As they chatted, the paladin looked around the room in appreciation. They had made the hall more homey over time, adding bookshelves, small tables holding vases of fresh flowers, and several paintings that she guessed were actually created by some of the castle's inhabitants.
There were two fancy candelabra on the conference table, each holding a dozen candles that burned brightly. Another candelabrum blazed on the mantelpiece over the fireplace. A fire burned in the fireplace itself. Even with the warm weather outside, the castle was still damp and cool, especially in the section where the meeting hall was located.
There were a dozen place settings laid out around the table, with china plates and silver utensils neatly placed. Liliana idly wondered where the plates and silverware had been scavenged from. Nearby homes, she assumed.
A movement at the entrance caught her eye and she looked over to see the sisters, Sylvie and Veronique, walk in together. They were wearing matching blue robes and were so graceful that they seemed to float over the floor rather than walk on it.
Veronique led her sister to a seat on Liliana's left side and waited until she was settled before sitting down beside her.
“Liliana,” she said brightly. “How lovely to see you. I'm so sorry that I was too busy to speak to you the last time you stopped by. How are you?”
The paladin smiled at her. Veronique was as lovely as Sylvie, but darker of complexion. She wore her hair tied back out of her face, which allowed her natural beauty to shine through. But Liliana knew that behind that lovely face lay a very sharp mind.
“I'm well, thank you. And how are both of you? Any luck with your research into the origins of magical energy?”
Veronique shook her head dispiritedly while her sister sighed heavily.
“We are still no farther along than we were the last time you were here,” Sylvie told her. “Just between us, I'm starting to think that we will never succeed. I hope that I am wrong, but I do not feel very optimistic.”
Both of the women looked rather sad and Liliana had to bite her lip to stop herself from announcing her good news prematurely. She wanted to wait until everyone was gathered together. It was difficult though; she cared deeply about the sisters, and the other mages as well.
A minute later, Chao Zhang wandered in, wearing a plain brown robe. He walked around the table and bowed to Liliana.
“Lady, it is good to see you again. Congratulations on finding your divine mount. He is magnificent.”
Liliana stood up quickly and bowed in return. Chao still looked sad and withdrawn and she was honored that he had greeted her.
“Thank you. Please, have a seat.”
He bowed again and sat down to her right. Once he was sitting, the paladin took her seat again and looked at him in surprise.
“You've seen Valiant?” she asked.
“Is that his name? Yes, I took a moment to see what all of the excitement was about. An amazing looking steed. You are blessed.”
Liliana smiled crookedly.
“Sometimes. I certainly was when I found him, I think. And how are things with you, my friend?” she asked delicately, not wanting to intrude on the man's personal life, but still concerned about him.
Chao shrugged slightly.
“Life must go on. I have been mourning the loss of my brother, as I believe you know, but I have managed to make peace with his loss. However, now that I have, I look around and realize that I have nothing to offer to others. My powers could greatly aid the castle's defenders, as well as help the farmers with their crops. But alone, as just a man, I will be limited in what I can do.”
He smiled gently.
“But I will offer my assistance as best I can. This is my home now, and I must contribute to its welfare.”
Liliana reached out and patted his hand.
“Perhaps I can offer you some hope,” she told him quietly. “And the others as well. We'll see.”
Chapter 19
The last person to enter was Katherine Hastings, the castle's ranking cleric. At least she had been. Now she was the head medic and she and the other former healers used skills gathered from books to treat the sick and wounded.
As usual, the woman looked tired and harried, her thin, pale hair and fair skin making her look years older than she really was. She was wearing the uniform of the medics; black trousers and a long white jacket. Liliana noticed a few suspicious-looking stains on the jacket's sleeves, but Katherine was always too busy to worry about appearances. She cared deeply for her patients and that was all that mattered.
The woman sat down across from Liliana, next to Aiden who greeted her politely, and she nodded at the paladin.
“It is good to see you again,” she said in her forthright way. “Any injuries or illness this time?”
Liliana laughed at the direct question.
“Not this time, but thanks for asking. How are things with you?”
“Busy,” Katherine replied. “Always busy. We've gotten two cases of what we believe is strep throat. At least that's what it looks like in the medical journals we scavenged. Isn't that just wonderful? According to the notes, if it isn't treated properly it can lead to liver damage or even injure the heart.”
She shook her head irritably.
“We don't have any medications to treat it, of course, so all we can do is have the patients gargle with salt water, drink hot tea and stay in bed. It's frustrating considering what we used to be able to do using our healing powers. Ah well, we must adapt, I suppose.”
Liliana nodded in sympathy.
“I hope they get better,” she said.
“So do I.”
“My friends, could I have your attention for a moment, please?”
Everyone turned to watch Tamara as she stood up at the head of the table and looked at each of them in turn.
“As you can all see, our dear friend, Liliana, had returned. And she has arrived riding a most amazing mount. I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say that we'd love to hear how you found him, lady paladin. Only if you feel like sharing the story, that it.”
“Certainly,” Liliana told her as the mage sat down again. “In fact, I have quite a bit of news to share with you all, if you are willing to listen. It could take some time to tell you everything.”
