Songbird

by Colleen Helme

  “Where’s Leona?” Bran asked.

  “She’s resting. Last night took a lot out of her. She won’t be joining us this morning, but she did give me these waterbags to take with us. Once we’ve filled them with grove water, we can leave.”

  Bran’s brows drew together in dismay. Leona wasn’t going to see them off? He still had some questions he wanted to ask her. Was she really that frail? He quickly drained his goblet of water, and realized how much he missed eating. He looked forward to a satisfying meal along with a hefty pint of ale.

  “Did Leona have any idea where your people might have gone?” he asked. “If we’re to find them it would be nice to know.”

  Teya caught the note of annoyance in Bran’s tone and pursed her lips. “That’s just it, she doesn’t know. Our people left in a hurry and they went in different directions in case Korban waited for them.” She opened her mouth to say something else, but frowned instead.

  Bran didn’t ask what was on her mind. There were things he wanted to talk about as well, but he figured it could wait until they’d left the grove. Mostly because he didn’t want Leona to hear what he had to say.

  “All right, let’s fill up our waterbags and go. I suggest we head back to the city, only by a different route. We came from the west, so let’s circle around and enter from the east this time. It’s a more populated route, and maybe we can find some traces of your people along the way.”

  “That sounds like a good idea.” Teya picked up four empty waterbags and Bran grabbed his four and followed her to the tree. She seemed to know how to get there, but Bran would have been lost without her as a guide. He’d managed last night, but that was only because Leona had lit the path with her magic.

  After filling them, and taking another long drink, Bran took a small flask out of his jacket pocket to fill as well. He wished there was a way to take more water, but he’d have to be satisfied with what he had. He helped Teya cart them all back to the cottage, and brought the horses around.

  Once they’d saddled the horses and stowed their gear away, they were ready to leave. “Are you going to say goodbye to your grandmother?”

  “No,” Teya answered, slipping on her black jacket. “I already did earlier.” Her glance strayed to the cottage where her grandmother rested. After a moment, she turned to him. “All right. Let’s go.” She sighed with something like regret, and Bran knew it was hard for her to leave after waiting so long to come home.

  They mounted their horses and turned east toward the rising sun. Once they were out of the grove, the velvet grass stretched green toward the lifeless boundary. Teya glanced over her shoulder and Bran was surprised at the frown on her face.

  “We’ll come back,” he reassured her.

  Teya smiled tightly. “I hope so, and she’d better be alive when we do. There’s so much more she could teach me, and now I’m not sure I’ll ever learn. I feel a bit lost, with no one to tell me where to go, or how to get there.”

  “You certainly seemed to know what you were doing last night. Did Leona tell you what to do?”

  Teya shook her head. “No, all I did was follow her lead. The rest just happened.” She glanced away from him and licked her lips. Bran frowned. Was she uncomfortable about something?

  “You’ll do fine,” Bran said, hoping to help her feel better. “Leona said after you knew the basics, the rest would come to you.”

  “Maybe, but I still worry. There’s so much I don’t know, and she won’t be there to help me. What if I fail?”

  Bran’s expression cleared, now he understood her concern. “That’s a risk you’ll have to take, but you’ll absolutely fail if you don’t try.”

  Teya sighed. “That’s true. I’ll try not to worry so much. Besides, I have you to help me. You will, won’t you?”

  Bran nodded, maybe now was a good time to tell her his own worries. “There is one thing I would like to ask you.” He paused at the discomfort in her eyes, like she knew what he was going to ask and dreaded it. “This may sound strange, but after last night, I have to clear this up. I know your grandmother used her magic on me. I was going to ask her some questions, and next thing I know, I can’t keep my eyes open.

  “Maybe she thought it was necessary,” he continued. “But I didn’t like it. At least she could have asked, but I was given no choice. I need to have a choice, Teya. I want you to promise me that you won’t use magic on me without asking first. I’m sorry I have to ask, but I need to be able to trust you.”

  “Of course,” Teya bristled. “She just wanted you to sleep well.”

