First of Tomes (The Tomes of Kaleria Book 2)

by Honor Raconteur

  By the time they left, Enlai was more situated and far happier about the deal he’d agreed to. The townspeople seemed to be cautiously optimistic. Mei Li felt better about leaving him there, too.

  They set out the next morning, still doggedly going east. The road was wet and muddy, the horses’ hooves kicking up mud splatter on their shoes and clothes. Mei Li sighed down at the splatter and then resolutely ignored it. There wasn’t anything to be done about it. At least it was no longer muggy with humidity. It was pleasant again, the sky almost clear aside from a random puffy white cloud making its way across the horizon.

  “At the pace we’re going,” Kiyo observed in an analytical fashion, “I believe we’ll reach the Tri-Rivers in about four days.”

  Hawes turned in the saddle so he could respond. “I believe you’re right. I keep hoping to run across some sort of news about the white bone demoness. We might as well tackle the water deity since we have a better idea of his location. Then hopefully we’ll pick up the Bai Gu Jing’s scent.”

  “My thought as well,” Kiyo agreed.

  That seemed to be the sum of the conversation as silence descended again. Mei Li rode along, the sun on her face, and realized the frantic urgency that had brought her here had lessened. She no longer felt she had to get things done right now. Had her brain finally understood this was a job that required pacing? Something about settling in Enlai, of spending a day in a place she knew, and seeing it in such a different light, had shown that there were things she could do here. Aside from the major events that had brought her back into the past to begin with, she could still aid Shunlei’s goals. No matter how she struggled or focused, she wouldn’t be leaving this era anytime soon.

  And really, Mei Li was alright with that. Mostly alright. Intellectually, at least, she understood the world wasn’t crumbling because she hadn’t found all the answers yet. She had time. In fact, she might well sit down and record all of this when back in her own time. It would be a better record than what they currently had. Or should she start on it now? Leaving such records here in the past wouldn’t be such a bad thing, right? In that sense, it was exciting. She had a chance to observe history unfold, to be part of it. How many people could experience things as she was now? Mei Li was determined to enjoy it.

  Mei Li estimated that it would be another two years before the First Tomes became part of the group. She mulled that over as they rode. Two years of magical incidents that this group solved with no record beyond what they orally passed along to the First Tomes. No, she really did need to start writing things down. Or convince someone else to start writing things down until he arrived. Maybe that should be her immediate goal to work on. Mei Li liked having a dedicated task to focus her.

  Oooh, or maybe her goal should be to organize the party so when she finally did meet the First Tomes, it would be all set up and organized and ready for him to assume the mantle. They needed to be in the habit of recording things, and while that was the duty of the Tomes, it was helped by the people who worked with him. Not to mention they needed to have a designated place to store those records. Just carting them about wouldn’t do. Yes. That was a better plan. Mei Li felt utterly satisfied with herself and gave her own shoulder a pat. Good job, self.

  Right. Now, how best to go about this?

  Fortunately, she had plenty of time to think because they weren’t going to arrive anywhere quickly.

  By the time they reached the Tri-River, they were all grateful for the town spread out along its banks. No one had heard anything about the Bai Gu Jing, but at least they could sleep in an inn for the night.

  Two more days of riding brought them to the northern part of Laborde, into the rather sizeable city of Iyhando. It sprawled along the flat plains of Laborde, surrounded on all sides by many, many grape vines and orchards. The scent of ripe fruit filled her nose even as they passed people harvesting. Mei Li knew this area was fertile ground for growing fruit, and some of the best wine came out of Laborde, but she hadn’t realized the tradition of growing and cultivating wine went this far back.

  The city itself had defensive walls, with more than a few magical talismans carved into the bricks making up the wall. Mei Li didn’t see a brick wall that often, but it did make sense. This far from the mountains, stone wouldn’t be the easiest commodity to come by. Making bricks would be far easier.

  Both guards standing at the gate took in people, only stopping them long enough to get a name and reason for visiting before passing them through. Hawes dismounted to speak with the guard, creaking audibly as he did so. Then again, after two straight days in the saddle, they were all creaking.

