by J. R. Castle
Where had his counselor gone off to? Riyah had said he’d recognized someone but gave no further explanation. If the Elderad knew of someone who might shed light on what was really going on in this town, he wished to meet them.
After quickly dressing, he slipped into his boots and stepped outside. Riyah wouldn’t go far. He’d been too concerned about Leon’s safety.
He’d no more than taken two steps from his tent when a figure in a yellow dress hurried from the Meeting Hall. Golden hair fell loosely around her shoulders. She took off at a run toward the woods.
Leon went after her. The girl…she reminded him of the maiden who’d been playing a lovely tune on her mandolin while he toured the Meeting Hall. After that, she’d disappeared. He’d hoped to speak to her during the celebration, but never caught sight of her.
Until now.
He followed, but soon lost sight of her. Was she part elf? The way she quickly darted along the wooded trail, her hair waving behind her like a banner, made him wonder.
Eventually, after making a couple of wrong turns, the sound of rushing water came to him, along with the sound of voices. Leon stopped, trying to gather his bearing. The voices came a few yards off to his right, from the other side of a cluster of trees.
Leaving the footpath, he pushed through the fern undergrowth as the voices grew louder. He wanted to call out to Riyah, but first, he needed to make certain of what he was hearing.
Finally, he caught a glimpse of silvery light shining upon the rushing waters below. He hurried along until the ground gave out from beneath his feet. For a second, he seemed to float on air, before gravity took hold.
Leon tumbled forward. Branches scraped at his face and ripped at his clothes as he spiraled downward, airborne for a moment before landing hard on a patch of sand and stone. A loud snap preceded the sharp pain shooting up his leg.
He screamed, clutching his knee. The leg beneath twisted at an odd angle. His head swam before he fell into a numb darkness.
* * * *
“What in the lands was that?” Miltie asked following the sound as she made her way over the craggy shoreline.
“Careful,” Kardia warned, forgetting her own scrapes as she followed along. The land rose up several feet, leaving a jagged cliff of bared roots and stones. “Over there, just ahead, Miltie. Do you see him?”
The light flew past her, reaching the prostrate man before either of them did.
Miltie slowed. “Tis the Regent! Riyah is he—”
Kardia wished she could hear what the Elderad was saying. Why had she only been able to see him for a moment when she healed herself? All this was too much for her mind to wrap around. There was so much of this world she didn’t understand and probably never would.
Miltie was kneeling beside the man, checking his twisted leg. “I can try to reset it, Riyah. But… Maybe I should send her for,” she shook her head, casting a worried glance at Kardia. “No, can’t do that. Better that nobody knows she’s been out and about.” Miltie turned to face her. “I think you ought to get back home, love. I don’t even want to know what’ll happen to you if your parents find you’re not in your room.”
Kardia shook her head. “No, I’m not leaving you. Should I go get Mr. Tillus? Or should I hold him down while you set the bone?”
The Regent’s head seemed to rest on a pillow of light. Kardia blinked, then had to accept what she was seeing. Miltie’s attention was locked on that spot where she assumed the Elderad sat. Her head bobbed a couple of times as she gently probed the man’s misshapen leg with her fingers.
“Maybe if we set it…” Miltie was saying. “But I’m not sure how strong…. Well, you’re right, we won’t know until we try. That’s the truth.” Motioning her free hand, Miltie ordered, “Come closer Kardia dear. I’m going to need your help after all.”
With heart pounding harder than the rush of water passing by, Kardia moved closer, step by step, until she saw the Regent’s pained face. He’d started coming around. Sweat poured down his forehead, and his coloring almost matched the stones surrounding them. Luckily, he’d landed mostly on the sandy ground, but it looked as if his foot had hit an exposed root or stone. She couldn’t tell which.
“Put your weight on him and keep his arms pinned down,” Miltie instructed. “When I give this leg a good yank, I need him to stay put. Got it?”
