Nalor waited for her at the exit to the cave. They rode behind the line of bovines the men herded. At dusk they paused to make camp.
The next day they reached Desert’s Edge. Nalor arranged for a room at the inn. They stored their belongings, used the bath house and went to the common room for the evening meal.
As they ate the savory roast shoat with browned tubers and cooked spiced fruit, the door of the common room opened. A man Nalor recognized dashed inside. He stopped at the table where the other men from the forest sat.
Nalor put his fork down and crossed the room. “Sanger, what has happened?”
“Dire wolves. A fanged ape. Maybe more. Came to the house we was repairing.”
“What did you do?” Nalor asked.
“Beasts killed some silk sheep we found. We fought them off and they sent me for help.”
Nalor thought of the broken cages they’d found at the stronghold. He looked at the men. “You’d better leave the livestock here. I’ll come with you.”
An expression of relief appeared on the man’s face. “What do we need?” one of the men asked. “We’re not skilled with swords.”
Nalor returned to the table and told Stilenta what had happened. Two of the men stood behind him. “I need to go with them.”
She nodded. “I can come, too.”
“No,” one of the men said.
“Women don’t fight,” the other said.
Nalor frowned. He knew why Stilenta wanted to come and that her help could be useful. He glanced at the two men and saw their uneasiness. Why? Did they distrust the Jewel Holder? He waved the men away. “Gather what’s needed. We’ll set out in the morning.”
The men hurried away. Stilenta frowned. “What did thee see?”
“They’re afraid of you and I don’t know why.”
Stilenta’s shoulders slumped. “Not me. The Jewel. They saw what we did at the stronghold. The good and the bad. So thee will go with them.”
“I think I should.”
She nodded. “I’ll wait here.”
“For how long? What if a Desert Rider arrives and wants thee to follow him.” He poured more wine into his goblet.”
Stilenta studied her hands. “I still feel separating is wrong.”
He nodded. “But they won’t accept thee. I don’t know how many of these beasts there are and how long it will take to clear them from the forest. We may not have time to do all we must and return to Pala in time. How long will cleansing the wells take?”
She sighed. “A day for each but I don’t know how many there are. Six clans and each has more than one.”
He reached for her hand. “Wait five days and then start for the desert. I’ll come and find thee.”
* * *
When Stilenta woke, Nalor was gone. She rose from the bed and went to the window. Nearly mid-morning. She needed to make plans for the desert trip but thoughts of traveling alone bothered her. She wasn’t afraid of being attacked. She had her Jewel and she had some knowledge of unarmed fighting and in the use of a knife. Being alone might bring a return of the visions and voices that had crept into her thoughts during the year after her mother died and she’d been alone.
Though Nalor was her Chosen were the bonds between them strong enough to withstand a long separation? What if the bond snapped? What if something happened to him and she wasn’t there to help? The lore said when a Holder or her Chosen died the other also perished. Was that true?
Her father had died two years before her mother. Her mother had survived that loss. Had that been because she’d had a child who needed her?
With a groan Stilenta washed and dressed. When she reached the common room she ordered toasted bread, preserves and kaf. An uneasiness she couldn’t find a reason for what made her feel restless.
Deciding a walk might soothe her unfounded worries, she left the inn and strolled to the river. The sound of rushing water surprised her. So did the band of green along the banks where not many lunars ago there had been barren rocks. Not that long ago the river had been so shallow she had walked across. The river had been reborn like the desert could be if she could fulfill the promise her mother had made.
She found a grassy place shaded by a willah tree and sat. Taking her Jewel from beneath the tunic she cupped the gem in her hands. Would the Blue reveal the reason for her edginess?
As she leaned against the tree, she stared into the Jewel. Though she needed to speak to the innkeeper about trading her horned horse for a balala she had no real desire to set out alone.
She closed her eyes and let the scents of this summer day and the sounds of the river lull her. When her thoughts refused to settle her anxiety increased. What did the Jewel want her to do? Leave? Stay? What?