  “Is that all?”

  “Yes.”

  “All right. That’s good to know,” Bran said, hoping it was the truth. There was something else Leona had said last night that bothered him, but through the haze of sleep, he couldn’t remember what it was. He racked his brain trying to think of it, but came up empty-handed. It had seemed important, so why couldn’t he remember? Was his lack of memory one of Leona’s tricks as well? He shook his head and sighed with frustration.

  Soon they were within sight of the pipes and the border. From this distance, the sound of the pipes seemed to cry out a warning and Bran shivered.

  Teya turned for one last look at the grove. He admired her profile with the breeze blowing her hair across her face. It stirred warmth and admiration in him, along with a deep desire to protect her, and it was hard to tear his gaze away. Before she caught him staring, he glanced back at the grove, and his breath caught at the sight. It seemed to sparkle with light and stood fresh and green like an oasis in the desert. It truly was a magical place.

  With a deep sigh, Teya turned her back on the grove and urged her horse forward. Bran followed, understanding her reluctance, then noticed that the green grass continued a good five feet beyond the pipes. “Would you look at that?” he said. “The grove has grown.”

  “Yes,” Teya agreed. “From last night’s ritual.”

  They came to the edge, then paused within the boundary and stared at the vast emptiness before them. Was the Destroyer somewhere close, waiting for them?

  “Do you have the pipes my grandmother gave you?” Teya asked.

  “Yes.” Bran pulled them from inside his shirt tied to a string around his neck. “If the Destroyer finds us before we get very far, we could end up wandering in that wilderness for days. I have a compass. I’ll keep it handy so that won’t happen.” He dismounted, then pulled it out of his satchel to check it. “If we head due east, we should reach the borderlands. We can go south from there.”

  At her nod, he got back on his horse then turned to catch her gaze. “Is there anything else I need to know?”

  “Probably, but I can’t think of anything right now. Just stay close to me, all right? I don’t want to lose you.”

  There was a double meaning in her eyes, and his heart quickened. “Don’t worry,” he responded. “I’m not letting you out of my sight.” It was true, and not just because of the Destroyer. He was drawn to her in more ways than he cared to admit, and didn’t quite understand. What had happened during the ritual to bind them together? Now was not the time to ask, but he was determined to get to the bottom of it once they got out of here.

  “Shall we make a run for it?” Teya asked, her eyes filled with daring.

  “Sure,” Bran agreed with a smile. “Just don’t push the horses too hard.”

  With a wry twist to her lips, Teya took off before Bran had finished, but he quickly caught up. The horses seemed eager for a run, and for the moment, Bran forgot the threat. They slowed at the crest of a hill, to gaze down at the blackened trees and dusty earth that lay in startling contrast to the green grove behind them. It spread for miles in all directions, and drenched them both in a dark cloud of despair.

  Urging the horses forward, they kept to a straight course and barely spoke to each other, worried that speaking might draw the Destroyer to them. Soon the trees disappeared and the hard cracked earth turned to sand and rock.

  Heavy o
ppression seeped into his skin, and Bran settled into watchful silence. Several miles later, a brittle breeze brought a scent of decay that turned Bran’s stomach. The source lay not too far from their path, and Bran swung down from his horse to investigate.

  At first it looked like a heap of sun-bleached clothing and discarded blankets. As Bran got closer, the strange pile became the remains of a horse and rider, dead for several weeks. Oddly, there were no flies or carrion birds to eat the flesh. The shrunken skin made the grotesque features stand out, with the jaw and mouth opened in a silent scream of terror. Bran choked back his revulsion and motioned Teya to stay away.

  He had seen death before, but not quite like this. He forced himself to search the pockets for clues to the man’s identity. He searched quickly, holding his breath as much as he could. The inner pocket of the jacket held several gold coins, an immense amount for anyone to carry.

  Bran pocketed them, then felt around the inside lining of the jacket. He came upon a bulge, and knew it was a package of some sort. With his knife, he cut the lining and pulled out two vials of a coppery red liquid. Sym. Frustratingly enough, there were no other clues to indicate who this man was. Bran slid the sym into his pocket and hurried back to his horse.