A glance at the bloody appendage turned her stomach. She breathed in, clamping her lips shut and locked her gaze on his. He had eyes the color of a faun’s fur. His wavy brown hair was plastered to the sides of his head. Wrapping her hands around his, she leaned most of her weight across his chest.
His gaze wouldn’t leave hers.
“Be brave,” she whispered hating the pain he must be in. “It’ll be over soon.”
His lips moved, but no words came out.
Miltie readied herself and said in a commanding tone, “Get ready on three…”
His brows furrowed with worry.
“Shhh,” Kardia soothed, wishing she knew how to take away someone’s pain.
“One…”
The Regent’s gaze left her for a brief second to look up at the glowing being leaning over his head.
“Two!” She gave a hard yank before the last count.
The man screamed. The sound of moving bones sickened Kardia, but she held his gaze, willing him to hold on. He screamed again, then grew limp.
“Looks like he passed out. Good for him.” Miltie said. “Now come over here and see how much of this you can mend back together.”
Kardia started shaking her head. It was one thing to fix her own scraped knee, or a snapped string or tool. But to mend another person’s broken bones? She didn’t think so.
Miltie rested her hand on Kardia’s shoulder. “You’ll never know what you can do until you at least try. That’s all I’m asking, is for you to try. You just might surprise all of us.”
“But what if I can’t?” Kardia’s voice trembled as much as her hands did.
“Then you can’t. I’ll leave him here with Riyah and go fetch Mr. Tillus, and you’ll get yourself back home before you’re found out. But first, let’s give this a try.”
Kardia scooted closer, positioning herself over his leg. Closing her eyes, she released her fears and worries to clear her mind. I need to mend this. I need the bone to… “Mend,” she spoke. When the familiar warmth spread across her palms, she opened her eyes. “Bones… mend. Grow…”
“That’s my girl.” Miltie coaxed, releasing her hold on his foot. It didn’t flop to the side, as it had before.
It was working! Energy coursed through her body and the light between her hands intensified.
The glowing man laughed, and she saw his face again. “Very good, Kardia from the House of the White Horse.”
She gasped and almost forgot what she was supposed to be doing.
The Regent grunted, his eyes fluttering open. She still had much to do and needed to concentrate, but the beautiful Being was much too distracting.
“Keep going, Sano Kardia. You are doing well.” Gently setting the Regent’s head down, the man moved across from her. She tried not to flinch when he reached out to rest his hand upon hers. But when he touched her, an electrical shock, like a hard slap hit her hands, and she jerked away.
“Oh,” Riyah moved his hand back. “I was going to share some of my energy with you, I’m so sorry, child. I will not be able to help.” He touched the Regent’s leg. “It feels whole. Can you mend the broken skin, or are you exhausted?”
Tiredness hung on her like a pile of wet blankets. But she wanted to finish. So long as he didn’t touch her again. Why did his touch hurt?
“Tis her mark,” Miltie stated, “Isn’t it? That blasted Sorcerer! Riyah, there has to be something…?”
While she tried to work on the cuts, Riyah studied her. “Perhaps there is something.” Reaching into a pouch hanging from the belt at his waist, he withdrew a small, glittering white stone. “Let us see if you can touch
this.” He dropped it into her hand. She stopped her work for a moment to examine the beautiful stone, never having seen anything like it.
The Regent’s leg was still badly cut, but the bleeding had stopped. Perhaps Miltie could stitch the skin. She couldn’t manage to pull any more energy to heal it the rest of the way.
“Ah see? I was right,” A fading Riyah said with a nod. “You might be marked, but your heart remains pure and whole. There’s still hope.”
Cupping the beautiful stone in her palm, she felt her strength slightly returning. She didn’t want to stop trying to heal, fearing the Elderad would disappear again if she did.