Her eyes flew open. Had the Blue been corrupted during the destruction of the stronghold? The hue seemed darker than it had been after Liara had cleansed the Jewels during the battle with the Black. Were Disa’s fears about the gems controlling the Holders true?
As she was about to return the Blue to its place beneath her tunic, the gem flared. She heard Nalor’s voice. Stilenta. Help.
The inner path, she thought. She leaned forward. Nalor. How can I help?
Injured. Me. Several others.
How many others?
Four.
How bad?
My leg clawed. Fanged ape. Remembered Disa and tragon.
The others?
Mostly bites. The dire wolves fled. Fear their return.
I’ll come. She hurried back to the village. At the Healer’s House she obtained a large sack of healal and dressings. She ran to the inn to saddle her horse.
The innkeeper emerged from the kitchen. “What has happened?”
Stilenta explained about the attack and the injured. “I must go to them.”
“You can’t go alone.” He signaled two men. “Go with her.”
“My thanks.” She had wondered how she could guide the horse and still use the inner path to find Nalor. While the innkeeper returned to the kitchen for food packets Stilenta explained that one of the men needed to lead her horse so she could use her bond to her Chosen to select their route.
The man nodded. “You are a Jewel Holder and know what to do. I will gladly help you.”
Using the inner path, she led the men into the forest. When she grew tired they stopped to eat. The honey-dipped datis in the packet gave her energy.
At dusk, she heard howls and yipping. “Release me. Ride with care. Dire wolves have poisoned fangs.”
They galloped toward the noise. As they drew closer she heard men’s shouts and screams over the snarls of the beasts. She held her Jewel in one hand. As they found the clearing she saw the dire wolves. She raised the Blue. Unlike Disa who could send spears of light to destroy the attackers, Stilenta needed to choose another course. She could disrupt the beasts’ fluid balance.
She rode into the clearing and saw the battle. She used her Jewel to draw fluid from the creatures’ brains. One dire wolf convulsed and died, then a second and a third. Her companions shot arrows at the beasts. The men they had come to help rallied and fought the beasts with staffs and knives. Stilenta saw the flash of Nalor’s sword. When the last dire wolf died, Stilenta entered the clearing.
* * *
When the last dire wolf collapsed Nalor leaned against a tree. Fighting for his life had kept the pain caused by the slashes on his thigh at bay. The throbbing roared into agony so exquisite he couldn’t scream. Barely able to remain conscious, he slid to the ground. His teeth clamped his lower lip to hold in a scream.
A woman shouted orders. Stilenta?
“Hang a kettle over the fire. Drag the beasts away. Make a pyre and burn the bodies.”
He must have lost consciousness for when his eyes opened he was on a blanket near the fire.
“Chosen.”
“Stilenta.”
“I must tend to thy wounds before they steal thy life.” She slit the leg of his breeches. “I wish Jindera and her Re
d Jewel were here.”
He nodded. The Holder of the Red could have used the gem to halt the poison and heal the wound. When a hot cloth touched his thigh he hissed.
“I have healal from the healers,” Stilenta said. “The herbs will leach the poison from the wound. Thee won’t be able to walk for several days.” She removed the cloth and packed the wound with an aromatic paste, then wrapped a bandage around the area. “Let me see to the other men who were injured.”
Nalor caught her hand and pressed his lips to her fingers. “My thanks.” He closed his eyes and let sleep come.
The sun filled the clearing with light. Nalor used his elbows to push into a sitting position. His leg ached but the pain was at a level he could tolerate. Moments later Stilenta knelt at his side. The aroma of kaf reached him.
“How do thee feel?” She helped him grasp the mug.
Nalor sipped the beverage. “Better.”
She offered him a rolled flatbread. “I’ve sent the men to search the woods but I think the dire wolves and fanged apes are gone.”
“There was just one ape. We killed him after he attacked me. Now what?”
