by Sharon Hinck
Ow. I hadn’t seen the thorn. I shook my finger and a few drops of blood fell to the pine needles beneath us. I held the finger to my mouth, and then pulled it away to watch it heal. I kept waiting. Another drop of blood welled up. I brushed it away. Another took its place.
“What’s wrong?” Mark asked. I held my finger out to him, and it took him a moment to realize what he was supposed to notice. His eyes widened.
I looked through the trees toward Morsal Plains where some of the guardians were still helping the wounded. I squinted to focus my vision and see more detail. Nothing happened. I felt a quiet loss and moment of emptiness. “It’s gone.” Then incredible relief blossomed inside me. I looked at Mark.
The same relief bloomed on his face. He hadn’t had to see another Restorer die.
Our time here was over. “I want to go home now,” I said quietly.
He nodded. “We’ll go back to Lyric and the portal in the morning.” Mark’s hand moved up and down my arm. “I just wish the People weren’t still facing so many dangers. Cameron is still on the Council, the Kahlareans are still a threat . . .” Mark looked at me and stopped. “But we helped.” He kissed my forehead and drew me closer.
Our pace was slow as we made our way back up the trail to the village. Without Mark’s steadying arm around me, I would have curled up into the pine needles under the trees and never moved again. Tristan had sent word ahead, and when we approached his home, the door opened slowly.
Tristan carried Kieran’s body into the house, while Tara held the door open, tears streaming down her face. Kendra rolled out a pallet at the side of the room. Tristan carefully lowered Kieran onto it, and Kendra knelt beside her brother’s body. His earth-toned clothes were soaked with blood, and his skin was white and cold. Tristan turned away for a moment, unable to face his own pain coupled with the raw grief in Kendra’s face.
Mark and I stepped closer. I couldn’t believe Kieran was dead. He had sometimes frightened me and often made me furious. But he’d been Tristan’s loyal friend, Kendra’s fiercely protective brother, and a true ally to me. Mark wrapped both his arms around me as my shoulders begin to shake with silent sobs again.
Kendra smoothed back Kieran’s hair and began talking to his lifeless body. Her voice murmured apologies for childhood wrongs: for the time she knocked him out of a tree when they were playing in the woods, for telling his father when he sneaked out after dark, and for ruining his best dagger by whittling with it. We waited in silence while she reminded him of times they had shared. “And I always believed in you,” she whispered. “No matter what Father said. You know I understood. How can you do this? Please don’t do this.” Her hand stroked his face. “You can’t leave like this.”
Suddenly she gasped and skittered backwards. “He moved. I saw him. He moved.”
Tristan turned to look at her, his eyes full of compassion. He helped her to her feet and gathered her into his arms. “Shh. He didn’t. Kendra, I’m so sorry. He’s gone.”
Tristan was right. The Kahlarean’s sword had nearly cut Kieran in two. People didn’t recover from wounds like that. My eyes filled again as I focused on a deep gash across his angular face—
I rubbed my eyes. I looked closer. “Mark . . . do you see that?” I stepped forward and knelt down. “Look at the cut on his face.”
The wound was healing.
The edges met and sealed. I used the sleeve of my tunic to wipe the blood away from his cheek. There was a barely visible thin white scar. No wound.
Then he moaned. We all jumped.
I looked up at Mark and Tristan and Kendra, my mouth open. “What’s happening?”
They all looked as frightened as I was.
I turned back to stare at Kieran. His chest moved as he took a deep breath in and gasped with pain. Instinctively, I took his hand in mine. “Hang on,” I whispered. “It will get better. I promise.” Mark came and knelt beside me, an arm around my waist.
Kieran’s eyes opened and struggled to focus. Confusion clouded his face. Kendra took a hesitant step closer, but held back, as if afraid she would do the wrong thing and this miracle would rewind. Tears were still running down her face.
Tristan found his voice first. “He’s healing.”