  Without sparing Teya a glance, he mounted up with an acute desire to put as much distance between them and the corpse as he could. Tension dropped over him like a net, and he scanned the vast waste for signs of darkness, but found nothing. “Keep close,” he whispered.

  “Do you know who he was?” Teya asked.

  “No, but I found gold in his pocket, along with some vials of sym.”

  Teya shivered, and they urged their horses on, desperate to leave this place unscathed. Several times in the next few hours, they came upon small mounds of bones held together by strips of cloth. Bran could only determine that this was a frequently traveled route. He wondered if the remains could have been some of the Kalorians, or possibly Korban's people trying to find a way to the grove.

  It was late afternoon before they glimpsed the end of the waste. Up ahead they could see a pass between a rocky crag, and a barren hill. Beyond that, a wide expanse of grassland spread for several miles. The waves of green and gold stood out in bright contrast to the colorless waste. The oppression they had endured during the entire day lifted. Teya glanced at Bran with delight and he smiled in return. They were almost free.

  With the sun at his back, Bran didn’t notice the looming shadow until it was upon them. Teya shouted a warning and sang out the notes of the grove. The darkness hovered above, waiting to strike but was held back by the sound of Teya’s voice. As Bran’s heart raced with fear, he checked his compass for the coordinates of the pass and shouted at Teya to ride hard.

  The dark cloud seemed to grow in fury, only held back by Teya’s trilling tones. Soon, it had them surrounded, and Bran grabbed for his pipes and began to blow. The darkness receded, leaving an angry buzz that hurt Bran’s ears. He kept blowing his pipes in the race to the gap, watching his compass in the darkness.

  He expected to reach the gap at any moment, but when they didn’t, he wondered if they’d missed it. The buzzing in his ears heightened into a loud rumble, creating an unbearable pain, and he wasn’t sure how much longer he could blow on the pipes. Where was the gap?

  Teya shouted something at him and he glanced up to find the darkness retreating. Hope spurred him on. All at once, he burst through the opening in the gap, and flew down to the other side.

  Coming to a breathless stop, he turned to watch the dark cloud of the Destroyer lift into the air and fall back in upon itself. It hovered above the ground for a moment, then disappeared. Teya spoke to him, but Bran couldn’t understand what she said.

  His head pounded with a buzzing echo that started at the base of his skull and ended right behind his eyes. In agony, Bran slid from his horse, clutching his head and fell to the ground. Soon Teya’s song cut through the pain and he could breathe again. He felt her cradle his head in her lap and heard the sweet sound of a melody that began to chase the awful buzzing out of his head.

  Relieved, Bran opened his eyes and found her gazing down at him. “Thank you,” he said, breathlessly. “I guess I have to eat my words... about not wanting you to use your magic on me. You saved my life.”

  She let out a husky breath and smoothed the hair from his brow. “That was close. I wasn’t sure we were going to make it.”

  “Yeah,” he agreed. He closed his eyes and relaxed, enjoying the feeling of her light touch in his hair. It soothed him almost as much as her voice. Then her hand jerked away, almost like she was embarrassed to be touching him.

  “Don’t stop,” he said. “It’s helping me feel better.” He wasn’t sure she believed him until her light touch once again smoothed his hair back. “What was that awful buzzing?” he asked, to put her at ease. “Did you hear it too?”

  “Yes, but it wasn’t so bad for me. Sometimes the vibrations of the tones can cause a buzzing in your head. It’s happened to me before so I know how it feels. Next time, well... if you ever get that buzzing again... start humming or singing. It will soften the effects.”

  “Oh. I guess that makes sense. I’ll try to remember that.” He closed his eyes, so relaxed that if he wasn’t careful he could easily fall asleep.

  “Anyway,” Teya said. “I’m glad we made it out. Are you all right now? I know I could use a drink of grove water. You can stay here if you’d like, and I’ll get it.”