  “I’m Hawes, under the Prince of Horvath’s orders to seek out and handle any magical dangers,” he introduced himself with a hand to his heart. “With me are my companions. Have you word of trouble in this area?”

  The guard—he looked early thirties and weary from standing—perked up visibly. “Master Hawes, I’ve a message for you. A messenger came through here and left word that a courier from the Prince of Horvath is waiting for you at the Sneaky Mouse and has both news and funds for you. I gather he’s been hunting for you for a while.”

  “I bet he has.” Hawes blew out a breath of relief. “For that matter, I’ve been wondering where he was, as we were supposed to cross paths a day ago. Tell me, sir, are there any troubles here? Anything of a magical nature?”

  The guard’s attention became razor sharp in its intensity. “Is there a reason why you ask, sir?”

  “Indeed so. We’re on the trail of a Bai Gu Jing that we believe might be heading toward Laborde. Have you see—”

  The guard interrupted him with relief. “Yes, yes, we have. It struck here some days ago. Our fair Lady of the Fields left explicit instructions to send any mage directly to her. I’d go straight to Vine Manor and present yourself today. She’s very anxious to confer with you. She spoke with all the guards herself to make sure we understood that.”

  Hawes blew out a breath. “My thanks, sir, you’ve saved us some trouble. Stop in at the Sneaky Mouse tonight and I’ll buy you a round.”

  The guard’s grin was quick and infectious. “I won’t turn down that offer, sir. In fact, let me escort you to Vine Manor. It’s a bit convoluted to find if you’re not familiar with the city.”

  “And that I’m not.”

  “A moment, please.” He stuck his head inside the guard room built into the massive city wall, spoke with someone, then came back to them. “I’m Earnest. Come with me, please.”

  “Of course, lead the way.”

  Mei Li personally would rather have a chance to clean up some, feel a little less like a drooping bat, but apparently they weren’t going to get that chance until later. They followed their guide faithfully, and she more or less tuned out the conversation out of fatigue. Even the city passed by without her direct notice, as she didn’t have the energy to really examine it much. It seemed nice, though. Clean and well-kept.

  They reached the manor house in short order. Mei Li braced herself in the saddle as Shunlei slid off. Then she carefully dismounted, just waiting for a leg to fold underneath her. Fortunately, they chose to bear her weight instead. A groomsman in tan livery came and took the horse for her, which Mei Li appreciated, and she gave Peanut a pat on the shoulder before she moved off.

  “Lord Hawes, we’re grateful to see you and your party,” a somewhat stuffily dressed man said, eyeing them all with a quizzical brow. His tan livery was a notch above everyone else’s, made of very fine linen and not a crease to be seen. The majordomo of the house, if Mei Li was to hazard a guess. “Our fair lady has been quite distraught for some time. If you would follow me. I’ve sent a runner to alert her as to your presence. I’ll bring refreshments out directly so you may rest as you await her. I have no doubt she’ll see you directly.”

  “Thank you,” Hawes managed even as he was politely hustled into the house.

  Mei Li had not seen a house like this before. Sandstone, with red clay tiles
on the roof that arched over the sides. There wasn’t a trace of carpet anywhere to be seen as they traversed over terracotta tiles. The hallways were wide, the walls very thick, and the architecture was almost like a fortress in some ways. But she had a feeling the thickness of the walls had more to do with keeping the heat at bay. It was already warm in spring. What must it be like in full summer?

  The majordomo led them into a sitting area with its padded white benches lining the windows, furniture made from birch, and some rather interesting murals painted directly onto the walls. Mei Li had no desire to sit again just yet. Her aching bottom protested the idea vehemently. She chose to study the murals instead.

  Refreshments had no chance to arrive before the lady of the house practically flew in. Mei Li turned sharply when she heard her, and then blinked. Both guard and majordomo had referred to her as their ‘fair lady,’ but she assumed that to be something of an honorific. If it was, it was an accurate one. The Lady of the Fields was incredibly fair, with the lightest blonde hair Mei Li had ever seen, skin like cream, and a cute upturned nose. If she were older than thirty, Mei Li would eat her very dusty boots.

