The Lost Tayamu (The Legends of Kiamada Book 1)

by Ben Cass

  “You have any?” the woman asked him.

  He shook his head. “Unfortunately, no. Came close a few times, but it didn’t work out. Hopefully, one day it will, although if they’re anything like their uncle, I’m going to be in trouble.”

  The woman looked back at the hole, where they could see the plants resting on Doyle’s body, the thin layer of earth coating him. “He saved us that night,” she said quietly, rubbing her baby’s back. “He got us all freed from that... whatever he was.”

  Jerry sighed. “Doyle tends to do that,” he said. “Save people, I mean.”

  The mother nodded. “Do you think she’ll be all right?”

  Jerry looked at her, perplexed. “She?” he asked, an eyebrow raised.

  The mother pointed to his right. “Jen,” she replied.

  Jerry looked to see Jen hurrying away, going across the property. He had no idea where she was heading; there was nothing there but more open land.

  “If she’s like she was in high school,” the mother said, “she’s doing her best not to let her emotions come out. She’s never been much of one to let others see her cry.”

  “Yeah, well, I’ve never been much of one to let others push me away,” Jerry said. “We’ll see who wins.” He smiled at the woman. “If you’ll excuse me, I have a future sister-in-law to comfort.” He took off running, determined to catch Jen before she went too far.

  It didn’t take him long to reach her. She was walking with her head down, arms wrapped around her middle. Jerry jogged up, catching his breath. “Jen!” he called. “What are you doing way out here, girl?”

  She shook her head and continued walking. Jerry fell in beside her, hands in his pockets. He said nothing, waiting to see if she would break the silence. After a few minutes of wandering aimlessly, Jen finally stopped. It was so sudden Jerry took a few steps past her before realizing what had happened and stopping himself, turning around to face her. He started to say something, but one look at her face stopped him. Jerry held his arms out, inviting a hug, and after a few seconds, Jen fell into him, her body shuddering as the sobs wracked her.

  Jerry still didn’t say anything, because he knew from experience words meant absolutely nothing when you felt like this. He just held her tightly, ignoring the way her nails dug into his biceps, gently resting his chin against her head, letting her release all the emotions that had been building for five days. Kira had tried to get Jen to do this, but she hadn’t been successful, much to her private dismay.

  “I couldn’t...couldn’t watch...a burial,” Jen forced out between sobs.

  Damn. Hadn’t thought of it from that point of view, Jerry thought. Aloud, he said, “It’s not a burial, though. The dirt is barely covering him. Besides, he’s all wrapped up in plants right now.”

  “Not any better,” she said, her voice muffled. Jerry rubbed her back with one hand, feeling the sobbing start to subside.

  “I know,” he said quietly. “I know.”

  She took a deep, shuddering breath, and held it in for several seconds before slowly letting it out. “Sorry,” Jen said quiet. “Didn’t mean to unload on you.”

  Jerry laughed lightly. “I’m glad you did,” he said. “You needed to let it out. You haven’t let yourself feel anything.” He kissed the top of her head. “And as your future brother-in-law, it’s my duty to make sure you take care of yourself.”

  Jen’s head snapped up, and she looked back towards the crowd around Doyle. “Theonus,” she said. “He says something is happening; some kind of green light is building.”

  “That sounds...promising?” Jerry jerked his thumb. “Shall we?” Jen nodded, and they took off running together, Jerry holding her hand as they ran.

  HE floated in the darkness, enjoying the solace. He knew something was supposed to happen, but wasn’t sure what. It didn’t matter, though. This was more than enough. He’d felt so, so tired, but now he didn’t.

  A bright green light suddenly pulsed through the darkness, shattering the quiet. A voice spoke, one he felt he should know, but didn’t. It was neither male nor female; it was both but neither, which seemed impossible. Alistair. You are needed still.

  No. Not anymore. He’d done what he set out to do. He’d found her. He’d saved her. That was all that mattered. She could have a good life, even without him.

  Alistair. Life is not done with you yet.

  He felt a pull, and resisted. He wanted to float. He wanted to rest. He didn’t want to be pulled anywhere.