It was true. Color was easing back into Kieran’s face, and he took another gasping breath. He squeezed his eyes shut against the pain and rolled to his side, his free arm wrapping around his stomach. Tristan edged closer.
I looked up at him. “What does it mean?”
Tristan’s eyes were wide. “I think,” he swallowed, “that it is still a time of great need for our people.”
I nodded. Hazor had been driven back, and Braide Wood was safe for the moment. But danger still crowded in around the People.
“You and Markkel need to return to your world,” Tristan continued.
My head bobbed up and down. I wished we could do more to help, but I had no doubt that it was time for us go home.
“So . . .” Tristan looked down at Kieran. “I think He’s sent another Restorer.”
I looked back at Kieran. He opened his eyes wide and stared at Tristan in alarm. He turned so pale that I thought we were losing him again.
“No. Impossible. Absolutely not,” Kieran said though clenched teeth.
I sat back on the floor, letting go of his hand. I had glimpsed the One’s deep love for this man on the day that we had sparred in the clearing. Kieran pretended he had no faith in the One and no allegiance to the Verses, but the One had plans for him. I had seen that much. But I would never have guessed this was part of the plan. I felt a wave of sympathy for him.
Mark and Kendra looked at each other, stunned. “Him?” they asked in unison.
I started to laugh. I couldn’t help it. Kieran glared at me and pushed himself up to sit. I laughed harder and swiped at the tears running down my face. Mark straightened up and helped me to my feet.
I smiled at Tristan. “I’m glad we could meet the new Restorer before we leave.”
Tristan looked down at his glowering friend and then grinned at me. “And I thought you were a strange Restorer.”
The evening became something of a celebration. We all washed the grime of battle away and changed clothes. Tara served bowls of peppery soup and beamed at the faces around the table. She was delighted for a chance to get to know Mark and tried to unravel the mystery of his role in both worlds while they chatted. Kendra sat beside Tristan, taking every opportunity to lean against him, touch his arm, and tell him how proud she was of him. He had lost many good men today, but an impossible battle had been won. And Kieran had healed. As the evening continued, the hard set to Tristan’s face began to soften.
I sympathized with Tristan. I had seen too many horrible things in the battle and after to allow myself to really celebrate. But as the reality of all the miracles sank in, I began to smile more too. I closed my eyes as the family recited the Verses for the evening, savoring every word. As everyone left the table, I helped Tara carry dishes to the kitchen. Mark and Tristan had their heads together, debating the strengths of various tribes, and how to build on the tentative new alliance with the lost clans. I noticed that Kieran had disappeared. He had been pensive during dinner. Tristan and Kendra had treated him with such awe at first, he had threatened to leave. After that they slid back into their normal banter with him. When he didn’t respond to their teasing, they eventually left him in peace.
“I’ll be right back,” I told Tara.
She nodded and patted my cheek. “Thank the One you survived the day.”
I slipped out the door and found Kieran sitting on a bench against the front of the house. He was holding his dagger, and as I walked toward him, he idly sliced a small cut on his hand and watched it heal. He did it again. And again.
“Stop that,” I said.
He looked up at me, his face passive. “It’s a mistake, you know.”
He moved over, and I sat down beside him. I was worried by the unfocused look in his eyes. “I can’t be a Restorer.” He looked down and slid the knife across his hand again, drawing a thin line of blood.
I snatched the dagger out of his hand and tucked it in my belt.
He didn’t even react. Rubbing away the blood, he stared at the place where the wound wasn’t. He flexed his hand and sighed. “I can’t be who they need.” He sounded lost and overwhelmed. None of his cynicism or deliberate aloofness remained.
For a moment, I worried that it wasn’t really Kieran that had returned to us.
“I know,” I said quietly. “But Kieran, this is something wonderful.” He snorted, and I smiled at that small sign of his personality returning. “You’re alive. Can’t you at least be happy about that?”
He glared at me. “What am I supposed to do now?”
“Same as you’ve already done. Do what you can.”
Kieran’s shoulders sagged under the unwanted responsibility I knew he felt. “I can’t do this.”