  She came to a whirling stop just inside the door, looking around the room and at the somewhat startled people in it, her hands grasping nervously in front of her white skirts. “Lord Hawes?”

  “Yes.” Hawes approached with a smile and gave her a quick bow. “I’m Hawes.”

  “Thank you so much for coming,” she said in a soft, lilting voice that conveyed both relief and distress. “I’m Ilona Harvest, Lady of the Fields. I’ve a most urgent matter to convey to you and wish to call upon your expertise, if I may.”

  “That is what we are here for,” he assured her. “Let me introduce to you the rest of our party, and then we will hear every detail from you. This is my friend and fellow warrior, Melchior. Our mages, Lady Kiyo, Lord Nord, and Lady Mei. And last but not least, our friend and ally, the dragon, Shunlei the Red.”

  Lady Ilona seemed heartened at hearing there were three magicians, but her smile stumbled when she heard ‘dragon.’ She stared outright at Shunlei for two full seconds before recovering. “Forgive me, but I’d never heard that a dragon could attain any other form.”

  “Just our true form and this one,” Shunlei explained patiently with a wave at himself. “It’s not something most of my kind does very often. But I find it more convenient when visiting human lands.”

  “In fact, Shunlei joined us some weeks ago,” Hawes informed her, perhaps trying to assure her. “We’d have been in a fine mess if he hadn’t. He’s an invaluable addition to our party. Whatever trouble you have, Lady Ilona, know we’re all determined to settle it. Please, tell us what it is.”

  “Do sit,” she encouraged, leading the way and taking a chair herself. “I’m not sure if you’ve heard of any of the trouble we’ve had recently. People call it the Bai Gu Jing.”

  “We’ve heard of it,” Kiyo assured her darkly. “In fact, we’ve been searching for it, but no one’s heard more than that it was in Thibault, was moving south, and seems to be attacking priests. Do you know more?”

  Lady Ilona’s eyes turned far too bright. “Unfortunately, I do. Edmond—Priest Edmond, that is, he’s a very dear friend to my family. He has been my mentor since birth. He was attacked this past week by the Bai Gu Jing and is in a terrible way. He suffers as if he were fighting off a dreadful illness, and nothing we’ve attempted has helped him.”

  Mei Li’s mind raced. “When exactly was this attack?”

  “Five days ago.”

  “Then there’s still a chance.” Seeing she had everyone’s undivided attention, Mei Li explained succinctly, “A bite from the Bai Gu Jing is poisonous, like from a venomous snake. He’ll slowly die if it’s not drawn out properly and the wound cauterized. Usually death happens within seven to ten days. If it’s been five days, there’s still a chance of saving him.”

  Lady Ilona’s eyes were huge in her face. “You know this for certainty?”

  “Yes. Where is he?”

  Lady Ilona lost no time in getting out of her seat. “Follow me. I’ve had him moved to my wing so I could keep an eye on him.”

  As Mei Li moved, she spoke over her shoulder, “I’ll need my satchel of supplies. I’ll go fetch it.”

  “No, follow her,” Melchior told Mei Li. “I’ll fetch it.”

  Mei Li shot him a quick smile of thanks. “Shunlei, your dragon fire will come in handy for this, too.”

  “Of course.”

  Kiyo headed the opposite way in the hallway. “I’ll get my own supplies and meet you there.”

  Mei Li rushed in Lady Ilona’s footsteps. Exhaustion dogged her, and she had to bribe her body and mind with promises of rest as soon as this was over. After this, Mei Li really wanted a hot bath and to sleep for about sixteen hours.

  They traversed three long hallways before reaching the room. Lady Ilona opened it without even a knock, just barged in and strode directly to the bedside of her friend.

  Mei Li paused in the doorway just long enough to get an idea of the situation. This must be a former nanny’s room—well appointed, but plain. The priest looked to be in his late sixties, his white hair damp with sweat and sticking to darkly tanned skin. He was sweating profusely, even with only a simple nightgown and a light sheet over him, his skin underscored with a greyish tinge. The right arm was heavily bandaged, the bandage discolored with a yellow-green stain against the white.

