“I understand why you don’t trust me,” Shareis said.
“Regardless of the past, we are all in this together,” Farius said. “Even if Vorea was not after us, we would still be the target of highwaymen. We must remain vigilant.”
Shareis motioned to Aiden. “Help me move this body into the water. We don’t want to attract more attention.”
“Your shoulder is hurt and you’re sick,” Niv said. “I’ll help.”
Aiden took hold of the man’s torso while she picked up his legs. “Ugh, he’s heavy.”
Farius rushed to their aid. “I may be an old man, but I can help.”
After they finished, Aiden left to check on Frasie. Shareis sat on the edge of the bank with her head between her knees.
She knelt beside her. “Farius told me my magic won’t heal you.”
The vibrant color in Shareis’s skin vanished. Her pale, cracked, lips struggled to form words. “Unfortunately, he’s right.”
She looked up to Farius. “How do I help her?”
Shareis pinned him with a stare. “No.”
“Don’t listen to her. Shareis, why would you not want him to help me help you? I don’t understand.”
“If I help you, she will die,” Farius replied.
“What? That makes no sense.” She stood and paced between them. “Why can’t anyone give me a straight answer?”
“I think it best if I leave you two alone,” Farius said.
After he left, Niv threw her hands in the air in frustration. “What is going on here? Help me!”
Shareis coughed uncontrollably. She coughed so hard she threw up. Niv knelt and comforted her.
“You don’t need me slowing you down,” Shareis said between ragged breaths.
“Help me help you!” she implored.
“I can’t. I wish I could.”
“There’s magic that can cure you but you, nor anyone else, can tell me what it is. That doesn’t many any sense. Why can’t you tell me?”
Shareis laid back on the ground. “It was an honor to spend the last few days with you and your friends.”
She grabbed her. “No, don’t give up.” Shareis tried to reply through labored breaths. She put her finger over her lips. “Save your breath.”
She wracked her mind trying to figure out why this elusive magic was so unspeakable. Farius mentioned he couldn’t speak a word of it for Shareis to have any chance at all. Shareis saved her from that thug yet asked for nothing in return. She had a dagger and could have made her escape or killed her, and yet she relinquished the weapon. She passed every opportunity she had to assert herself or turn the tables in her favor.
“Can you at least tell me who or what can save you?”
Shareis shook her head. “Not what. Who.”
“Then who is it? Tell me their name and we’ll find them.”
Shareis pointed to her. “You.”
“Me? But Farius said my magic was useless against this infection.”
“Not. Magic.”
“I already made you a poultice. I… I don’t know what else to do. I can get you to a doctor in Lahara, but we’re still a few days out.” She sighed in utter resignation. “I don’t know what to do.”
Shareis took her hand. Her skin was cold. “Thank you… for trying.”
She brushed a small lock of Shareis’s hair from her face. It came out in her hand.
Oh no.
Shareis tried to mumble a reply, but her cracked lips could scarcely make a sound. Eventually, she managed, “I’m sorry.”
“There is no need to be sorry,” she replied.
A tear streamed down her cheek. “Yes… there is.”
And then it hit her. In the heartfelt tear of her newfound friend, a possible answer was staring her in the face. The magic was not based on the same energies she was learning to manipulate with her mind, rather the emotions that were the language of the heart. A simple act held the key.
She squeezed Shareis’s hand. “I forgive you.”
Shareis arched her back and began to tremble. Swirls of wispy white energy danced at her feet and circled her body, working their way up to her head. Shareis’s wound glowed brightly, then closed. The energy then left her body, pulsing away from her in one brilliant burst. It passed through Niv with a startling jolt.
Shareis’s skin slowly returned to its medium complexion. Her eyelids fluttered a moment before she opened them. She took Niv’s hand and held it to her chest. “Thank you.”
Chapter 27
A tender white flake landed on the tip of Frasie’s nose. Her green eyes crossed to see it. “It’s snowing!” She enthusiastically grabbed Niv’s shoulder. “Nivvy, it’s snowing!”
“I can see that.”
“I thought it was too warm to snow,” Frasie said. “I guess I’ve gotten used to the cold.”
“I’d normally be excited about the first snowfall,” Aiden said. “But on the road, this could be deadly.” He pointed to the northern sky. “Those clouds are thick.”
“We’ll be fine, Aiden,” Frasie replied.
“We should arrive in Lahara tomorrow,” Farius said. “But only if the weather is kind.” He pointed to the east. “I believe the trees have thinned enough to see the Androse Mountains.”
Frasie stood in the wagon to get a better view. “Yea, I think I can make out their peaks. I’ve never seen a mountain before.”
Niv went to the other side of the wagon and squinted. Jagged, majestic snow-covered peaks thrust above the horizon. “I always wondered what they looked like. I can’t believe how far we’ve come.”
“You will be able to see them more clearly when we reach Lahara,” Farius said.
Frasie rooted through the remaining provisions. “Good thing that’ll be soon. We’re out of biscuits.”
“There is more to life than biscuits,” Niv said.
Frasie scrunched her nose. “No there isn’t!”
