Chapter One “Did you hear the news?” Brie asked, bursting through the door of Adele’s bedroom. Adele jumped at the commotion, causing her book to fly off her lap and land haphazardly in a cloud of dust. Her first thought was to the book. Its brittle parchment could not withstand the mistreatment. The Sages would refuse her the privilege of removing books from the library if she returned them damaged. She frowned at Brie’s lack of propriety. She had a mind to slap some sense into that girl. “What news?” she asked, as she tried to straighten out its pages. “You mean, you don’t know?” Brie looked incredulous, hands stretched out in amazement. “Everybody is talking about you.” “Talking about me?” she asked wryly. Idle talk annoyed her. People needed to spend less time idling and more time working. “I make a poor subject for gossip, Brie. You need to give them better topics.” Brie placed her hands on her hips, indignant. “Do you want to hear the news or not, Adele?” “I’ve got a topic for gossip,” Adele said, evading the question. “The armies that are collecting themselves on our southern border are rumored to have Fellers among them. How about that?” She whispered the word Fellers for dramatic effect. Brie was unimpressed. “You are going to want to hear what I have to say,” she said enticingly. “Also, Mystic was said to be among them.” “You being rude,” Brie said, in an irritated tone. “Besides, I actually have a believable rumor.” “Ok, fine,” Adele muttered. “What is this news about me that everyone is talking about?” Brie was not going to leave her alone until she got it off her tongue. Besides, it was probably wiser not to circulate those other rumors. No need for panic to strike unnecessarily. Brie sat down, eyes lit with excitement. “Gage was tested and failed to touch the Stone of Dedication.” Adele gasped. She was worried that Gage would fail. He seemed so confident when he told her about his qualifying for the Test. “They will dismiss him then.” Brie nodded. “I know. He has twenty four hours to pack up and say his goodbyes.” “Gage has lived within The Fold for over two hundred years, that’s longer than I.” Adele was starting to get sick. Why was Brie so excited? “They’ve given him the death sentence.” “There’s no need to be so dramatic about it, Adele,” Brie replied. “He’ll live out the rest of his years just like everyone else outside The Fold. I bet he has fifty or sixty years of life before him.” “When you have endless life within your grasp, fifty or sixty years is a sad consolation.” “Who wants to live here forever anyways?” Brie said, spreading her arms out. She did not look a bit saddened. “You can’t have a family, you can’t have any fun and all you get to do is read dusty history books. I think he’s better off.” Adele did not want to try to convince Brie of the value of staying within The Fold. Either you understood the value of self-sacrifice or you did not. Brie did not. She only focused on the loss, not the benefits. “Gage wanted to stay here forever. He enjoyed it here.” “Anyways,” Brie continued. “His loss is your gain.” “Excuse me?” Brie’s disregard for the feelings of Gage was irritating. “What are you talking about?” Brie sniffed. “Don’t pretend you don’t know what this means, Miss Holier than thou. You‘re next in line.” Adele ignored the insult. “How exactly would you know that, Brie?” Brie didn‘t even hesitate. “Gage told me.” “You spoke with him?” Adele was angry. She didn‘t want Brie talking to Gage on her behalf. Who knows what Gage might think of her. “What did you say?” “I wasn’t rude,” Brie said, innocently. “I simply asked about the test.” “Right.” Adele was unconvinced. Brie blushed. “I may have inquired, tactfully, as to who might be next in line.” Adele groaned. “I wish you hadn’t done that.” She was going to have to talk to Gage and apologize to him. “What?” Brie said, indignant. “He took it well. Besides, I had to know if I was moving on up the ranks.” “Are you serious?” Adele asked. “How do you figure that?” “Sages need attendants, right?” “I suppose.” “Well, since I serve as your devoted attendant at present…” Adele finished the sentence for her. “You figure to be my attendant if I become Sage?” Brie almost jumped with excitement. “Exactly.” “You know,” said Adele, soberly. “There is a good chance I may fail the test as well. Gage was a far better student than I was, and, according to you, he failed. He is not the only one who has failed either. Remember Wendell and Trent, about twenty years ago? They both failed despite being hundreds of years old. That means the last three people to have taken the test ended up having to leave the Fold. What chance do I have?” “You won’t fail, Adele.” Brie looked far more confident than she had a right to be. “You are the most dedicated person I know. If anyone can pass the Test, it’s you.” “I am not so sure,” said Adele, worried. Brie stood up. “I’ve got to go. Talk to Gage. Maybe he can help you out. He’s a good man.” That may not be a bad idea after all, she thought. “I was planning on speaking with Gage anyways. If he’s in