“It’s not about what you can do. It’s about what the One is doing. Stop fighting Him.” I thought of the quiet word that had burned into my heart on Feast day in the Lyric tower. Surrender. I wanted to tell him, to describe it to him in all its sweetness. But there was another One who would make him understand. Kieran frowned out at the dark trees. “Why don’t you go talk to Him now?” I asked.
He looked at me, startled. Then his eyes narrowed. “I do have a few things to say to Him.” His voice had the same resentful tone he had used in addressing the Council. I bit my lip to keep from smiling. This was going to be an interesting conversation. He held out his hand for his dagger. I returned it and he gave me a terse nod and strode off into the night, ignoring the fact that no one ventured out after dark.
God, you’ve called a very reluctant Restorer in that one. Please take care of him.
I went back into the house and pried Mark away from his discussion with Tristan, earning a grateful smile from Kendra.
“Mark, it’s not our job anymore. Come on. Let’s get some sleep.” I took a deep breath, and a knob of pain tightened in my chest again.
Mark noticed me wince. “Still bad?”
I nodded. “I don’t understand. Maybe it will heal when we go home. I hate feeling so weak.”
“You weren’t weak today.”
“But that was special power from the One. It was Him working through me.”
Mark smoothed the hair back from my temples and let his hands rest against the sides of my face. “It always is.”
Warmth surged through me. He was right. The role of the Restorer wasn’t all that different from the roles I had in my own world. In both worlds I felt discouraged by my weakness and very small against the needs and battles I faced. Yet, even weak or small, I wasn’t on the road alone.
I pulled Mark’s head down and rested my forehead against his. “Let’s get some sleep. Tomorrow we have a transport to catch.”
Chapter
34
We said our goodbyes in Tara and Payton’s home at first light. I soaked in the rustic warmth of the log walls behind the light panels, the long wooden table where I’d shared so many meals with the family, and the scent of freshly brewed clavo wafting from the kitchen. Talia and Gareth had a hard time hiding how glad they were to see me leave. But they nudged Dustin who pulled a creation from behind his back with great flourish and offered it to me. A wooden frame carved with small ferns held a lumpy three-peg design.
“I made the weaving.” Aubrey elbowed her brother aside.
My throat closed as I knelt to hug them both. “Thank you. It’s beautiful.”
When I stood, Tara held my face in her hands and touched her forehead to mine. “I’ll have a bowl of clavo brewing for you if you ever want to visit.” Even Payton gave me a gruff pat on the shoulder.
Kendra squeezed me in a tight embrace. “Thank you,” she whispered.
I nodded, feeling my eyes sting. Then she turned and grabbed Mark in a quick hug as well. I could swear I saw him blush. Tristan walked out the door with us and offered Mark his hand. They clasped forearms.
“You’ll always have an ally in Braide Wood, Markkel of Rendor,” Tristan said.
Mark nodded. “May the One ride at your right hand.” Respect and affection warmed the faces of both men.
My eyes stung again, and I swiped at a tear that escaped. “Tristan, thank you so much,” I said as he turned to me. “You helped me, and trusted me, and trained me. You kept putting up with me when I made mistakes. You taught me so much—”
“Oh for pity’s sake. Just say goodbye already,” a voice drawled from behind Tristan. We both turned. Kieran slouched on the porch bench, one foot braced on the wooden seat. He levered himself to his feet.
“See what I have to put up with?” Tristan said, looking at me. “And he’s going to be even worse now. Are you sure you can’t stick around?”
I laughed and gave Tristan a quick hug. He patted my back awkwardly and stepped back. “Go with the One.”
I walked over to Kieran. The skin under his eyes was smudged with dark shadows of fatigue.
“Rough night?” I asked.
His eyes narrowed. “I may not be able to forgive you for this.”
“For what?” Tristan cut in. “Healing Kendra? Getting rid of the Rhusicans? Speaking to the Council? Uniting the clans?” His voice had a warning edge, which Kieran ignored as he continued to glare at me.