“You’re an expert hunter, aren’t you?”
Frasie pointed to herself. “The best. I’ll find us a deer.”
“I would love some venison,” Shareis said.
“My mother… well, Cherin, made the best venison stew. She never shared her recipe.” She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter, anyway. We don’t have any carrots or potatoes.”
“Mm, potatoes,” Frasie said. “Stop talking about food.”
“Cadrin will feed us well in Lahara,” Farius said. “I am sure what meager provisions we have left will suit us.”
Shareis pointed to Frasie. “The curly one offered venison, druid. I’m not going to pass that up for the ascetic diet of the grove.”
Niv considered her heritage. “Are all druids vegetarian?”
“In our human form, yes.”
“What about half-druids?” Frasie asked. “Nivvy here can put away some venison.”
“It is up to the individual,” Farius replied.
Though the banter was casual, every new thing she heard about druids was a reminder that she knew so little of her ancestry. Though she was still coming to grips with her magical abilities, she had no idea what it meant to be a druid.
Frasie asked to stop a few hours before sunset so she could begin her hunt. Farius was hesitant as he wanted to make as much progress before they stopped for the evening, but his concerns were overruled by growing stomachs. Aiden left with Frasie, so Farius and Shareis helped her setup camp.
Shareis went straight to work with no signs of pain or discomfort. With surprising endurance and precise aim, she split firewood without breaking a sweat. Her movements with the axe were uniform and determined.
When Shareis finished the firewood, she tended to the horses. Niv admired Shareis’s compassionate demeanor with the team. Her smooth movements and kind touch with the animals kept them calm. Both Shareis and the majestic animals shared a graceful strength that was evident to even the most casual observer.
After the fire was lit, Shareis kept distance from her and Farius. She didn’t mind Shareis�
�s company, but she did want to talk to Farius, and it seemed to her that Shareis intuitively understood that. Niv took advantage of their time by the fire to learn more from her father.
She handed the stone back to Farius. “Thank you for sharing these experiences.”
“I do not expect you to agree with our decision.”
“I understand,” she replied. “Why did Mae not share this with me?”
Farius hesitated. “Your mother and I disagreed on the best way to handle this.”
“How so?”
“You will have to ask her about that,” he replied.
“You know I can’t do that.”
“It is not my place to explain her reasoning.”
“You disagreed with her, did you?”
“Niv’leana, please understand, I want to answer your questions. But in this case, I cannot discuss her motives without betraying her confidence and trust.”
She sighed. “I understand.”
“I am not sure that you do. Either way, please know we both love you very much and want only the best for you.”
“Where is the grove?” she asked.
“In the southern half of this continent, south of the Nell River.”
“I hope to visit there someday.”
Farius nodded. “You will. Every druid should spend at least some time in the grove.”
“What is it like?”
“It is an enclosed forested area filled with lots of unique plant and animal life. It is always twilight in the grove. The sun never shines, but the magical barrier lets its energy and warmth through to sustain us. Time flows differently. The grove is part of the world and yet exists outside it.” He paused as though reminiscing. “It is a wondrous place.”
“It sounds fascinating,” she replied. “Did the spell that masked my powers also suppress my druidic nature?”
“Yes,” he replied. “Though being half-druid will not affect your appearance, it will affect your magic and other aspects of your personality.”
“Do you have magic like Mae?”
“Yes, but it is different than Ael’Shanarian magic. Druids are geomancers, that is, our magical power is drawn from the ground beneath our feet. The magic of ice is prominent in cold regions, fire in geologically active areas, alive with tangling vines and wildlife in forest and plains regions, and of stone, minerals, and wood in the city.”
“Do I use druidic magic the same way I use Ael’Shanarian magic?” she asked.
“Yes, but the strength of the magic has less to do with your will and more to do with your connection to nature. The more time you spend indoors, in a city, or detached from the natural world, the more your power will wane. It is imperative you do not become accustomed to the trappings of civilization. We were meant to be part of nature.”
“I’ve always spent a lot of time outdoors,” she said. “I felt physical discomfort when I couldn’t get to my favorite spot in the woods behind my home.”
“I feel the same way when I am unable to be in nature. It is not merely something we crave, it is a necessity.”
Frasie and Aiden returned with a deer. “Guess what I have?”
“That didn’t take long,” she said.
“Hunting is the easy part. Cleaning and cooking is what takes time.”
“That probably falls to me,” she said.
“I will help,” Shareis added.
“This will be an excellent opportunity for me to meditate,” Farius said.
She and Shareis went to work on the animal while Frasie and Aiden warmed by the fire.
She handed Shareis her dagger. “You might need this.”
Shares gracefully took the blade. “I appreciate it, but I would not use this to butcher.”
“You used it for combat,” she said.
“Yes, but that and meditation are its only uses. It’s not meant to cut plant or animal material.”
“How do you use it in meditation?”
Shareis placed the middle of the dagger at the tip of her finger. It balanced instantly. “The dagger is precisely forged to have its weight distributed evenly. We bond with the weapon. Its balance becomes an outward symbol of the balance within us.”