  Well, she knew where to start. Mei Li went to the wounded side, reaching for the injured hand. She held it up as she undid the bandage and started unwrapping it.

  “Edmond. Edmond, can you hear me?”

  Dark eyes opened slowly and traveled to Lady Ilona’s face. “Ilona.”

  Lady Ilona nodded, tears more evident now. “I need you to hold on for a bit longer. This lady who’s unwrapping your bandage, she is Lady Mei, a mage. She says she knows how to handle your wound.”

  His eyes turned to hers next. Edmond was still lucid and tracking, all good signs. Mei Li gave him a smile. “You, sir, have been infected. A Bai Gu Jing is terribly venomous, and that’s what’s trying to kill you right now. I say try because I won’t let it.

  “Now, what I’m going to do is paint two talismans directly onto your arm. One of them will draw all of the venom directly to the wound site. The second will drain it. We’re going to do that for about an hour or so, until I’m satisfied it’s all out. Then my friend there, that’s Shunlei, he’s going to cauterize the wound with dragon fire. That should kill anything left remaining, and you’ll be able to heal after this. How does that sound?”

  “Unpleasant,” Edmond told her bluntly, a smile trying to creep up. “But necessary. Thank you.”

  “Don’t thank me yet. Lady Ilona, I need a basin, or a bucket, something to drain his arm into. It has to be metal. This venom will melt right through anything else.”

  She nodded several times, head bobbing. “I’ll find you one. What else?”

  “Water. It’s important to keep him hydrated during all of this. And get your kitchens to make him some light broth, something easy for him to swallow. He’ll need nutrients after this to regain his strength. He can try for real food tomorrow.”

  “I’ll see to it immediately.” Lady Ilona left the bed and dashed back out.

  Kiyo had to slip sideways before Lady Ilona ran her over, and then she marched into the room. “Here, I brought yours and mine.”

  “Thank you. I’m low on ink, so I might need to borrow yours.”

  “What are we doing, exactly?”

  “Bai Gu Jing is water based,” Mei Li informed her. “There’s an I Xing method of healing that’s perfect for this. We’ll use earth and fire to draw out the venom and drain it from his body, and Shunlei’s fire to force the wound closed. The bite is vicious enough it won’t close on its own.”

  “And if I didn’t have a dragon on hand?”

  “A focused fire talisman for two minutes should manage the job.”
Mei Li shrugged, not sure what else to tell her. The one other time she’d seen this situation, they’d had a dragon nearby willing to help.

  Edmond turned to look at Shunlei in astonishment. “You’re a dragon?”

  “I am,” Shunlei answered gently. “Just in my other form at the moment. Don’t worry, I can still breathe fire in this form.”

  Kiyo had no patience for that side branch in the conversation. “Priest Edmond, is there anyone else we need to treat?”

  “No, I was the only one bitten.”

  “Fortunate,” Kiyo observed. “Doing two of you at once might be a bit challenging. Mei, shouldn’t you draw that right-side up?”

  “I’d run out of room if I tried, his arm isn’t that big,” Mei Li responded, trying to be patient. The week of helping her dress had broken down another wall with Kiyo, and the woman was much more frank about just blurting things out now. Not that there was much holding her back before. “And I want the talisman to go in the same direction as his veins. It will flow better that way.”

  “As long as you’re not drawing it willy-nilly.”

  Seriously, this woman.

  Lady Ilona came back with a metal basin that had definitely seen some use clutched in her hands. She immediately handed it over to Kiyo, who took it and placed it under Edmond’s arm.

  “Kiyo,”—Mei pointed to the talisman that was wrapped around the wound, ready to drain it—“if you’ll activate that one? I’ll do the other.”

  “On three,” she agreed, palm hovering. “One, two, three.”

  They activated both at the same moment. Mei Li expected it, but when Edmond started writhing on the bed, she found it difficult to keep his arm over the basin. He was weak, yes, but the pain made him strong, and he was clenching his teeth, straining as the venom was forcibly drawn from his body.

  Mei Li dug her own weight in. She could feel Kiyo do the same but it wasn’t enough, and she couldn’t risk the venom hitting either her skin or the bedding. It would burn through the one and infect her. “Shunlei—”