“Banded him!” Therese exclaimed.
“That’s right.”
“Mara, that’s it! The band is blocking your magic,” Therese said.
“Oh,” Basha cried, “I’m so sorry. I should have thought of that sooner. The band cuts off all magic and you can’t get past it.”
“Yes, she can.”
“But that’s impossible. Lilith is the ranking Select and she banded Dixon. No one but Lilith or or her own Oathtaker can remove it—or one who ranks higher than Dixon. And Marshall won’t help. He wouldn’t risk her ire. So the only other option that leaves, is the Council, and . . . Well, that’s not really an option now, is it?”
Nina, now awakened, stood behind Mara. She stepped forward, Reigna in one arm, Eden in the other. “No, she’s not,” she said.
“No, who’s not what?” Basha’s brow dropped low, as she looked her way.
“She’s not the ranking Select.”
“Of course she is—”
“Basha,” Nina interrupted, “meet the ranking members of the Select.” She held the infants forward.
The woman looked at the twins, then to Nina, to Mara, and finally to Therese. “I don’t understand.”
“Look,” Mara said, “I know there’s a lot to fill you in on, but for the moment I need to know what to do about the band.” She turned to Therese. “What do I do?”
“It’s simple, really. All you need to do is open it.”
“You mean, just grab the band and it’ll open?”
Therese nodded.
“But how do I get my fingers under it?”
“It will release at your touch.”
“You sure?”
“Positive.”
“Then I’m off!” Mara closed her eyes. She identified the current immediately. She jumped in mentally and moments later, found herself in Dixon’s presence. She moved to his side.
The door burst open.
“Who are you?” a young woman demanded. She looked all around. “And where’s Basha?”
“Shhhh,” Mara cautioned. “You must be Adele.” The girl really does have the most abominable timing!
“Yeeessss. Who are you?”
“My name’s Mara. I’ve come to rescue Dixon.” She reached for the band on his arm. Upon her touch, it slipped free.
“How’d you do that? Oh, I hear her now! Lilith is coming. You have to get out of here. She’ll kill you!”
“I’m taking him with me.”
“Taking him! Where to?”
“Adele, I don’t have time. I’ve got to go. Quickly, before Lilith arrives, get away from here.” Mara wrapped her arms around Dixon.
“Well, well, well,” came Lilith’s voice from the doorway. “What have we here?” She pushed Adele toward Mara and then stood, her back straight, glaring at the three of them.
Mara glanced at Dixon. She couldn’t fail him now. She reached with her mind for her traveling stream.
“No!” Adele screamed.
Mara looked up as Lilith advanced.
Adele grasped Mara’s arm, fell against her, then kicked out. “No, Lilith!”
Mara found the current. She prepared to jump in. She felt Dixon’s added weight—and something more. Adele, holding her arm, was going to be caught up for the ride. Mara hoped that Lilith didn’t reach them before they were all swept up into the traveling wave together. If so, she would deliver the woman right to the girls’ hideaway.
She looked up and caught Lilith’s eyes of fury, and in that instant she—vanished.
With a thump, she landed, Dixon beneath her. Worried she might crush his already damaged ribs even more, Mara quickly rolled to her side. As she did, another weight fell upon her. The moment of reckoning! Did Lilith catch a ride along with Adele?
Frantically, she pulled to her feet as she grasped Spira. This was one of those rare circumstances that would allow her to use a weapon against a member of the Select: the life of her charge, or her own life in the course of her protecting her charge, was in imminent danger.
She crouched, preparing to meet the threat. In a moment, Samuel and Jules were at her side. Each held a sword pointed at Adele thinking it was she against whom Mara intended to defend herself. Near the men stood Basha with her Oathtaker’s blade in her hand.
Adele slumped to the floor.
“Stop!” Mara cried. “She’s harmless!”
“Oh, it’s Adele!” Basha exclaimed.
The young woman was on the floor, one leg stretched out, as though kicking something away. She sat up and shook herself, ruffling through her hair to shake loose the dirt from the floor. She glanced up to find a ring of onlookers. “What happened?” she asked.