“It’s not my fault.” I fought to hide a smile, but my mouth twitched. “I didn’t ask the One to make you the next Restorer.”
“No, but you’re enjoying this far too much,” Kieran said.
I laughed and threw my arms around him before he could pull back. “You aren’t alone,” I said softly, before I let him go. He met my eyes and nodded.
Wade insisted on escorting us to the transport—his last act as our house protector. Mark, Wade, and I stopped briefly at Linette’s home on our way out of the village. She was so pale that she seemed translucent, but leading the singing yesterday had restored some of the ardor in her eyes. Faith glowed like a banked fire. One day her spirit would blaze again.
And then, as I had learned it was prone to do, time accelerated. The trail seemed like a brief hike. The transport flew. How could time move at such different rates?
We walked the short distance from the transport into Lyric, and then straight across the center of the city. My steps slowed as we passed the worship tower. The white walls glowed as they reached skyward. Would I ever again feel the presence of the One in such a tangible way as I had on the Feast day? Maybe the spiritual atmosphere of my world was so clouded that I’d have to be content with seeing through a glass darkly on this side of eternity, but I’d never forget how it felt to hear the One whisper to my heart in this place of clarity.
Mark led us to the hidden door that opened toward the grove on the far side of the city. “Wade, from here we need to go on alone.”
Wade shifted his bulk from one foot to the other and back. “But I—”
“You’ve honored us with your service, but you’ve fulfilled your vow. Go back to Tristan and help him protect Braide Wood.”
Still, Wade looked uncertain. Mark didn’t want anyone else knowing about the portal, so we had to convince our faithful protector to leave. “You’ll need to hurry to get the transport back to Braide Wood before dark.” I touched his arm where deep claw wounds had left scars. “You don’t want to fight any more bears, do you?”
He grinned and rubbed his stubbly beard. “I wouldn’t worry if I had you and your sword by my side.”
I rested my hand on my sword hilt. “You were a good teacher. Go with the One.”
Mark slid open the small door and we hurried through. Even then, Wade lingered until Mark pulled the door closed, shutting out our view
of his ruddy face along with the back streets of Lyric.
Hand in hand, Mark and I walked toward the grove. Somewhere along the way his arm moved to embrace my shoulders. I leaned into him. “You’re sure you know where the portal is?”
“It’s not something I’d forget.” His gruff assurance calmed my nerves for about two seconds.
“But how do we know it’ll work? What if the portal doesn’t let us through? What if—”
“Susan, you’ve survived Kahlarean assassins and Hazorite cavalry. Now’s not the time to get wimpy on me.”
“Wimpy?” I pulled away in a huff. Then I saw his shoulders moving.
He laughed and gathered me close. His lips took mine with fierce possession, as if reclaiming me from this world that had taken me from him for so long. By the time I could breathe again, I’d forgotten about my worries.
“This way,” he said, leading me between two trees with spiraling trunks.
Energy sparked along my skin and my hair drifted out with static, as if I’d rubbed it with a balloon. Then we were through. No trauma, no storms, no earthquakes.
The attic still smelled like fresh sheet-rock dust.
I ducked my head to avoid a rafter and turned to see Mark beside me. “Hey, look! It came through.” I grinned as I held up the framed three-peg weaving Aubrey and Dustin had given to me that morning.
Mark didn’t take time to respond. He picked up the three stones on our side of the portal and positioned them so no one could go back through. “I’ll throw one of them in the pond. That should separate them enough.”
I put a hand on his arm. “Wait. Don’t do that. Put them someplace safe.”
He hefted the smooth rock in his palm and looked up at me. “Are you sure?”
I shrugged. “It seems wrong to throw them away.”
Mark gave me a slow smile. His Council tunic had been stained beyond repair in yesterday’s battle, so he wore a handwoven sweater from Tristan. His sword rested at his hip. After a couple of weeks back in his world-of-origin, carrying a blade had become a habit.