a talkative mood, I’ll ask.” Brie turned back from the open door. “Oh, Adele, one more thing.” “Yes?” “Don’t worry.” “Right.” Adele winced as Brie slammed the door shut behind her. Immediately, her thoughts went to Gage. She sat down, hand on forehead, trying to massage a headache away. Where would Gage go? What would he do? It was not as if he could run back to his family. They passed away decades ago. How would he support himself? She could not stop the questions from pouring through her mind. They surged through her like a torrent preventing her from focusing on one long enough to formulate an answer. Finally, she stopped trying to answer them, realizing that there were no answers, at least none she could provide. There was only one way to address her worries. She had to speak to Gage now. She arrived at Gage’s bedroom door, minutes later. Only after she knocked did she realize that she neglected to check her hair and appearance. She looked over her dress and brushed off the dust left by her latest read. Gage opened his door, interrupting her efforts. “Adele?” He yawned. “Are you alright?” “Am I alright?” asked Adele. “I should be asking you that?” She reached out and gave him a hug. After a moment, she stepped away. “Did I wake you?” “No,” he said. “I wish I could sleep. Come in.” He moved aside to allow her to enter. Adele noticed that he left his door open. Probably to discourage idle talk. When she walked in, she immediately noticed a couple small leather bags stuffed and tied up, sitting by his storage dresser. “Is this all you are taking with you?” she asked. Gage gave her a sad smile. “It’s all I own,” he said. “After more than two hundred years here at the Fold, all I have to my name is a couple changes of clothes, a pair of shoes and a brush.” Adele began a mental checklist of everything she owned and smiled. “I think you just described all of my belongings as well.” She took a seat at the table. “What are you going to do?” “That’s a great question,” Gage said, taking a seat himself. “I’m not sure. To be honest, I didn‘t expect to be in this situation. I‘m wholly unprepared.” “You have studied every kind of trade and craft that a town could offer,” Adele said. “Surely it won’t be too difficult to provide for yourself?” “Knowledge is good,” Gage said, laughing. “Experience is better. I have plenty of the former and none of the latter.” He waved his hand dismissively. “Don’t worry for me, Adele.” “I do worry for you,” she said. Gage looked at the door and then back to Adele. With a whisper, he spoke. “Adele, you need to worry less about me, and more about yourself.” “What are you saying?” Adele asked. She looked at his eyes and they blazed like a raging wildfire. Gage took her hand in his. “Something is wrong here, but I can‘t tell you what exactly.” He got up, looked out the hallway, and sat back down. “When I first arrived at the Fold, I was young and naïve. I trusted the Sages and I still do, believe me, but there is something going on that they are not telling us. Adele cocked an eyebrow. “Sages withholding knowledge? I thought that was a prerequisite for the position.” “True enough,” Gage said. He pointed to the wall above his nightstand. “Do you see that tiny bit of stone jutting out from the wall there?” “Yes,” Adele replied. “I have that same rock formation in my room.” “I know,” Gage said. “Everyone does. Do you know what it’s for?” Adele got up and examined it carefully. It was exactly the same shape as the one in her room. It served no function, so she paid it little mind. Now that she considered it, it appeared to have held some sort of sconce for lighting purposes. “I suppose it provided some sort of light source for the room.” “Correct,” Gage said. “But why don’t we use them anymore?” Adele felt that Gage already knew the answer to that and was leading her to some conclusion. “The formation is small; it wouldn’t hold a sconce large enough to light a room of this size.” “That’s what I thought, at first,” Gage said. “But then I stumbled across a passage in one of the books in the Library, a diary from one of the Sages of old. Most of it was mundane, but this passage mentioned the Sage using Spirit to light the sconce.” “Spirit?” Adele asked. “Power from the Creator himself?” “The very same,” Gage said. “Apparently, this Spirit would create a light in the sconce here and brighten the entire room.” “Did you ask the Sages about it?” Gage smirked. “Of course I did. They said that it was none of my concern and that I should use an oil lamp.” “Maybe they don’t know,” Adele said. Gage gave Adele a knowing look. “I think they do.” His look turned dark and serious. “Have you read about the Sages of Old? They are not like the Sages we have now.” “What do you mean?” Adele asked. “The Sages of Old used Spirit all the time,” Gage said. “I’ve read accounts of Sages using Spirit to cure the sick and mend broken limbs. I even read one report of a Sage using Spirit to kill a sorcerer that arrived from the Northern Lands. Have you ever seen one of our Sages use Spirit for anything?” “No,” Adele