Free Halfstone: A Tale of the Narathlands by Daniel White Page A

odds. In doing so they inherit the ability to control
whatever it was that threatened their survival. As I recall, your father came
to the Narathlands from a neighbouring realm. On his journey he was caught in a
ferocious storm at sea, the likes of which few have ever witnessed. The vessel
carrying him was destroyed but the tide carried him ashore. It was soon after
he awoke that he discovered he possessed the heightened ability to manipulate
the weather.
    “Your mother, well, she never talked about it much, but when she
was young, on an expedition into the western lands, she was captured by a
wielder savage who held her captive and tortured her. This was until a group of
aeras tracked her down and rescued her. From then on she was able to take
another wielder’s storm, so as never to be harmed again…”
    “And Malath?”
    “Malath.” Jon scowled. “I understand he drowned when swimming as a
child. Had he not been revived by a stranger he would have remained in the Life
Afterwards. Unfortunately for us though, he gained the ability to sway death
itself and went on to become the monster he is.”
    “So he has evaded his own death twice now. He was left standing at
Darkna? Even after being rendered powerless?”
    “Yes. He was your parents’ friend, Aldrick. They never wanted to
take his life. Besides, back then the act of one wielder killing another was a
crime worse than murder. It was those very events—the treason of Malath,
Selayna and their followers—that finally saw the abandonment of that law. Only
then was it realised how truly far a noble wielder could descend into madness
and that only wielders themselves could defend the people, should it happen
again.”
    “And now, Malath has learnt of my existence and wants me dead…
because I am the only one who can kill him, because I was born with my mother’s
ability.”
    “Well, yes, Aldrick. It is unclear to me how any other wielder
might best him without such a rare advantage. His powers are too great.”
    “I don’t understand how this has come to be, though. How does
Malath have his storm again, after losing it to the stone?”
    Jon heaved a sigh. “I cannot say. I became aware of this only when
Braem told me of the brand on the ka-zchen that attacked you—Selayna’s brand.
Only Malath could have returned her from death and only she could have breathed
new life into it. It is the sole explanation I am afraid.” He rested an elbow
on his knee and stroked his silvery beard broodingly. His demeanour was that of
someone who was deeply troubled, who knew dark things were ahead.
    “If Malath is all powerful again, that’s perfect. I will see he is
finished with, for good this time, and whoever chooses to follow him.”
    Jon’s eyes lifted. “You would seek vengeance, Aldrick? I did not
expect it of you. All these years you have been oblivious to so much yet now,
when truths come to light, you act as if it all happened yesterday.”
    Suddenly fresh waves of anger and resentment swept through Aldrick.
“You! Why did you never seek revenge for my parents’ murders? Were you afraid? I
thought wielders were supposed to be noble, courageous!”
    Every morsel of Jon’s face became a frown. “It would have changed
nothing, Aldrick. I let it go because of you—so you could have a life free of
all this, and so I could be there for you if you ever needed me. I hoped you
never would. Clearly it was not meant to be so.”
    Aldrick looked down at his feet, realising he had crossed a line
he shouldn’t have.
    There was an uncomfortable silence until finally Télia spoke.
    “Tea, anyone?” she asked politely.
    “Yes please,” he and Jon replied as one.
    He knew he ought to apologise. “Jon, I’m—”
    “It’s all right, my boy,” Jon said heartily, casting negativity
aside. His frown had disappeared. “You are taking all this much better than
could be expected. Learning of your parents’ fate and that you are a wielder,
well… I can’t quite