“It looks like you came along for the ride,” Mara said. “I hope you’re not in a hurry to return to the palace anytime soon, because I have no intention of going back there.”
Adele scrambled to her feet, tottering on her lame leg. She grasped Mara’s hands, kissed them repeatedly, then fell to her knees. “Oh, may the Good One bless you!” she cried. “I’ve been trying to get away from there for . . . Well, ever since Rowena left.” She looked around. “But where am I?”
“I’ll let Basha and Therese explain things to you. I have to see to Dixon.”
“Oh, Therese,” Adele cried, “we all thought you were—”
“Dead. Yes, I know.”
Mara knelt beside Dixon.
Jules approached. “Will he be all right?”
“I don’t know,” she said, her voice shaking. “He’s in very bad shape.”
Jules rolled Dixon over. “Gracious Ehyeh!” he exclaimed. “He’s hardly breathing.”
Mara laid her hands upon Dixon and summoned the force within her being. She needed all her knowledge of healing, and all the power of her attendant magic—and she needed it now.
She released magic into him. She moved her hands over his injuries, beginning with his ribs. She felt the knitting of his bones, the renewed strength of his breathing. She concentrated on the condition of his heart and lungs. His pulse quickened.
Methodically, she sought out his other injuries. Beneath her hands, her power seemed to light up within him, bringing healing to his bruises and the bleeding lacerations that criss-crossed his body.
She turned his face toward herself. His eyes were swollen shut, black and blue. She laid her hands upon them. Nearly spent of energy, tears rolled down her cheeks as she reached within herself for more power, more magic.
His eyes fluttered. He groaned.
“Shhhh, Dixon, shhhh. You’ll be all right.” Dear Good One, heal him!
“Mara?”
“Shhhh, Dixon.”
“Mara, go. Lil—”
“It’s all right, Dixon. You’re safe now.”
“Mara . . . run. Reigna. E—”
“Shhhh, Dixon. Sleep.” She needed to settle him down. He was agitated and trying to get up. Then she remembered the night with Drake and Maggie. Dixon believed her singing had put them all to sleep, and later, Ted had hinted at the healing power of rest. Was it a foolish idea? Oh well, no harm in trying.
She placed her hands to the sides of Dixon’s head and her lips near his ear. Then she hummed an old lullaby. Softly, sweetly, she encouraged him to sleep through her rendering of the ages old melody.
He took in a full cleansing breath and then fell into a deep, deep sleep.
It was then that Mara slumped to the floor.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Mara.” The voice came from somewhere distant. “Mara, wake up now.”
Her head was foggy, her thinking lethargic. She couldn’t concentrate. Is someone calling me?
“Mara!”
Someone lightly slapped her face.
There was something on her forehead. It was heavy and cold. Is that a damp cloth on my forehead? Whatever for? She tried to fight through the fog. Where am I? What’s happening?
“Mara,” the voice urged again. It was insistent, growing louder.
Through
her sluggishness, she wondered, is there danger? What’s all the fuss about? Oh, go away and let me sleep.
Again the voice called out. Again someone slapped her face. “Wake up now, Mara. Can you wake up now?”
Slowly, she turned her head from side to side. She didn’t want to awaken. She wanted to stay in the land of dreams.
Wait. Who is that? For a moment, she fought for clarity, but her dreams called her back. She smiled as she felt herself drifting away.
“Mara!”
It’s that voice again. Who is that? I know that voice.
“Mara!”
She groaned.
“There she is. She’s coming to now,” someone whispered.
Another slap—a little harder this time.
Ouch! Is that absolutely necessary?
“Mara.”
Frustrated with her inability to remain in that place of calm and quiet, she struggled to regain consciousness. If I can just get through this fog.
She pushed harder, concentrated more intensely. Finally, she felt the fog lifting. The sounds and smells around her grew louder and stronger. She heard voices, the shuffle of horse hooves, wind whistling, and a fire crackling. Is that burning wood I smell? Yes, there must be a fire here. Mmmmm. Do I smell food?