replied. She wanted to read those accounts for herself. “Where did you find these books?” “That’s the other thing,” Gage said. “I can’t find them anywhere. One day, they were sitting in the Great Library, and the next, they were gone.” “So, I have no way of proving that these allegations are true,” Adele said. She had no reason to believe that Gage would lie, but there may be another side to the story that he was unaware of. “They are true,” Gage said. His face reddened and teeth clenched. “I’m not making these things up. I’m trying to help you.” “Help me with what?” Adele asked. She tried to speak as calmly as possible so as not to provoke him further. “I don’t know,” Gage said. “Prepare you for the truth, I suppose, whatever it might be.” “I appreciate your concern,” Adele said. “I’ll keep my eyes open.” Gage’s breathed a heavy sigh, relaxing a bit. “Listen Adele, I have a feeling that things here are going to get much worse. You will be tested soon, perhaps tomorrow, after I leave. You need to pass that test and become a Sage. Only then, will you discover the truth of what is going on here.” He got up and headed back towards the door, ending the conversation. “I’ll do the best I can,” Adele said, following his cue. “Is there any advice you can give me on what to expect?” Gage laughed. “Advice?” A smirk found the corner of his mouth. “In order to pass the Test, you have to die.”
Chapter Two Adele woke up early in the day feeling ragged and on edge. Sleep was slow in arriving and swift about leaving all night. Her thoughts were occupied by Gage’s conversation the night before. His last words left her feeling uneasy. What did he mean, I’d have to die? Before she could reflect on the meaning of Gage’s words, a light knock was upon her door. She jumped out of bed, slipped on her robe and opened the door to find Berek, an attendant to Sage Aaric. “I hope you had a restful sleep, Sister Adele,” Berek said, dutifully. He was a young man of about fifty years. “I did,” Adele said. There was no sense complaining to the man. “How can I help you, Brother Berek?” “The Sages require your presence at the morning meal.” For some reason, he never looked anyone in the eyes while he spoke to them. “Do you require an escort to the Sage’s Dining hall?” He straightened his shirt as if to indicate his duty was complete. Adele smiled at the young man. “That won’t be necessary, but I appreciate the offer, Brother Berek.” “Of course.” Berek turned to walk away. Adele started to shut the door, but then had a thought. She called out to the attendant. “Excuse me, Brother Berek?” Berek turned back with a questioned look on his face. “Yes, Sister?” “On second thought, I will take you up on that offer.” She smiled. “Can you wait a few minutes for me to get dressed?” “Um, sure.” From the look on his face, it appeared Berek was venturing forth into uncharted territory. He appeared uncertain when things didn’t go according to script. “I will wait outside your door?” “That sounds reasonable,” Adele said. “I will hurry.” After several minutes of washing, grooming and dressing, Adele emerged into the hallway to find Berek waiting patiently. She offered her arm to the surprised man, “Lead the way.” With hesitation, Berek took her arm in his and proceeded to walk, in the wrong direction. Finally, Adele spoke up. “Brother Berek?” she said. “I’m not certain, but isn’t the Dining Hall the other way?” Berek closed his eyes in embarrassment. “Yes ma’am,” he said. “It is.” He turned back and headed the right way. “Oh good,” Adele said. “I thought maybe they moved it and didn’t tell me.” For the first time Adele could recall, Berek laughed out loud. “I guess I’m a little nervous,” he admitted. “No need to be,” Adele said. “I appreciate you accompanying me.” She gripped his arm tighter. “May I ask you a question, Brother Berek?” “Of course, Sister.” “You have served with Sage Aaric for awhile now?” Adele asked. “About twenty years or so.” “Have you ever noticed him do anything out of the ordinary?” “Out of the ordinary?” Berek looked confused. “I don’t understand your question.” Adele considered a different way of asking. “Has he ever lit that little sconce above the nightstand?” “You mean that piece of rock that juts out from the wall?” he asked. “Yes, that one,” Adele said, hopefully. “I didn’t know that was a sconce,” Berek replied. “I don’t think it would be very effective as a light. You couldn’t place a large enough lamp on it to light the room.” “You haven‘t seen him use Spirit to light it up? I‘m given to understand that the Sages of Old used to do that.” “That‘s a remarkable assertion, but I cannot say that I have witnessed any such event,” Berek said. “I think I would remember something like that if I were to see it.” “I would too,” Adele said. Disappointed, she changed the subject. “Are you going to be dining with us?” “No, I cannot,” Berek said. “The Sages wish to dine alone with you this morning.” “That sounds ominous,” Adele said. For the second time that morning, Berek laughed aloud. She parted company with Berek as they reached