Riyah locked his gaze on hers. “Listen to me, child. When he comes for you, draw a circle around you with that stone. Stay inside that circle, no matter what happens. You’ll need to be willing to sacrifice the comforts this town has enjoyed over the past year because he’ll threaten to take it all away. He’ll try every kind of trick and deceit to get you to relent. The choice is yours. If you do not wish to go with him, then do not go.”
“But—?” What if he forced her?
“Stay in the circle and keep what is left of the stone in your hands. He will not be able to touch you, understand?”
She nodded as the last bit of power flowed out of her, and the Elderad vanished once again.
“Go, Kardia dear,” Miltie urged. “Go back home. Keep that stone on you. I know from experience that the stones of the White Path will keep you safe. Though you can still get yourself into trouble,” she added with a rueful grimace, as if remembering something. “They have powers against the evil ones, anyway. Now go. Hurry afore you’re found out.” She flicked her hands, motioning Kardia to move away.
But as she started to stand, the Regent managed to capture her wrist and pull her back down to his side. His gaze seemed glazed and unfocused, but she knew he’d be fine. Miltie would get him the care he needed.
He pulled her hand to his lips and brushed a kiss over her knuckles. “Thank you so much, Healer. I felt what you did, and I’m indebted to you.”
Miltie was ripping strips of cloth from her apron and tying them around the cuts on his leg.
The movement must have sent another wave of pain through him. His hold on her went limp, and his gentle brown eyes closed once again.
She turned and ran toward the path that would take her home. The stone clutched in her fist, warmed with renewed hope and the Regent’s kiss burning from her fingers all the way to her heart. Maybe he would remember her tomorrow and demand that her parents release her. Then maybe, hopefully, she’d have a chance to gain some answers to her hundreds of questions.
Chapter Twenty
Kardia stared up at the ceiling as rays of sunlight shining through her windows moved across the creamy white plaster and over the thick support beams. The sound of people moving about in the kitchen floated up through the wooden floors, letting her know another day of waiting and wondering had begun.
She couldn’t get the memory of the Regent’s pained face from her mind. Did Miltie and the Lightman get him back to his tent?
Holding her hands up before her face, she stared at them in amazement. Her touch had actually mended a bone! She’d healed a person. Someone besides her own little scrapes and cuts.
Was the Regent better this morning? Would he request to see her? Or even demand to see her?
Kardia bit her bottom lip to hold back her smile and not allow herself to get carried away. She was nobody special to him. Why would anyone demand to see her? Silliness.
Still, she would love to see him again. Would love answers to all the questions buzzing around her mind like bees swarming a disrupted hive. Would love a chance to speak with him and see if his heart was as kind as his soft brown eyes.
Maybe since she’d healed his leg, he’d be more willing to help her with the Sorcerer situation. She’d waited so long for him to arrive. He was her final chance of receiving help.
Her hand pressed down on the stone tucked safely in her skirt pocket. The Lightman… was his name Riyah? He’d offered her a morsel of hope, but not a way out of her predicament.
Miltie testified to the power of the white stones. But how could one little rock save her from the Sorcerer?
Riyah told her she had to choose to not go with him. Like there was an actual choice in the matter?
Was there?
Well, at least she would choose to keep the pretty stone in her pocket and hope for the best.
Her shoulder had begun to burn last night. She feared to check the mark this morning, fearing it had turned completely red.
Footsteps clomped just outside her room moments before they stopped and were replaced by the sound of the key turning in her unlocked door.
Mother’s brows furrowed as she entered and glanced around, her sharp hawk-like gaze took in the room. “You are still in your clothes from last night? Foolish girl. Get out of that bed.”
Kardia slowly sat up, sensing her mother was in one of her foul moods. Perhaps the Regent had already spoken to them. Would Mother punish her? Kardia’s mouth went dry. What about Silvie? If Mother learned the servant girl hadn’t relocked the door last night…what would happen to her?
“Why should I get up? You told me to stay in here….”