“Finish thy food. Then I’ll change the dressing. We’ll find a way to take thee back to the inn.”
“I could ride.”
She nodded. “Thee could but that might undo the healing. Thee need to keep weight off thy leg for several days.”
“Are thee sure?”
“That’s what Jindera told several of the injured men at the lair and they weren’t fighting poison, too.”
Nalor nodded. He hated the thought of being considered an invalid but what she said made sense. “Thee are right.” He took her hand. “There’s something I need to say.”
“I’m listening.”
“Thee are important to me. Thee were right when thee said we should stay together. No longer will I seek to leave thee.”
Stilenta brushed her hand over his face. Tears welled in her eyes. “Thee are important to me as well.”
Several of the men who had been tenants on the estate his family had owned approached. The leader squatted beside Nalor. “Our gratitude to both of you for your help. Know that you will always be welcome in our homes.”
The second man clasped Stilenta’s hand. “We’ve made a litter that can be carried behind a horse.”
She smiled. “The very thing.”
Nalor clasped the leader’s hand. “I say farewell. May you prosper.”
“I believe we will. Soon we’ll have things to trade in Desert’s Edge. Tell the innkeeper someone will come for the livestock we left behind soon.”
Nalor drew a pouch of coins from his pocket. “Brought these from the stronghold. Use them to pay the innkeeper for the care of the animals.”
“Again, thank you.”
Before long Nalor lay on the stretcher and rode behind the horse belonging to one of the men from the inn. Stilenta rode ahead and chose the smoothest route she could find. When the party reached Desert’s Edge, they stopped at the Healers’ House where the dressings on his leg were changed. Then they went to the inn.
Four days later his wound had healed enough so he could ride a balala. His brown animal followed the cream colored one Stilenta rode. These animals with their long necks and rocking movements always amused her. She glanced back at Nalor and watched him tighten the reins so his steed had to look ahead. They left the village and headed for the desert. She used her gem to locate the first of the tainted wells.
The moon had set and the sun rose when Nalor spotted the drooping palmas. The stench rising from the well reached them before they arrived at the browning grass of the oasis. Even the palmas bore brown-tinged leaves.
Stilenta pulled out her Jewel. She drew a scarf over her nose and approached the well. She stared into the Blue Jewel and placed her hand on the stones of the well.
Slowly the nauseating odor vanished. Nalor stared at the trees. They appeared to stand taller. He removed the packs from the balalas and erected a tent to shelter them during the heat of the day. “What now?” he asked.
“Rest until sunset and start out again. Come, let me change thy dressings and we’ll eat what our host provided.”
Nalor stared at the nearly healed wound. “This looks good. Where do we go next?”
Stilenta touched the skin around the small open area. “We’ll visit the oases one at a time. Surely before too many days pass, we’ll encounter a Rider from one of the clans. I’ll ask to be taken to their tents and request a meeting with the leaders of the six clans.”
“With luck they’ll show thee the remaining wells. Is there any sign the grass will extend into the sands?”
She shook her head. “That would take Mara’s gem. I may not be able to keep the promise my mother made.”
He put his hand over hers. “Will that bring trouble?”
“I don’t know.”
When they left that night her Jewel led them to another failed well. Three nights later the third well had been cleansed. Nalor studied the regenerated grass. “A miracle.”
“Clean water and having the poisons leached from the soil are responsible.” She held the Jewel so he could see it. “I believe the color has lightened.”
“Could be.” Nalor added dried balala dung to the fire to cook a meal before they moved on. A pair of Riders approached. “Company coming.”
“Add water to the pan so we can share.” Stilenta walked to the edge of the oasis and held her Jewel high.
“Holder,” one of the men said. “Have you come to heal the land?”
“To see to the poisoned wells and make sure the water is pure. Come and share our fire and food.”
The men staked their balalas and cared for their needs. They added datis and pinas to the meal. Nalor noticed the blue bands on their robes. “The Blue clan. We spent some time in your tents.”