Before Tamara could respond, Malcolm jumped in.
“If that's the case, maybe you should hold off until after we eat,” he told the paladin. “You're come a long way and, even if you were on horseback, you must be tired and hungry. Food is already on its way.”
Tamara went from looking irritated at his interruption to embarrassed in about two seconds.
“Oh, I'm so sorry, Liliana,” she said quickly. “That was rude of me. Please wait and refresh yourself before you begin. I was so eager to hear what must be a thrilling tale that I forgot my manners.”
“Hallelujah!” her brother exclaimed loudly. “I've actually lived long enough to hear my sister apologize for something.”
Tamara scowled at him but the rest of them erupted into laughter and she ended up smiling reluctantly.
“I may have deserved that,” she said when the room had quieted again. “But I'll get you for that, Bastian, I promise you.”
“It'll be worth it,” he told her with a wide grin.
They were interrupted as several people entered the hall pushing carts covered with trays.
“Ah, saved by the food,” Sebastian said, making Liliana chuckle. “Let's eat.”
The paladin removed her gauntlets and set them aside. The smell of food reached her nostrils and she suddenly realized just how hungry she was.
They had fresh lamp chops with herbs and bread still piping hot from the oven. There were also creamed leeks and tangy slices of goat cheese. Everything was delicious and Liliana had seconds.
When they were finished eating and sipping hot chamomile tea, the paladin stood up with her cup and walked around the conference table to stand in front of the massive fireplace.
; Everyone watched her curiously and she cleared her throat several times before speaking.
“First of all, thank you for a wonderful meal. I should drop by the castle more often if it means being fed like that.”
There was some laughter and Liliana drank some tea before continuing.
“I won't get into a lot of details about what's happened to me over the past few weeks; I'll just hit the highlights. Otherwise we might be here for hours. We Russians love to tell tales, you know, and I wouldn't want to subject you to that.”
Malcolm chortled and she grinned at him.
“So, to begin. I decided to journey north to the Scottish plains a few days after I left Nottinghill. I was led there by a dream, believe it or not.”
“A dream?” Tamara asked. “Like a vision, you mean?”
“I'm wasn't sure. Since the loss of my powers, well, all of our powers, I hadn't had any contact with the gods. At least none that I was aware of. The man who brought the refugees up from the coast, Harold Wagner, pointed out to me at the time that I couldn't have just stumbled upon him and the others by accident. It had to be divine intervention. I wasn't so sure about that, but when I had the dream I wondered if perhaps it was actually sent by the lords of Light. It was certainly vivid enough.”
“What was the dream about, lady Liliana?” Chao asked quietly.
“It was about that horse out in the courtyard. I saw him fighting off predators as his herd was attacked and I was drawn to him somehow. I tried to figure out where the country was that I had seen him and decided that it had to be the grasslands in Scotland. Turns out I was right.”
“Remarkable,” Aiden said. “It certainly sounds like someone guided you, Liliana.”
“Yes, I now know that someone did. By the way, on my journey north, I happened to run into your traitor and his cronies.”
“What!” Malcolm exclaimed angrily. “You met up with Lincoln?”
“I did, yes. He and the others caught me unawares and it was touch and go for a little while, but in the end I sent him on his way.”
Malcolm gave her a long, measuring look.
“Somehow I doubt that it was quite that simple, but it's your story.”
Liliana grinned at him.
“Thanks. I did warn him that he and his group should find a secure spot and fortify it against the dangers that are out there now, but whether they actually listened is debatable.”
“Knowing Lincoln, I doubt it,” Sebastian said dryly. “Their bones may be all that's left of them by now.”
“It's more than they deserve,” Katherine averred.
She looked at the surprised faces around her and frowned.
“Well, it is. Threatening woman and children, not to mention you mages? Despicable. They all got off lightly if you ask me.”
Malcolm laughed at the others.
“Don't all look so shocked. She may be a cleric, but Kate is still allowed her opinion, you know.”
“Thank you, Malcolm,” Katherine told him gratefully. “But if you call me Kate again, the next time I lance a boil on your ass, I won't be quite as gentle as I have been previously.”
The big man's mouth dropped open and Aiden began howling in laughter.
“You said that you'd never mention that,” Malcolm said in shock.
Katherine shook a finger at him.
“I'm a cleric, laddie, not a priest. Or at least I used to be. I do lie on occasion.”
“Can we all focus and listen to Liliana, please?” Tamara asked them acerbically.
“Yes, of course. I apologize for interrupting,” the cleric said.
“Me too,” the big man added.
“That's fine. I don't hear enough laughter in my life,” Liliana assured them. “Now, moving on. The rest of the story is fairly straightforward. I did find the stallion, but unfortunately I arrived too late to save his herd. We journeyed back to my cottage and got to know each other. It was what happened after I returned home that I wanted to tell you about.”
She finished her tea and set the cup down on the table. Then she stepped back to the fireplace and leaned against side of the mantelpiece.
“I received a visitor yesterday. He is the real reason that I am here.”