“Mara!”
She opened her eyes slowly, then closed them again. They were so heavy, but at least her grogginess was dissipating. She opened her eyes again. “Dixon?” she asked, in a whisper.
“Yes!”
He’s smiling. He looks good. He’s whole. He’s healed! “Oh, Dixon,” she breathed in deeply, “is it really you? Are you all right?” Her words tumbled out slowly.
“Yes, it’s really me.”
“Oh, I thought you were done for.” She turned away and closed her eyes.
He put his hands to her face and turned it back toward himself. Seconds passed before she opened her eyes again. Smiling, he said, “I hear I have you to thank for saving my life.”
She closed her eyes. “It was nothing,” she mumbled.
“Right. That’s what I told the others, but they insist I should be grateful to you.”
Her eyes flashed open. If that didn’t beat all! Then she saw it. He was teasing her.
He chuckled. “Well, I guess I know how to awaken you now.”
“Really? How’s that?” she asked, smiling in turn.
“Just appeal to your greater vanity.”
“Charmer.”
“Ha ha ha!” he laughed. “Well, I see you’re back to your old self. But you had us frightened there for a time,” he added, now serious.
She tried to sit up, but feeling very weak, gave up.
“Did I hear someone say you were charming, Dixon?” Basha asked. She stood near him, her hand on his shoulder, looking down at him. She smiled, though Mara could see it was an odd smile. It was sad, somehow.
“Pure flights of fantasy, I’m sure,” he said.
Mara groaned. “But don’t you know, Basha? He has the power of charm. Or so he says.”
Basha’s eyes held Dixon’s. Once again, there was a touch of sadness in her expression.
He turned away.
“Well, all right then,” Basha said. She turned to Mara. “I want to officially introduce myself and to thank you. I can’t say how much I appreciate what you did to reunite Therese and me.”
Mara waved away her words. “It was nothing.”
“Are you feeling better?”
“I’m fine. I don’t know what all the fuss is about. I’m just tired, I guess.”
“That’ll teach you to go on a magic binge,” Dixon said.
“See what I mean, Basha? All charm, this one.” Mara closed her eyes. A long moment passed. Then she looked out again. She blinked repeatedly, trying to gather her thoughts. “What are you talking about, Dixon?”
“You really need to use more care with your magic,” he chided, still smiling.
“What do you mean?”
“It has a price. You could have killed yourself with all that magic. Traveling—with others. Healing. What were you thinking?”
He looks worried—like he cares. The thought startled her. She shrugged. “Just doing what I had to do.”
“Yes, the others told me all about the oracle while you were out,” he said. “I think you’re right—about the reference to the girls as ‘the seventh seventh and she who is but is not.’ I’d never thought about it before. But, dear Good One, we thought you’d never awaken again.”
She tried to shake off her lethargy. “How long was I out?”
Basha squatted down. Holding an apple, she took a bite.
Mara watched her closely. Her eyes narrowed. “Where’d you get that?”
Basha looked down at her apple, then pointed toward a bucket near where the horses stood. “Over there,” she said. “Want one?”
Mara pulled herself up on one elbow. Without further thought, she reached forward and—
An apple flew to her hand. “Ah!” she exclaimed when she realized what she’d done. “What just happened?”
Dixon frowned. “Careful, Mara. You need to regain your strength. This is no time for magic.”
“Sorry,” she said, looking chagrined, “I wasn’t thinking. Besides, I didn’t know I could do that.”
“Yes, well take it from one who knows,” Basha said. “You don’t want to make that a habit.”
“What do you mean?”
“The ability to move things. It can be . . . addicting.”
“She would know,” Dixon said.
Mara’s eyes flashed from him to Basha. “What?”
Basha tipped her head, her lips pursed. “It’s part of my attendant magic, as well. I went through a spell—when I first discovered the power—of using it a bit too much.”
“Too much?”