  “No... I can get up, just give me a minute.” He didn’t want this moment to end, but knew he couldn’t delay without making her suspicious. Taking a deep breath, he pushed himself to a sitting position, then slowly got to his feet. Teya stood as well and he followed her to the horses where she pulled out a waterbag and offered him a drink.

  He almost hated to use it, but knew it would help him feel better, so he took a few swallows and handed it back. All at once, his head cleared, and his strength returned. Astounded, he shook his head in wonder. “That stuff is amazing. I can understand why Korban would want it.” Teya frowned, but didn’t answer, so he quickly added, “Don’t worry. I’m not after the water.”

  Her gaze flew to his and her face colored with embarrassment. “Oh...no. I mean...I know that.”

  Bran nodded and pulled a small map from his saddlebags. “According to this, there should be a town not far from here.” He checked the position of the sun. “We can reach it before nightfall if you want to keep going.”

  “Yes, I do. Um...before we left, my grandmother taught me a couple of songs that she thought would help me find my people.”

  “Oh? So...you’d sing these songs and your people would come running?”

  She let out a laugh. “Oh...no. It doesn’t work like that.” She chuckled again and Bran twisted his lips in annoyance. How was he supposed to know what she meant?

  “Actually,” Teya continued. “I was thinking we could pass ourselves off as entertainers and sing in some of the towns along the way. If any of the Kalorians are around, they will know the songs and approach me.”

  Bran pursed his lips, and his brows drew together. “What if you’re recognized? I think that would be taking too much of a chance, especially if you use your magic.”

  Her eyes widened. “I don’t agree. Besides, no one in these towns will know me, and I can be careful with my magic. The only people who will know I’m using it are the Kalorians.”

  Bran didn’t like it one bit, but wasn’t sure he could persuade her against it.

  “Do you have a better plan?” she asked.

  “Yes, let’s go back to the city and find Jax. He has contacts and information we can trust. He may also have a lead on sym. I can go to the palace in my role as an ambassador and dig around. I’m sure something will turn up.”

  “But finding my people now is more important than finding sym. I thought you understood that.”

  “Of course I understand,” Bran said. “But I have a feeling that if we find one, we’ll
find the other, and I’ve learned to trust my feelings. I think we should lay low until we reach the city. The king probably has people looking for you everywhere. What you want to do isn’t safe.”

  “Then how about a compromise,” she said, her brow raised in challenge. “We can decide if it’s safe after we see what the towns are like. Some of my people could be close, and I can’t let the chance to contact them pass by if they are.”

  Bran tried not to show his irritation. What she said did have some merit, but she didn’t realize how dangerous it was. “All right. There’s no harm in checking it out first, but you have to promise that you’ll listen to what I have to say.”

  Teya shrugged. “Sure. Let’s go.”

  She turned toward her horse but Bran stopped her. “Wait. There’s something important I need to tell you. The king will do anything to get you back, and I think Korban has to be part of his plans. Maybe Korban is the close to the king, have you ever thought of that? If you are captured and collared again, all that we’re trying to do is for nothing. Without you, we will fail.”

  Teya pursed her lips but kept her gaze steady on his. “I know Bran, but I can use my magic now, and if we can find the others, their magic can join with mine. I think this is a small risk, but one which we have to take. Unless...like you said, we see something that tells us it isn’t safe, then I won’t do it. Okay?”

  Her eyes were bright as glittering gems, and Bran was surprised at her unblinking stare. It was also the first time she’d called him by his name, and he liked the way it sounded. “Okay. The nearest town is Somara. From the map it looks like a major crossroad between several towns.”

  Teya’s face lit up. “Then there might be some Kalorians there. At least it’s a good place to start, especially since it’s not that far from the grove.”

  “Maybe,” he said, still not liking her plan. “I don’t think they’d stray too far unless they were in danger, but with nothing more to go on, it’s hard to tell.” He paused, weighing his words, then caught her gaze. “There’s something else that’s been bothering me. Last night with the ritual... things are kind of blurry. Did something happen that I should know about?”