“A visitor?”
Tamara sat up abruptly.
“Simon? Was it Simon? Is he back with us?”
The others looked at her and she reddened.
“I wish that it had been, my friend,” Liliana told her. “I too would like to see him again and lean on his wisdom, as once we all did. But sadly no, it was not Simon. It was Argentium.”
“The dragon? He came to see you?”
“I was as surprised as you seem to be, Aiden,” the paladin replied with a smile. “He just walked out of the forest, larger than life as always. At first I thought that I was dreaming.”
“What's happened?” Tamara asked suspiciously. “The argent dragon doesn't just stop by for tea.”
“No, he doesn't. Argentium told me that he and the five young primals had been observing the world from within the Void. They all saw that the magical energies reintroduced when Aurumallia was awakened and began hatching her brood were waning. Apparently these young dragons are somewhat idealistic. Well, some of them anyway. They realized that with the evil draconic race destroyed, the power would never return to its full strength without help. And so, three of them have returned to the world and begun reproducing their own kind.”
Malcolm jumped up and stared at her in shock.
“The dragons have returned? But that's terrible! We aren't strong enough to fight back against them now. Couldn't you have changed Argentium's mind?”
Liliana shook her head, but smiled at the same time.
“One does not tell the argent dragon what to do, Malcolm. And stay calm. These dragons are not the same ones that ravaged the world under the direction of the insane Aurumallia and the lords of Chaos. They will pose a threat, yes, but only as wild creatures. If we show them that we are not prey and are too strong to challenge, they will leave us be. At least, that it what I believe.”
Everyone was talking at once suddenly and Tamara had to bang on the table several times to get their attention.
“Thank you,” she said as the room quieted down. “Liliana, you are forgetting something. We cannot fight back against these new draconic races. We are vulnerable. Nottinghill is vulnerable. If they come against us, they will find us to be easy pickings.”
“Will they?”
Liliana walked over to the table and snuffed out one of the candle flames between her thumb and forefinger. She looked down the table at Tamara and indicated the dark candle.
“Light that,” she told her.
The mage moved forward and the paladin held up a hand to stop her.
“No. Light the candle from there.”
They locked eyes and Tamara's suddenly widened as she understood what Liliana wanted her to do.
The mage made a small swirling motion with one finger and said something under her breath and the candle burst into flame with a loud pop.
“What is it? What is happening?” Sylvie asked in the sudden silence.
Veronique was gaping at the flickering flame. They all were.
“It's back?” she whispered in disbelief.
“It's back? What is back? Veronique, tell me what is going on!”
Sebastian let out a whoop of exultation, while Malcolm and Aiden cheered.
Veronique hugged her sister tightly.
“The magic, sweetheart,” she told her joyfully. “The magic is back. You will be able to see again!”
Sylvie looked doubtful.
“Just like that? Now that dragons have returned, the power is just suddenly back again?”
“Apparently the primal dragons have been busy,” Liliana told her. “Argentium didn't say how long it has been since they came back from the Void. It could have been days or weeks or even months. My guess is months. All I know is that my powers have returned, which mean
s that yours have as well.”
She looked at the stunned face of the cleric.
“You will be able to treat those strep throat patients now, Katherine,” she told her.
“Thank the gods,” the woman said fervently.
She stood up and moved to take Liliana's hand.
“This is the best news you could have ever brought us. I'm off to the infirmary. Thank you, lady paladin. Thank you.”
The cleric rushed out of the room and Liliana stared after her, bemused.
“I really didn't do anything,” she said to the others. “All I am is a messenger.”
“Ah, but what a message,” Malcolm told her with a grin. “It's like Christmas has come early this year. That is, if we even celebrated Christmas anymore.”
“Maybe we'll start again,” Aiden told him cheerfully. “Now that we might possibly have a future to look forward to.”
Liliana chuckled and then looked over at Chao.
The small man was sitting quietly, unmoving, just staring off into space.
She walked over and sat down next to him. With the hum of excited conversation all around them, she leaned forward and took his hand.
“What is it, my friend? What's wrong?”
He blinked several times and looked at her blankly. Then he smiled widely.
“Wrong? Nothing, dear lady. Nothing is wrong at all. I was simply stunned after hearing your news. I am overwhelmed by choice suddenly. Where to start? What to do? There are so many of my magical friends whom I haven't contacted in years that I shall be busy for weeks just speaking with each one. Oh, this is a joyous day. Thank you for this. Thank you so very much.”
“I think we should be thanking the dragons actually,” Sebastian said dryly.
He was standing nearby and had overheard them.
Liliana squeezed Chao's hand and stood up, looking at Sebastian.
“That's true. Or at least the primals. I doubt that we'll be thanking their brood, especially after the first dragon attack.”
The mage held out his right hand, palm up, and suddenly a light blossomed there, pure white and glowing steadily.
“Let them come,” he said simply. “We are back to being what the lords of Light intended us to be. So let the dragons come. We'll be ready for them.”
The First Paladin (The New Earth Chronicles Book 1) Page 25