  Alistair. You must restore the Queen. The land needs to heal.

  The Queen? He remembered her. Nobody knew what had happened to her...except for him and his sister. They’d always kept the secret.

  There were others who knew her now, who also loved her. They could convince her to go back, to return to the world she’d left.

  Alistair. The Tayamu need your strength. They need your leadership.

  They didn’t, though. They had a leader. A fierce, amazing woman, better at leading than he would ever be. He’d abandoned that life because he wasn’t worthy of it.

  The voice grew insistent. It had been gentle, like a parent trying to convince a child, but now the parent was frustrated. Alistair. Do you remember the oath?

  Of course he remembered. The words came to him, unbidden. He didn’t even need to think about them. He knew them deep in his soul.

  Heal the world, guide it past strife.

  Something was happening. Physical sensation began to return, the darkness receding again.

  Help the people, treasure all life.

  He could sense things now, things he hadn’t a few moments ago. The coolness of damp dirt on his skin, the soft, feathery brush of plants touching him, caring for him. Voices murmuring, some in excitement, others in fear.

  Here with the others, I will always stand.

  The others...he remembered them now. They needed him. Jeniah and Elowyn, Kira and Jerry. Theonus. Kiamada.

  He had to wake up. He still had so much to do.

  A power gathered inside of him, building, growing. He felt its heat, its strength. The sickness in his body cower ed before the energy, trying to escape. But there was no escape from this. Nature itself coursed through his veins, restoring his balance. He felt it rush through him, gathering the sickness, making him whole again. His eyes snapped open, and he sat bolt upright, the power lifting him up, yelling the final words of the vow aloud.

  “I am Tayamu, and I serve the land!”

  Green light shot out of his body, carrying the poison, expelling it from his system. Once it left him, his body went limp, and he sagged back down, the earth moving up to catch him.

  Welcome back, Theonus’s relieved voice said. Did you bring me a souvenir?

  Doyle tried to respond, but couldn’t force his brain to form the words. He felt the darkness calling again, but it was different this time. This was a healing call; the poison was gone, but his body would need time to recover. He fought it, though, his eyes searching for her. For his beautiful Jeniah.

  JEN could only stare in disbelief as the green light exploded out of Doyle’s body. He’d yelled something, but it was in a language she didn’t know. Once the light left him, he sagged back down into the dirt.

  She didn’t hesitate. She jumped right down into the hole, landing next to him, and crouched over him, gently tracing his face with her trembling hands. Her dark hair spilled around his face, and tears fell from her cheeks onto his.

  It looked like he was trying to say something, but all he could manage to do was move his mouth enough to form the soundless words, “Love you.”

  Relief flooded through Jen, and she started laughing and bent down to kiss him.

  “I love you too, Ali,” she said quietly, pulling back from him as he slipped back into sleep. Jen looked up for Theonus, finding him standing several feet away, towering over the people near him.

  “Will he be okay, Theonus?” she asked.

  The Wiler nodded. He will need a while to reco
ver, but yes. It might be days or weeks before he is back to full strength. It could even be months. This venom is nasty, and overcoming its effects is difficult for even the strongest of the Tayamu. He might not fully wake up again for a while...but he is safe now. There is no more cause for worry, Jen.

  She bent her head for a moment, letting her hair fall back down around her cheeks, hiding her emotions. She leaned back down to Doyle’s face and gently kissed it. “Twelve years ago,” she whispered to him, “you all but asked me to marry you. I think it’s well past time to answer you. Yes, Ali. I want us to be together forever.”

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Doyle’s eyes fluttered open, blinking rapidly. Cotton filled his brain, slowing it, and it took him several seconds to realize he was lying in a bed. He tried to move, but found his limbs didn’t want to respond. Slowly, memories of the fight with the Chiami surfaced before flitting away again. He remembered...dirt. Plants. Green power healing him.

  Jen saying something about marrying him? No, that didn’t seem right. He must have dreamed it.

