The Emperor's Head

20. A Rhythm of Sorts

I should be more disappointed.

Jun waited for Oyun to arrive in the Teacher's white-walled training room for their morning lessons. As he waited, his thoughts drifted to his disappointment when Bolin informed him that his sister would not join them at the Mountain Sanctuary. However, Jun quickly pushed those feelings aside and focused on Oyun's training. He dedicated himself to core training every morning, with Bolin as his partner. And the afternoons they spent exploring their bond or riding their horses together through the small valleys nestled between the spires of the Dragon's Teeth. As he considered their plans for the afternoon, Jun turned to Bolin standing by the room's only window, and caught a glimpse of the ominous dark clouds looming outside. Although a light rain wouldn't deter him from riding with Tianchi, the stormy sky suggested something more foreboding.

Spending the afternoon alone in our room also could be enjoyable.

Jun took a moment to admire his lover. Bolin had pulled all of his hair up into a severe knot at the crown of his head. It pulled the skin around his eyes, adding severity to the angled features without the usual loose strands to soften them. His face was unreadable. He could be angry, sad, or even happy; Jun couldn't tell from his expression.

I wish I knew how he felt without touching him. He has learned to hide things already.

Jun closed his eyes and reached out as the books had described, trying to find the magical line that should attach him to his keeper's emotions. They hadn't practiced many of the techniques Jun had read since they had arrived at the Sanctuary. Too many things distracted them when they were alone.

Ah, there it is.

In his mind's eye, a tiny thread of magic grew from him and attached to Bolin. It started in the center of his chest and circled to the center of Bolin's. The line existed only as a construct, or so the text said, something individual to each person. What Bolin saw may look different. Perhaps he wouldn't need to imagine a string at all.

Almost giddy with success, Jun tested the thread, following it to Bolin. Once he arrived at its end, he met with Bolin's substantial ice core, but the connection was neither fire nor ice.

It is blood.

The thread turned red, and Jun continued the exercise. He tried to connect to Bolin's heartbeat. This low-level connection might not alert Bolin to Jun's presence. The bloodline pushed through the surface ice, and Jun followed it to Bolin's heart. It beat slowly, much slower than Jun's excited flutter, but began to speed up suddenly.

Hands grabbed Jun's shoulders, and his eyes flew open. Bolin stood holding him, staring at him with pride and annoyance.

"Was that you?"

"Was it me what?" Jun debated if he should admit to anything.

"Did you enter my core?" Bolin's tone was soft, not accusatory, but insistent.

"No, or, maybe, I don't know. I thought I was touching your heart." He couldn't lie to Bolin. Jun closed his eyes again briefly with frustration. The texts had been nebulous, talking about theories and focus. The lessons were stepwise, meant to lead to a firm connection with the core.

Is the beating heart where the core lies?

"In magic," Oyun's soft interruption jarred Jun more than a yell would. "Nothing is as it seems; everything is what you make it."

"Teacher." Bolin let go of Jun and bowed. Jun turned to face Oyun, who stood at the entrance to the room and bowed as well. A light touch on his head came sooner than Jun had expected.