by Cathi Shaw
****
On the second day after the Elders' arrival, Kiara and the others were told they were not permitted to leave the grounds of the Inn. Arion determined this rule when he caught Kiara trying to sneak off into the forest with her bow.
After being turned back and told that under no circumstances was she to leave the shelter of the Inn, Kiara stormed into the stable yard, her anger and unrest barely containable. She began training hoping to work off some of her energy but with no one to spar with she was stuck practicing her forms, which hardly burned off the energy she desired.
"Try lifting your elbow slightly in that move," a deep voice called from the other end of the yard.
Kiara whipped around to see Caedmon silently watching her from what she was coming to think of as his customary position against the stable. She felt a spark of irritation but pushed it down. He was the last person she felt like socializing with at the moment. But, she reminded herself, he was offering her training tips, perhaps it would be best to hear him out.
Lift her elbow. She tried his suggestion and executed the move again.
He was at her side before she knew it. Once again exhibiting that extreme speed she'd seen on occasion.
"How do you do that?" she asked him before she could stop herself.
"What?" he asked, his dark eyes puzzled.
"Move so fast," Kiara said irritably. "It's annoying."
The corners of Caedmon's mouth twitched.
"And it's not funny," she added angrily. "What did you mean about my elbow?"
"Like this." He reached around her and lifted her arm into position. Kiara tried the move again with her arm in the different position.
"Oh!" she gasped involuntarily as she saw what he was trying to show her. Suddenly she had more power behind her jab. She turned to him, excited. "Show me more."
Caedmon laughed. And Kiara stared at him for a moment. He'd not so much as cracked a real smile since he'd arrived but this was a real smile not a sarcastic smirk that he’d donned at her expense in the past. And suddenly his face was transformed into ... something attractive. She felt a jolt of awareness.
"What's wrong?" he asked suddenly, a suspicious scowl quickly replacing the smile on his lips. Well, that’s more like it, Kiara thought as he glared at her.
"Nothing. Everything seems to be just fine," she assured him. "Will you show me more? I'm going mad inside the Inn. Just ... waiting."
He nodded as if he understood how she felt.
"Alright."
What followed were two of the most intense training hours Kiara had ever experienced in her life. Caedmon was a surprisingly patient teacher. He even acknowledged that she had more skill than he’d first given her credit for. Kiara accepted the praise graciously, resisting the urge to rub it in his face.
Finally they stopped and Kiara took a long drink from the rain barrel while Caedmon removed his shirt and then dumped the rainwater over his head. Kiara laughed; he looked like a giant drowned rat.
He cocked his head at her, then suddenly grabbed her and dumped a bucketful of water over her head.
"Hey!" she protested, looking down at her saturated tunic and trying not to stare at Caedmon's muscular chest glistening in the sunlight. "Not fair. Now my clothes are soaked."
He shrugged, "You deserved it for laughing for at me!"
Kiara looked at him, a smile on her face. This was a side of Caedmon she never guessed had existed. A teasing, playful side – a Caedmon she could almost like. Since arriving at the Inn he'd been sullen and moody but beneath that rough exterior he actually had a fun-loving streak. He seemed so much younger when he was like this. Kiara shook her head wondering how old he really was.
"What?" he asked, a scowl marring his handsome face as he suddenly became aware of her scrutiny.
"I just didn't realize you had a playful side to you."
He raised his dark brows, "I am not playful."
"I like it," she added with a light punch to his shoulder. He rubbed it in mock pain and then turned to collect his gear. Kiara's gaze was drawn to the mark on his shoulder. She gasped and he looked back at her, questioningly.
"You have it too," she explained.
Caedmon looked confused for a moment.
Kiara loosened the laces on her tunic and pulled it down over her shoulder, turned her back toward him while pointing to the mark on her own shoulder.
"The Mark of the Chosen Ones."
Caedmon looked at her, an unreadable expression in his dark eyes. “Where did you hear it called that?”
Kiara felt her cheeks heat. She turned and quickly pulled her tunic back into place. “My sisters and I are all Marked,” she said lamely, for some reason not willing to give away Brijit’s secrets. “We thought we were the only ones,” she finished avoiding his eyes and trying not to think about the dead children she’d seen.
“Teague also has it,” Caedmon offered.
"Do you know what it means?" she asked, trying to elevate the sudden tension in the air.
"No more than I suspect you do," he said as he pulled his own shirt over his head, all sign of teasing now erased from his features. Either Caedmon didn't know what the Mark meant or he wasn't permitted to talk to her about it.
"Have you always had it?" she asked suddenly
Caedmon nodded. "As long as I can remember."
Kiara paused thoughtfully. "Brijit said we also each arrived with the Mark already on us. And we were only days old when we came to be with her," she stopped then added musingly, "It makes one wonder, doesn't it?"
Caedmon looked at her sharply, "About what?"
"Well, whether we were born with the Mark or if it was put on us."
He paused in collecting his training gear and straightened. He looked stunned.
"What are you saying?" he asked suddenly.
"Just have you ever wondered if we were born with the Mark or if for some reason we were chosen and given the Mark?"
