyes, and I do the same. I see her with my mind, a vibrant presence so unlike her frail appearance in the physical world. I see her attuning to me, not quite melding, but more like a gentle caress, a gust of wind touching my soul. One moment and she’s gone.

“I see what you mean,” says the elder. “I’ve scanned queens before, so I know the feeling of your mind. It’s all there as it should be, but so it’s something else. An echo.”

“An echo of what?” I ask, though I already know the answer.

“An echo of light, of a beautiful soul. An alien thing, the like I’ve never seen.”

An echo of Liz, for this can’t be anything else.

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