“Yes.” Basha’s expression turned serious. “It can make you lazy—and lazy means weak. Anyway, it’s a good power to have, and you should practice it some. Just don’t make it a habit.”
“Hmmm. Here, help me up.”
Dixon offered his arm. “Not too fast now. You’re just coming off a . . . binge, and you’ve already started back into the magic. Take your time.”
“That’s right,” Basha said. “You need to regain your strength. You’ve been out since you healed Dixon. That was . . . Well, you were out all of yesterday and all of last night and it’s nearly midday now.”
Mara took a bite of the apple. It was fresh and juicy. The sweet fruity smell filled her senses. “Mmmm. Good. I’m hungry.” She stopped chewing. “You mean I slept all of yesterday?”
Basha nodded.
“And it’s midday now?”
“Nearly, yes.”
“I suppose we should be on our way.” Mara tried to get up, but still weak, dropped back down.
Jules approached. “It’s still raining. I think we should wait to see what tomorrow brings.”
“And just wait around here? Doing nothing? Getting nowhere?”
“It would give us all a good chance to get fully rested. Dixon still isn’t at his best,” Basha said.
“Hey, hey, hey!” he responded in mock disagreement.
Mara shushed him. Her head hurt. “I suppose I could use some more rest. I feel like I’ve been drugged.” She took another bite of her apple. Her strength was returning, little by little. “Oh, what’s wrong with me?” she suddenly cried. “How are the girls?”
“They’re both well,” Nina said as she drew near. “We’re all well, thanks to you. But we needed to wake you, to make sure that you were all right. You ran a fever most of yesterday and last night. We were very worried for you.”
“Thanks, Nina.”
“Samuel found a big old trough out back. We all helped drag it in and have taken turns bathing. I think you’d enjoy one.”
“Baths? How’d you get enough water for baths?”
“A nearby spring.”
“And you got it warm enough?”
“You can
thank Basha and Dixon for that,” Therese said as she neared.
Mara looked at Basha. “Attendant magic?”
“Comes in very handy.”
“Sounds good. But right now—I just want to eat.”
Her companions laughed. It was the sound of a great release.
“So is this all I get? A lousy apple?”
Still chuckling, Dixon went to the hearth, then returned with a plate of hot roasted hare and hash-browned potatoes.
With Basha’s assistance, Mara sat up. She ate. Twice, she asked for more. Twice, Dixon refilled her plate.
“Gosh, Dixon, if you’re any nicer to me, I might start believing those rumors you keep spreading about yourself,” she said, her voice low.
“Oh, you mean about my being so charming and all?”
She looked at him, held his gaze. He actually did seem rather charming at the moment. “Right. Anyway, you’re looking well.”
“Mara, truly, I can’t thank you enough. I—”
She patted his hand. “Forget it.”
He nodded. “So, about this oracle . . .”
“What about it?”
“Therese tells me that you thought it was telling you to go to get me.”
“We all did.” She swallowed a mouthful. “Look for yourself. Every page says the same thing: ‘Go.’”
“Funny thing is—it doesn’t say anything now.”
She bolted upright, nearly spilling her meal. “What do you mean?”
“He’s right,” Therese interrupted, having overheard. “The book is empty now.”
“But you all saw what it said!”
“Yes, but it’s blank now.”
“Where is it?” Mara tried to get up, but a wave of weakness washed over her. She feared she might faint. With Dixon’s help, she settled back down.
“I’ll get it for you.”
When Therese returned with the book, Mara opened it. She was astounded. Every page was blank. She closed it again and looked at Dixon. “I don’t know what to say.”
He took it, then ran his fingers over the design on its cover. “You recognize this?”
“Can’t say that I— Wait a minute. It’s familiar somehow, but I can’t place it.”
He leaned in closer. “The compact,” he whispered.
“Of course!” She reached into the pocket of her tunic where she kept the compact, and stole a quick glance at it. Sure enough, the symbols were identical. “Is that significant somehow?”
Oathtaker Page 27