  He tried to call out, but couldn’t speak. His vocal cords were apparently paralyzed. Two women came into his field of vision, smiling at him. He loved them both equally yet differently, and was not surprised to see them there. They both looked as exhausted as he felt.

  “Do not try to move, Alistair,” Kira advised. “The poison greatly taxed your system. You expelled it, but your body is still fighting the aftereffects. Just rest. We will be here with you, I promise.” He vaguely felt her lips on his forehead before she stepped back.

  Jen took his hand, her eyes shining as she looked into his. His vision began to blur, and his eyelids grew heavy. She leaned over and gently cupped his cheek with her other hand. “I’m still here,” she said softly. “Together forever, remember?” He wanted to smile, tried to, but it was impossible. His eyes closed, and he fell back into the healing sleep.

  When he woke again a little while later, the room seemed clearer. He tried to move and found a toe was able to wiggle. When he made a noise, which sounded distressingly like a mouse squeaking, a man appeared, his dark face taking up Doyle’s entire field of vision. Jerry. His brother-in-law.

  Doyle needed to apologize, to say he’d been wrong about Jerry, but still couldn’t speak. He looked around the room, his eyes the only thing able to move besides one solitary toe.

  “Hey, man. It’s okay. Everybody’s safe. You don’t have anything to do except rest and get better, you hear me?”

  Doyle tried to say something, strained to move his body. He felt his torso twitch, but Jerry put a hand on his chest to restrain him. He needn’t have bothered. “No can do, brother. You’re not able to move yet.” He held up something in his other hand: a book, perhaps? Yes, a book. “Tell you what: I’ll read to you while you rest, all right? I think you’ll like this one. The main character has an annoying sister.” Jerry winked. “And if you tell Kira I said that, I’ll smother you. Not much you can do about that right now, is there?” Jerry opened the cover and began reading; his voice was soothing, the tone very even, and Doyle again found himself drifting back into welcoming, healing blackness.

  With superhuman effort, Doyle forced his eyes to open a third time; finally, everything was crystal-clear. He recognized his own bedroom, but couldn’t recall how he had gotten there. Doyle tried to move again and found he could budge his right arm. He put some extra effort into it and discovered his hand and fingers were now responding, albeit slowly. Cautiously, he tested his legs, and found they were willing to cooperate as well. His left arm also was doing something, although not as much.

  As his senses slowly returned, Doyle realized he could feel a pressure on the left side of his chest, and a similar but lighter pressure spread across his left leg. Gingerly, he turned his head to the side and moved his eyes down. A head of blonde-brown hair appeared in his vision, resting on a pillow placed against his chest. An arm was draped across his torso, the hand resting near his shoulder, holding the blanket in place on top of him. Two legs were pressed up against his, a foot resting on his ankle. The blanket was beneath her, effectively trapping him under it.

  He could feel her body rising and falling with her steady breathing. Her positioning was protective, like she was trying to shield him from something. It made him want to smile.

  “Elowyn,” he remembered, his voice feeling like a rusty saw blade that hadn’t been used in twenty years. The head shot off his chest and her blue eyes looked directly into his, the surprise turning into excitement. “Hey, kid.”

  “Omigod, you’re awake!” she exclaimed. “You’re really awake this time!”

  He tried to smile, but couldn’t seem to remember how. He settled for a partial wink, his eyelid fluttering slightly. “So it would seem.” His voice, to his ears, sounded weak and faint.

  “I’ll be right back! Don’t go anywhere!” Ellie said, scrambling off the bed and holding her hands out as if telling a dog to stay. She ran out of the room.

  “I’ll just be here,” Doyle said weakly. “Oh, cancel my hairdresser, will you? I don’t feel up to going.”

  Seconds passed and he could hear the sound of several feet running. A moment later, Ellie burst back through the door, with Jen, Jerry and Kira hot on her heels. “See! He’s back!”

  “In a manner of speaking,” Doyle said. He tried moving his left arm, but found it no longer wanted to listen. “Aw, man, not fair. I know that arm moved a few seconds ago.”

  Jen sat down beside him, tenderly moving his left arm for him. He could feel her fingertips rubbing his. “Ali? Are you feeling better?”