Picking up her shoes, Mother shook off the bits of mud and grass stuck to the soles. “Which I see you did not do.” Her gaze landed on Kardia’s stained skirt. “Why is there blood? What have you done?” The shoes hit the floor with a loud thump. “I ordered— what did you do?” She raised her hand and brought it down across Kardia’s face.
The slap knocked her onto the bed, pain throbbing on the side of her face. Tears sprang to her eyes. Kardia squeezed them away and forced herself to stand and move out of her mother’s reach as she did so.
“Stupid, stupid child! You could have ruined everything! Do you not care about the danger we are in? The Regent wasn’t to see you. We were given orders to keep you out of sight. And what did you do?” Mother spun back toward the door. “Who left it unlocked? That foolish Silvie, I bet! I’ll have her hide for this.”
Kardia backed away until she bumped into the wardrobe. She needed to warn the servant girl to get away from here and not come back. Her heart pounded so fast she could hardly breathe. Her ear rang from the impact of her mother’s hand. “You leave Silvie alone, Mother. She did nothing wrong.”
“Did you leave this room last night? Don’t lie to me, child.”
Kardia nodded but didn’t offer any explanations.
“To go see that Herb Woman? I can’t believe she hasn’t tired of you by now. I was sure she would.” Mother peered out the window for a second, but then must have realized there wasn’t a view of the common area. “Well, what’s done is done, at least no harm came from your disobedience. Ungrateful Daughter,” she spat storming toward the door. “You are free to go about as you please now. The Regent and his men left early this morning. I no longer have to concern myself with hiding you and trying to keep us safe from that demanding Sorcerer.”
The floor felt as if it had disappeared from beneath her. “Left? When? Why so soon?”
Mother shrugged. “He received a letter from Rodon insisting he hurry home. I did not ask questions that were none of my concern. I’m glad to see him go. Although I do appreciate the all the goods he left behind. He told your father they’d travel faster without the extra weight.” She grasped the latch. “Now get yourself cleaned up and changed into fresh clothes. I can use some help organizing the gifts he left. Perhaps we’ll open a store and sell them. Now, there’s a brilliant idea.”
With that last thought lightening her steps, she breezed out, slamming the door behind her.
The Regent left? He’d not… well, of course, he wouldn’t have asked about her. She was a foolish girl to even think he might request to see her. A mere child.
A tear escaped and tricked down her throbbing cheek.
“Stop it. That’ll do you no good whatsoever.” She r
ubbed the spot where heat built on her shoulder. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she moved to the mirror and pulled her shirt down onto her arm. The star and circle were completely red now.
She knew, without a doubt that she needed to ready herself.
He was coming for her.
* * * *
Leon rested his head against the grain sacks lining the wagon he rode in. His injured leg kept him from riding his own horse, but thank Shaydon, there had been a special healer there to mend the broken bone.
He’d so wanted a chance to speak with her, but her father insisted she was traveling to visit friends on the far outreaches of the town. Only the town wasn’t so large he couldn’t have sent someone to retrieve her.
If not for Mother’s desperate letter to return home, he would have stayed a few days longer. Something about the town unsettled him, even though they were faring well.
Leon was sure, from the coin he still kept in his pocket, that a wizard had either visited or had some stake in the township. This time, Riyah hadn’t insisted on his staying and fighting to win it back. He had little to say on the matter, which Leon found strange. Where had his Adviser gone off to, anyway?
He glanced down at the letter and read it again. Mother updated him on the past week’s events but made no mention of Koloman. However, halfway through the note, her tone changed as she reported that there was a matter of extreme importance that she needed him to return home to deal with.
To explain in a letter would take me too many pages for the messenger bird to carry, my dear son. Please, you’ve been gone much longer than we first anticipated. I understand why, but I need you back in Rodon as soon as possible. I’m not sure how much longer I can put off dealing with this delicate situation.
I’ll explain everything as soon as you return home.
Riyah had read the letter but gave no response. He’d first wished to insist the Prior allow him to speak with his daughter, but Riyah discouraged him from pushing the matter and said it was for her own protection.