One of the men nodded. “I remember but save your tale until we join the clan.”
Stilenta dished stew from the kettle. “Good. I need to speak to your leader.”
“Vodor will be glad to welcome you.”
“How many wells have you cleared?” the second Rider asked.
“This is our third,” Nalor said. “They’re the ones closest to Desert’s Edge.”
“Two belong to other clans,” the first man said. “This one is ours.”
Once they’d eaten, Nalor and Stilenta packed their belongings. They mounted their balalas and rode with the Desert Riders.
“We’re going to Valmir’s clan,” Stilenta said.
“Where we won’t be strangers.” Nalor grinned. “I’m sure they’ll have questions about Valmir.”
“And Mara?”
“Maybe.”
At dawn they reached the large oasis where the Blue clan had their tents. Valmir’s father stood beside the well. Stilenta displayed her Jewel. Vodor bowed. “Blue Holder, you have returned. Welcome to our tents. Be at home.”
Stilenta tapped the balala and the beast knelt so she could dismount. “I’m glad to return to the desert. The time has come for me to fulfill my promise.”
He pointed to the large tent. “Will you turn the sand to grass?”
“I fear that isn’t within my power but your wells will remain sweet and pure. Perhaps in time the land will change. The Green Holder refused to return to the desert.”
He frowned. “Refused to return? Who is this Green Holder?”
“You knew her as Mara who belonged to no clan.”
“I see.”
Nalor frowned. What did he think of Mara’s refusal? Would this anger the clans?
“I would like to arrange for a meeting with the other clan leaders.”
“At sunset, messengers will be sent,” Vodor said. “Is there anything else we can do for you?
“I need to know the location of all your clan’s wells.” Stilenta sat on the ground and sketched a map of the desert. “Here is Desert’s Edge and the three wells my Chosen and I have cleansed.”
&nb
sp; “Ah.” He leaned forward. “This one belongs to the Blue clan. This one to the Red and the other Green. There are three more near the edge of the desert. I will provide guides to lead you to the other oases of my clan.” He rose. “Come and rest through the heat of the day. When the sun sets we will feast and you will go to the wells. Now, tell me how my son fares.”
“Valmir is the Chosen of Liara, Holder of the White Jewel,” Nalor said.
Vodor smiled. “I thought his feelings turned in her direction.” He held the flap of the largest tent so they could enter. “Is there news of Tomon and his mother?”
Nalor shook his head. “She was with the healers at Desert’s Edge. Tomon had been at the wizards’ lair but he left before the place was destroyed. Did you know he was related to one of the Master wizards?”
“So his mother often said.” Vodor shook his head. “She was from the village. My brother brought her here. When he died I became chief. She resented that but her son was only half-clan.”
“And Tomon resented his role in the clan’s life,” Stilenta said.
Vodor nodded. “Enough about them. You have many tales to tell but hold them until the other clan chiefs arrive. Five days will pass before then.”
Stilenta smiled. “Then we will have time to cleanse your other wells.”
They spent the hours of the day sleeping. As the sun set they joined the clan for a meal. At moonrise they rode behind a pair of young men who led them to the clans’ other wells.
Five days later they returned to the oasis of the Blue clan and found the leaders of the other clans gathered around the fire outside the largest tent. Once all had eaten, Stilenta spoke. “As promised I have come to cleanse the poisoned wells. Though I wish I could turn the sand to grass, my Jewel controls water not plant life.”
Vodor rose. “Blue Holder, during our conclave when we met at the Palace of the Seven Jewels, we discussed the promise your mother made. Most of us have no desire to be other than Desert Riders. The few who yearned for an easier life have taken their share of the flocks and herds. They will dwell on the grass plains before the Screaming Hills.”
Nalor took Stilenta’s hand in his. “Why would you wish to keep this lifestyle where life is a struggle?”
Discovering the Jewels' Secret Page 4