the Dining Hall. A rectangular table stood in front of her, with all eleven Sages seated in high backed chairs conversing in hushed whispers. As she approached, they quieted and Sage Aaric, sitting at the head, gestured toward an empty seat at the foot of the table. “Please join us Adele,” he said. “Thank you for joining us this morning.” Adele nodded, took her seat and waited as the kitchen help ladled out a helping of porridge. After saying a silent prayer of thanks, she discovered that all the Sages were staring at her. She surmised that the breakfast was not the purpose of this meeting. She pushed the bowl away, placed her hands in her lap and waited patiently for someone to speak. Finally, Sage Aaric spoke up. “Sister Adele, you’ve heard that we lost one of our own yesterday.” It was not a question. “Brother Gage will not be staying with us any longer.” “I understand, Sage Aaric.” “Twenty years ago, we lost Sage Marion in death. We chose replacements, but all three refused to take the test.” Adele tried to hide her shock. Brie told her Gage failed the test, not that he refused to take it. She thought back to her conversation with Gage. He never mentioned it. She was at a loss. “Excuse me, did you say they ‘refused’ to take the test?” Aaric nodded. “As Sages, we consider it a failure on our part whenever a member of our community refuses to take the Test.” He lowered his eyes for a moment, perhaps weighing his next words. “We offer…blessings that cannot be obtained elsewhere, in the hopes that our members will come forward and accept responsibility when asked. Sadly, the last three have refused to fill the void left by Sage Marion.” Adele remembered Sage Marion with fondness. She was rarely at the Fold, instead, spending her time with the townsfolk of Borlon, taking care of the poor and sick. Some thought her a fool, wasting her years away while she could enjoy endless life within the community. Twenty years ago, it was reported that she had finally passed, dying much sooner than necessary. Since then, the Sages patiently sought a replacement for the empty seat left by her passing. To think that the last three members didn’t even take the test was shocking. “Why did they refuse?” “We are uncertain,” he replied. “To be frank, some of us do not wish to offer the test to anyone else, for fear that we may lose more members. However, you have earned that opportunity and we will not deprive you of it.” Adele trembled with excitement. “What must I do?” “Normally, we would have you meet with a Sage of your choice to prepare you for the test. In your case, however, we have decided to do things a bit different. We will all help you prepare. Ask your questions. You may refuse to continue at any time, however dismissal is the consequence.” “Why do you dismiss those who refuse the test?” “Because we invest so much in our members. Normally, a potential Sage has spent two or three lifetimes here. That is a commitment on our part. All we ask is that they commit to us when asked. Refusal to step up and take responsibility is tantamount to selfishness; taking all the rewards, but none of the responsibility. Thus, they are dismissed.” “That makes sense, I suppose,” Adele said. “What happened to the Spirit? Why can’t we use it anymore?” She desperately wanted the answer to those questions. Low murmurs and furtive glances danced around the table at mention of the Spirit. Aaric and the rest of the Sages whispered amongst themselves. Finally, Aaric spoke. “I see you have spoken with Gage. That is unfortunate. “ “Was Gage speaking the truth regarding the absence of Spirit? “ Aaric spoke firmly. “The dealings concerning the Spirit involve the Sages alone. If you become a Sage, we will share our knowledge with you concerning the Spirit. Do you have any other questions?” Adele sighed. She had hoped light would be shed with regard the Spirit. If she wanted to learn anything further she would have to become a Sage herself. “Gage told me something else. He said if I wanted to pass the test, then I would have to die.” “A clever phrase,” he said. A small smile appeared. “And a truthful one as well, after a fashion.” “I don’t have to actually die, do I?” “No,” Aaric said. “The test itself is purely ceremonial. There is no difficulty in it, in and of itself. The true difficulty is in the actual decision to take the test.” Adele looked confused. “What do you mean by that?” “The test symbolizes your dedication, “Aaric said. “You must die as to your former course of life. In a way, you’ve already done that by choosing a life in the Fold. The test publicly confirms it as a permanent decision. Once a Sage, always a Sage.” “I am willing to take the test,” Adele said. “This has been my goal since I arrived as a child. I wish only to serve in any way I can.” Aaric’s shoulders relaxed. Murmurs of approval among the other Sages echoed throughout the Hall. “Excellent.” He motioned at her bowl. “Eat your porridge then, before it gets any colder, and we will proceed with the test.” After a short breakfast, the Horn of Assembly blared across