  “Yeah. I’m awake, so that’s a start, right?” He tried to clear his throat, but started coughing. He felt a straw push into his mouth and moved his eyes to see Jerry holding a glass of water for him. He sipped and swallowed. “Thanks.”

  “Any time. You had us worried, big guy.” Jerry set the water down on the nightstand beside the bed and squeezed Doyle’s shoulder.

  “What, a guy can’t sleep in? I’ve only gotten a few hours of rest since Jen started dating me, and that was this morning, when she unfairly bullied me into napping.” He thought about it. “Or maybe yesterday morning. What time is it?”

  Kira sat down on his other side. “Alistair...you have been unconscious for the better part of three weeks.”

  That was unexpected. “Three weeks? I woke up three times earlier today.” He tried to move his right arm and found it still responded, just slower than it had a few minutes earlier. Kira lifted it for him, gently massaging the muscles.

  “No, love, you did not. You woke up briefly after five days, when you expelled the poison from your body, but then fell asleep again. We moved you into your bed shortly after. You woke again that night, when Jeniah and I were there with you.” She kept massaging his arm, her fingers now working on the forearm muscles. On his left side, Jen was doing the same thing.

  “The third time,” Kira continued, “was about a week later, when Jerry was sitting with you. That was a week ago. Theonus assured us you would eventually awaken, although he did say you would probably be unable to move for days, perhaps even longer.”

  “Theonus...why haven’t I heard him?” Doyle’s voice felt stronger, but was still scratchy. Without saying a word, Jerry offered him some more water. He sipped it gratefully.

  “He is sleeping, finally. It has been nineteen days since you were brought to the hospital, and he stayed awake and vigilant for the first twelve. Jerry convinced him it was safe to go to sleep. I have never seen Theonus so exhausted.”

  “Wilers can go without sleep for several days, but not that long,” Doyle said. “He’ll need to sleep for a couple more to recover.”

  “Sounds familiar,” Jen said lightly, smiling at him.

  “I just have one question, and I’m surprised nobody’s addressing it,” said Ellie. All eyes turned to her and she continued, “Is nobody else wondering how his body has gone this long without the use of a bathroom or ca
theter? Obviously, Kira knows, but she won’t share with the rest of the class.”

  “Ellie, that’s hardly important,” Jen chided her, while Kira’s mouth puckered disapprovingly. Ellie’s mouth gaped.

  “Hardly important? You know you’ve been wondering the same thing! We’ve all just been too worried to ask.”

  “It’s a Tayamu thing,” Doyle answered, his face crinkling into a smile. “Oh, hey...my muscles remembered how to smile. What a relief. I thought I’d be stuck forever looking like Kira does right now.”

  Jerry’s booming laugh echoed in the room, even after his wife glared at him. Ellie joined in and even Jen smiled. The faintest trace of a smile appeared on Kira’s lips, but it vanished before it could be positively identified.

  “Ingrate,” she retorted, leaning over to kiss his forehead. “You need to rest some more. We can talk when you wake again.”

  “I’ll stay with him,” Ellie volunteered. “It’s my night anyway. Go back to bed. I’ll come get you if we need you.”

  Jen looked at Doyle and he nodded. “It’ll be fine. She did a good job of guarding me earlier. I wasn’t going to get up without her blessing.”

  Jen gave him a gentle kiss on the forehead, smoothing his hair back before standing up, trying to hide a yawn behind her hand. Kira squeezed his hand, settling it onto his stomach.

  “Rest well, Alistair,” his sister said. “We will come see you later.” She left with Jerry, who gave a small salute with two fingers pressed to his forehead.

  “I’ll bring you some food in a few minutes,” Jerry said. Jen lingered for a moment, looking at Doyle, before leaving as well, closing the door behind her.

  Ellie sat back down next to him, picking up his left arm and gently massaging it as Jen had done. “I’m surprised she left,” Ellie said, glancing back at the closed door. “She must be exhausted.” She tapped his arm. “Really can’t move, huh?” she asked. Doyle tried to nod, found he couldn’t, and settled for sighing.