He stared off into the distance, a considering look on his face. "I hadn't much considered it," he admitted. "Does it make a difference?"
Kiara shrugged. "I suppose the end result might very well be the same for us. But if we were marked rather than born with it, then someone, somewhere is using us as pieces in a game."
"And if we were born with it ..." Caedmon trailed off.
Kiara thought about the dead girl. A shiver ran down her spine. She looked up at Caedmon. "If we were born with it, we have to ask are we really the Chosen Ones? I mean how do we know we are the only ones? There could others, couldn't there?" She held her breath. It was the closest she'd come to telling someone about the dead children she'd seen with Brijit.
But before Caedmon could reply Thia called to them from where she was standing at the door of the Inn.
Kiara turned to her sister.
"The Elders have called a council."
CHAPTER TWELVE
Kiara joined Thia and Brijit in the Great Room. All members of the Elders' party were present including the healers. She looked at Brijit, hoping that perhaps the reason for this gathering was that Mina had shown improvement. Her heart sank when Brijit gave a small shake of her head, indicating that nothing had changed with her sister.
Bellasiel was presiding over the gathering. "We need to take the girl to Séreméla. There is no hope of us doing more for her here. I can't seem to break through the magik that was used on her." She turned suddenly to Teague. "Can you describe what kind of magik it was, Draíodóir?"
Teague shook his head miserably. "I'm not yet knowledgeable enough to be able to easily name the different magiks," he admitted looking at his hands, failure on his face.
The dark haired Elder made an impatient sound. "He should be training in Séreméla," Arion said darkly.
Bellasiel waved away Arion's comments. “Yes, yes, in time but for now," she turned to Teague. "Tell me, can you describe what you felt?"
Teague cocked his head and seemed to be considering. "It was a darkness," he said
slowly. "It seemed to be, this sounds odd but, feeding on her life force."
"Deamhan," Bellasiel murmured and the Elders around the table shifted uncomfortably.
Suddenly Arion was watching Teague keenly. "How did you stop its feeding, Draíodóir?"
Teague looked uncomfortable. "I'm not sure. I was acting out of desperation and used Brí to throw up a kind of wall. If that makes sense."
Bellasiel looked concerned. "What happened when you did that?" she asked urgently.
Teague paused and seemed to be struggling for words. "It was odd. At first nothing seemed to be happening, the creature was so intent on feeding from Minathrial that it was able to ignore me. So I pushed harder." Teague stopped.
"And?" Bellasiel urged her expression intent.
"It turned its full attention on me," Teague admitted quietly his eyes dropping to the table again.
"Did it feed from you?" Arion demanded.
Teague slowly nodded.
Arion said something in Elder language that suggested a curse.
Bellasiel's eyes narrowed. "But you are here, fully functioning and I don't believe anyone said you lost consciousness." She looked at both Kiara and Caedmon. Kiara shook her head. Teague had been exhausted after the encounter but he didn't lose consciousness.
"What did you do, Draíodóir?" Arion demanded.
Teague took a deep breath. "I don't know. I felt myself being sucked from my body and I pushed back. I don't know how else to explain it. Then it stopped and was gone in a puff of black smoke."
Bellasiel looked thoughtful. "Interesting," she murmured.
"It might be interesting," Arion said angrily, "But it also means that it will be tracking him."
Bellasiel nodded and turned to Meldiron. "It's clear that we can't stay here. They have been found and the enemy probably suspects that all the Chosen Ones are together. It would be too coincidental that the Hunter had fed on two of them in the same place." She paused. "And we can't give Minathrial the care she needs here."
"But we can't risk having them travel together," Arion interjected. "I recommend breaking them in to three groups at the least."
Meldiron nodded thoughtfully. "I agree." He looked at the faces around the table. "The Elders must accompany Minathrial back to Séreméla. Brijit and Weylon should come with us as well so we can gain a full understanding of what has happened in recent times." He looked at the remaining four. "And Teague must not travel with Minathrial. If they send the creature hunting then it will track both Teague and Minathrial - sending them on separate routes will keep it confused."
He paused, considering. "Instead of three groups, I think four would be best." He looked at Arion. "It would be too risky to send Teague without Caedmon and it makes more sense for the girls to accompany them. And two decoy groups would increase our chances of making it to Séreméla safely." He turned to Bellasiel. "Is it possible to create decoys?"
Bellasiel seemed to consider the question for a few moments. "In theory, yes. It was done in ancient times but not in at least a hundred years. I’ve never attempted it myself."
"I think we should at least attempt to do so. Arion will take one decoy group South and Saldur can take the other East."
"We will take the direct route West to Séreméla. With so many Elders in one group, the enemy is unlikely to attack while we are together, even if Minathrial is with us." He looked down the table at Caedmon. "Your group will take the Northern mountain passes. There are fewer of you."
"Mountain passes in the midst of winter?" Kiara protested, wondering if the Elders wanted them dead.
"Caedmon has trained for this kind of travel." Meldiron looked at Caedmon. "You've been through these mountain passes before?"
Caedmon looked uncomfortable. "Yes," was all he said.
"Good." Meldiron nodded satisfied. "He will get your party through."
