Flux

gently.
    Ennek’s jaw muscles worked, but he nodded. “So at least I knew something. But I couldn’t work out how to escape, and I was so afraid if I waited much longer they’d take you away somewhere I couldn’t find you, or…or worse. And then as I sat in my cell, it occurred to me. I should have thought of it long ago, but, well, Thick Ennek.”
    Miner shook his head impatiently. “Thought of what?”
    “Thelius. I still have his bloody tattoo on my arm, and he said it would bind us until he died. And he’s not dead yet, is he?”
    “Not quite.” Miner shuddered, thinking of Stasis.
    “So if he’s not dead, I can draw on his power, and his element was earth. There’s always plenty of earth about, isn’t there? But I had to find a way to use it without risking you.”
    “The earthquake—that was you.”
    “Yes. The king had wanted me to demonstrate my magic and I’d been refusing. But yesterday morning I told him I was willing, but that I’d need an open space and my bag. I was hoping to escape with at least some of our pathetic belongings. He had his guards bring me out to a broad lawn just beside the palace. They brought your bag instead of mine, but that was fine. I dug around in it a bit, pretending I needed supplies. But really I was summoning my energy and Thelius’s as well.”
    “You could…could use him from so far away?”
    “Yes. It took a bit of effort, but…it’s all connected, you see. Earth connects to earth, water to water. You only have to follow the links.”
    Miner didn’t understand, but he nodded wisely anyhow.
    “Using his energy I could command the earth. It doesn’t taste good, that magic. Like dirt in my mouth, or iron. But it worked, and I made that tremor. I would have liked to shake the entire hill into the ocean. I was strong enough to do it. With our energies combined, well, you saw. I wasn’t nearly as ill or worn out as I would have been using only my own magic. But with a big earthquake I might have been killed in the debris, and you might have as well. So I made only a small quake, enough to weaken the hill a bit, and more than enough to distract the king and the guards. Then I picked up the bag and I ran. I had considered fleeing down the hill to search for you, but there were guards everywhere and I didn’t know how long they’d be occupied with the quake. Instead, I ran towards the ocean.”
    “And you made that huge wave. I saw it.”
    “I did. The wave came and I let the water tumble over me, carrying me away. The water kept me safe from the hill itself, and all the things that were on it—the buildings, the trees, the people…gods, the people.” He squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. “The water kept me safe and when the hill was gone it brought me to that beach. Just as it washed me ashore, it told me about you. I could see you, just floating there, with that damned leash twisting about you like a snake. If I’d been a bit quicker they wouldn’t have branded you.”
    “And if you’d been a bit slower I’d have been taken away. I was sold yesterday, En, sold to a man who didn’t look at all kind, and I don’t know what he would have done with me.”
    Ennek’s lips were thin, white lines as he glared out at the horizon. Miner took another piece of dried meat and gnawed on it, watching his lover watch the waves. With his free hand, Miner smoothed over the inside of the gunwale, back and forth, wondering what adventures this little boat had experienced and to whom it had belonged.
    When Ennek turned back to look at him, his expression was determined. “It’s not going to happen again. People can’t just keep taking you like that! I think I can get the collar off.”
    “Would you have to use Thelius’s powers again to do that?”
    “Yes. I haven’t the ability to move metal.”
    “Then leave the collar be.”
    “Why?” Ennek demanded.
    “Because I saw you yesterday when you were drawing on him and…and it frightened me.”
    Ennek looked as if he might argue, but stopped, then nodded thoughtfully. “I could feel him. He wasn’t conscious or anything—never will be again, I hope—but his…his essence was there. Oily and thick and cold. I told you before, it feels good when I use magic, when I destroy things, but Thelius’s powers, they really enjoyed it. They reveled in it.”
    “I’m afraid if you use those powers too much, something of them might stay with you, En. I won’t have you ruined. We’ll find another