the grounds. Hundreds of members filed into a domed auditorium. Adele stayed outside as instructed by Aaric. When called, she would enter through the doors, up the stage and touch the stone that lay at the center. This all seemed to be happening quicker than it should. One day, she was a simple member of the community, and the next, standing before the entire assembly trying to become the next Sage. Her head was swimming and her stomach knotted up. Nervous beads of sweat formed upon her forehead and palms at the prospect of performing this ceremony before the Sages and hundreds of others assembled. In a short while, it would all be over, she hoped. After several minutes, the call was issued and Adele proceeded into the auditorium. Silent faces greeted her as she emerged from the darkened corridor, to be followed by thunderous applause as she came into view. Hers would be the first appointment to a Sage in over three hundred years. She continued her ascent up the ramp that rose up to stage level as the applause continued. Halfway up the ramp, she could sense the Stone. Something was wrong, she thought. There was something unseen, yet dangerous, emanating from the Stone. It felt like a warning. She slowed her approach and looked around to assembly to see if anyone else was experiencing the same sensation. Everyone was still applauding with no indication that anything was out of the ordinary. She shook it off as nervous energy and continued forward, but with increasing difficulty. Every step she took toward the Stone incrementally increased the feeling that what she was doing was wrong. She felt sick. She covered her mouth with one hand and her stomach with the other. She took another step forward and the feeling took on a different sensation, one of certain death. Something was wrong. The Sages should have warned her about this. Didn’t they say that the Test wasn’t difficult? This was beyond difficult. The applause lessened as some began to see her discomfort. She staggered, and gasps of concern rang out among the crowd. Her vision was beginning to blur. A Sage stood up, concerned. She couldn’t tell which one it was. Another step. Pain stabbed through her chest as if arrows were piercing her. She cried out in agony and looked at her dress expecting fountains of blood to be sprouting from arrow shafts, but none were there. The auditorium was in stunned silence. She tried to gauge the distance to the Stone; only a few steps further. It felt like it was a days journey away. Another step. She couldn’t breath. Something was at her throat. She gasped for air and came up empty. Panic surfaced as she struggled with the sensation of suffocation. Why was she doing this? She fell to the floor with her hands at her throat, struggling to bring in precious air to breathe. All the Sages rose as one, looks of alarm on their faces. Something deep in her mind registered the fact that what she was going through was not normal. Cries of alarm rang out from among the assembly. She was barely conscious now. All she could think of was to finish what she started. Touch the stone. It became her mantra, urging her forward. Touch the stone. Somehow, she brought herself up, still unable to breath. She knew she only had a few moments of life left within her. Touch the Stone. She lunged forward and with her last breath, she grasped the Stone with both hands. Blackness enveloped her. She opened her eyes to find that she was still hanging onto the Stone. To her surprise, she was still alive. The sensation of death had subsided, but still lingered. Finally, she took a deep breath of air, panting heavily. Suddenly, she felt as if she was being dragged under water. “Not again,” she cried aloud. Now, she felt terrified to draw a breath, afraid of drowning. In the distance, she could hear Aaric command someone to grab her. Another Sage yelled at her to get away from the Stone. She could feel hands trying to pull her away, but the stone was somehow keeping her in place. She couldn’t hold her breath any longer. She let it out and quickly inhaled. Gallons of water rushed into her, filling her lungs. Within seconds, her struggle ceased and she drowned. Blackness again found her. She opened her eyes once more, to find she could somehow breathe again. The water was gone, and a white hot fire stood in its place. She cried aloud for someone to save her. Aaric stood before her, his hands trying to pry hers from off the Stone. The fire closed in eating all in its path. She could feel the air around her burn. Her clothes caught fire and she screamed in pain. Her hair melted. Her skin and flesh peeled away from bones. Finally, black death brought quiet relief. She fell away from the Stone, a crumpled mass of flesh. She opened her eyes. Sweet air filled her lungs, pain melted away, her vision cleared and she could feel strength returning to her body. Finally, it was over. She looked up at the people surrounding her while still lying on the floor. Her eyes caught Aaric, who was crying openly. With a strained voice, she asked, “Did I pass the Test?”