Kiara did not like this plan at all. She did not trust the Elders to fully protect her mother and sister. And she certainly didn't like the idea of taking mountain passes in the dead of winter even if Caedmon did have experience traveling through them.
"Kiara, this is the best plan," Brijit assured her. "We must think of what is best for all."
Kiara looked down at her mother's steady eyes. At her side, Caedmon did not look happy but was not protesting the decision. Teague had not raised his eyes from the table since he'd shared his story. And Thia looked stunned by the sudden arrangements.
Kiara decided she had no choice but to follow through with the proposed plan. She pressed her lips together and tried to suppress the feeling that they were stepping into a trap.
****
Thia was in their common quarters, going through the cupboard where Brijit kept most of their medical supplies. She was putting together a small package of things that she thought they might need on the journey while trying to process the decisions that had just been made.
She didn't want to be separated from Mina and Brijit but the Elder's advice was logical. She was also still reeling from the information that had been revealed at the meeting about Teague. But she was trying not to think about that at the moment.
She reached for a roll of clean bandages and looked up as Brijit came into the room.
"I was wondering if you'd be here," she said with a smile as she crossed over and gave Thia a small hug. "How are you feeling?" she asked softly.
"Scared," Thia admitted. "Confused. Worried."
Brijit smiled. "All normal reactions and I’m feeling the same way, if that helps at all."
Brijit began to pack her own small medical bag.
"Caedmon and Kiara will take good care of you," Brijit continued assuredly and Thia wondered if her mother was trying to reassure Thia or herself. Brijit stopped pulling salves down and turned to her daughter. She sighed. "Logically I know that but at the same time I also have an irrational mother's instinct that I am the only one who can truly take care of you."
Thia gave her a small smile. "I haven't had as many seizures since the Elders arrived," she noted.
Brijit nodded, "It's always been that way. Your seizures tend to be less when they are present." She paused and seemed to be choosing her words carefully. "But you will be under an extreme amount of stress on this journey, Thia, and the seizures will come in abundance, I fear."
Thia nodded. She knew her mother was probably right. "I know," she whispered.
"I've spoken to both Meldiron and Bellasiel about including you in our party but they are both adamant that you belong with Teague, Kiara and Caedmon. They will not change their minds."
Thia looked at her mother, there were deep worry lines marring her pretty face. "I will be alright, Brijit," she said softly.
Brijit gave a tight smile. "I have to believe that is true, my daughter, but it is a mother's prerogative to worry."
She reached over and kissed Thia on the temple. "I will see you in Séreméla."
Thia nodded and hugged her mother, wishing she could cling to her like she used to when she was a small child. As they broke their embrace Bellasiel entered the room.
"You are both needed so we can ready the decoys," the tall Elder told them sternly.
Thia looked at her mother in confusion. While she had heard Meldiron mention decoy groups she did not understand how they would be formed.
"You will tend to Minathrial's wound and she can tend to that of the Draíodóir," Bellasiel told Brijit. Brijit nodded solemnly.
Hold it. Had she just said wounds? Why were Teague and Mina both needing wounds treated? She'd thought they were both starting to feel better. Thia shook her head. "What does she mean?" she asked her mother as Brijit collected bandaging supplies.
"In order to create a decoy party they must take a small amount of both Mina’s and Teague's blood with them, Thia. Since the creature fed from them both, it is possible that it will sense the blood and think it is following them.” She focused on Thia's face, her eyes worried. "Are you comfortable treating Teague? I can do it if you'd rat
her."
Thia shook her head. "I'll be fine," she said hoping it was true. If she hesitated she feared Brijit would question her relationship with Teague and she didn't want to reveal too much about that until she'd had a chance to have a serious talk with him.
This would be the first time she'd been alone with Teague since she learned he was a Draíodóir. She still wasn't sure how she felt about that. While logically she could understand why he might have avoided telling her the truth, deep down she was still hurt.
She pushed such thoughts to the back of her mind as she followed her mother and Bellasiel into the hallway leading to Mina's chambers. There was no point worrying about such things now. This whole idea of harvesting blood worried her.
"The creature didn't drink their blood," she protested, trying to understand the Elder's reasoning.
Bellasiel smiled over her shoulder. "You ask very good questions, child," she said, but her voice was cold and the expression in her eyes was not pleasant. Thia sensed that she did not like being questioned. The Elder studied her for a moment and then explained how the blood contained the same markers as the energy force the Hunter had tasted. They were hoping that the Hunter would mistake the blood for the energy source itself. At least for a while.
Brijit squeezed Thia's arm reassuringly. "It will be okay."
Thia nodded but said nothing. She felt that Brijit was sending her a silent message not to question Bellasiel.
Teague was already waiting in Mina's room with Saldur. He stood when they entered, straightening when he saw Thia.
"We will start with Minathrial since she is already unconscious," Bellasiel told them.
Thia looked at her sister, so pale and unresponsive on her sheets and felt her heart twinge.
Saldur produced a curved blade and Bellasiel held Mina's arm, a silver dish poised beneath it waiting to catch the blood. There was something almost ritualistic about the way they were extracting the blood from her sister. Thia felt increasingly uneasy.