“I noticed the intricate groves on the blade,” she said. “Is there any meaning to those?”
“Yes, quite a lot, actually. The patterns of groves represent the channels of energy that surround us. We use it as a meditation aid to help us center.”
She had previously helped her father prepare venison but had never done so on her own. He was always there to guide her. She held the knife and hesitated with where to start.
“Don’t be timid,” Shareis said. “Anywhere is fine.”
Shareis took the assassin’s dagger and worked on the animal. Niv followed her precise movements, in awe of her skill.
“You might find this question strange, but please indulge me. I have noticed you move with such precision. Your skill with blades is impeccable. Is this related to your magic?”
Shareis continued to work while she answered. “I do find it an odd question because I do not think I am any better in working with a blade than anyone else. At least not other Proctors. We are taught at an early age to be expert fighters. I was working with blades before I was five years old. I don’t even think of the movements. This blade, though crude, is simply an extension of me. Not to the precise fit as my ceremonial dagger, of course.”
“Fascinating. When I think of magic, I think of fireballs, moving things with your mind, and telepathy. I had never considered working with blades to be a form of magic.”
“Everything is magic, Niv,” Shareis said. “If you are channeling spirit, you are casting a spell.”
“Channeling spirit?”
“When we practice a craft, be it magic, hunting, fighting, writing, singing, or anything else, we are becoming one with the creator. We are helping the creator make this beautiful world. We can best do that when we are a balanced, pure vessel for that creation.”
She worked in silence while she absorbed Shareis’s words. After a while, she asked, “So that is why forgiveness healed you?”
“Yes. The stain of my misdeeds clouded my body and mind and upset my spirit. When you forgave me, the magic within me could heal my self-inflected wound.”
“But that was Frasie’s arrow.”
“No, Niv. The arrow might as well have been shot by me. I set into motion the events that led to that incident. I alone am responsible.”
“Well, Vorea—”
“Vorea did to me precisely what I allowed. I cannot shirk my responsibility on her.”
“I see,” she said. “I admire your dedication and integrity.”
“Integrity is a journey, not a destination. Virtue is simply a dream unless practiced every day. Completely owning our emotions and mistakes is so difficult that most people either don’t make the effort or look for something to deliver them from evil. The evil they run from is within. Only through balance can they save themselves.”
Shareis’s words resonated within her. She considered her philosophy to be unique and intriguing.
“This will do for now,” Shareis said. “I’m starving.”
She gathered the meat. “Me too. Let’s get this on the fire.”
Niv cooked the venison over the campfire. Farius ate some remaining porridge, being careful to save enough for breakfast.
By nightfall the snowfall intensified. Niv glanced at Farius and noted his peaceful slumber and stoic resistance to the cold. Normally she’d have bedded by Frasie after her friend’s turn at watch. They’d have buried themselves beneath the blankets and pinched each other’s noses closed when the snoring got too loud. But her best friend seemed to move a little closer to Aiden every night. It was innocent, of course, Frasie was merely being swept off her feet. Still, that left Niv alone by her share of the fire and Shareis.
She dropped her bedroll and nudged it toward the woman she now found captivating. “You know,” she said as she se
ttled on the ground alongside her recent enemy, “a few days ago I couldn’t stand the sight of you. Now I find myself lost in thought as I ponder your words. I have never heard such unique wisdom.”
Shareis’s gaze penetrated hers until an unfamiliar twinge tickled her stomach. Then Shareis smiled. “I appreciate the kind words, Niv. To me these ideals are normal.”
Niv turned over and looked up at the sky. “I had never met a Proctor. I had heard of them in studying the Proctor Wars in school—”
“I’m certain you were taught many incorrect things.”
“What makes you say that?”
“History books are written by the victor. My people are shunned and are barely tolerated.”
“It is mere ignorance. If people knew you, they’d like you.”
“I thank you for your confidence. Sadly, the best I can hope for is to be ignored.” Shareis turned to her. “I had never imagined befriending a human. I hope I am not being presumptive.”
She turned to Shareis. “You aren’t. But I am curious – Proctors don’t make alliances. Isn’t a friendship a sort of alliance?”
“In a way, yes. But we cannot go through life ignoring others. Proctors have less of a desire and need for companionship than humans, but the need is there, nevertheless.”
“Well, I consider you a friend,” she said.
“Thank you,” Shareis replied. “You’ll have to forgive me if I do not understand the protocols of friendship. I am not accustomed to it.”
“You’ve never had a friend before?” she asked.
Shareis sighed. “No. Not really.”
“I don’t have a lot of experience with it either. Yes, I am lucky to have Frasie, but I have generally avoided social situations with others.”
“I understand,” Shareis said.
“Thank you for your help, and the conversation.”
“No, thank you. It has been… fun.”
“Good night, Shareis.”
“Good night.”
She was surprised by how quickly Shareis drifted off to sleep. It usually took her at least half an hour, yet Shareis was unconscious in a minute or two. As she tried to unwind for the day, she again caught herself staring at Shareis’s hair. She shook her head and started to turn over but decided against it.
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