by Cathi Shaw
What had happened to her? Why was she feeling so ill? She tried to remember but the last memory she had was of spending the afternoon with Thia in the storeroom before she went to collect herbs in the forest. She remembered opening the garden gate as she left the Inn's yard and heading to the welcome freshness of her forest. And then there was nothing.
Her head began to throb slightly as she willed the memories to resurface, but the harder she tried the more insistent the throbbing became. Finally exhausted and discouraged she closed her eyes for a moment. And sleep once again claimed her.
****
The sun was shining into the bedchamber when Mina woke and Brijit was sitting in her chair reading a book at the foot of the bed.
"Where are we?" Mina asked, her voice cracking and hoarse, rough from lack of use.
Brijit looked up at her, a wide smile of relief on her face. "You’re awake," she exclaimed. "We are in Séreméla, the great valley of the Elders. The Elders have been using their most skilled healers to treat you." She stood and came to the edge of the bed. Mina felt her mother's cool and soothing fingers on her forehead again. "How are you feeling, darling?"
Mina paused and considered the question. She was surprised to discover that she was hungry. The ache in her head had subsided but was still thumping out a rhythm in the background. "I'm hungry. And my head hurts," she said softly.
Brijit nodded "I'll get you some food. Do you want to sit up?" But Mina shook her head. She was scared to sit up after the dizzy spell of the previous evening.
Brijit stood. "Alright, let me find you some breakfast and then we can talk."
While Brijit was gone, Mina studied the room in more detail. It was a lovely room. The sunlight spilled in through open windows that, to Mina's surprise, had no glass in them. The bed she lay in was as large as she had imagined the night before and the headboard was made of carved oak. Tipping her head backward slightly, Mina saw that there were leaves and vines carved into its surface. It was a piece of art. She smiled.
But she frowned when she saw the chair Brijit had been sleeping in. While it was a lovely wooden rocker, it did not look at all comfortable to sit in for hours on end. She felt a pang of guilt for worrying her mother so much that she’d resorted to sleeping in a chair by her bedside. That would have to end, Mina thought firmly. Surely the Elders would provide Brijit with her own bed now that Mina was awake.
Her mother returned with a tray that contained oatmeal, fresh fruit, water and weak tea. Brijit insisted on feeding her as if she were a tiny child. Mina was so hungry that she didn't want to argue.
"What happened to me?" she asked Brijit, between bites.
As she continued to spoon food into her mouth, Brijit told Mina all that happened to her. Mina listened in stunned amazement as Brijit told of her encounter in the forest with the Hunter and how Teague had saved her along with the decision to separate her from her sisters for the journey.
Mina stared at her mother in shock. The story was so fantastical. She almost didn’t believe it.
"So you're saying that Thia and Kiara have not arrived here yet?"
Brijit shook her head. "But they are not expected yet," she reassured Mina. "To ensure your safety we took separate routes. They are taking a very lengthy journey through the mountains."
Mina frowned. The sun streaming through the windows was the warm sun of summer but it was early winter when she'd gone gathering. "How long have I been asleep?" she asked.
"Almost two months. But you are in Séreméla, my dear. Winter doesn't touch this Valley. In the Five Corners it is the very depths of winter right now."
****
The next morning, while she was sitting up for the first time, there was a mild knock on the door. Without waiting for an answer the oak door swung open and a starkly beautiful Elder swept into the room. She introduced herself as Mina's healer.
Mina studied the woman for a few moments. Bellasiel was the image of an Elder. She was tall and graceful with the blond beauty that all Elders seemed to possess. But there was harshness around her mouth and a weariness to her pale blue eyes that Mina had never seen before in an Elder.
"You've had us very worried," Bellasiel told Mina softly, her voice drenched with relief. "For a while there, we weren't sure you'd be coming back to us." Mina was puzzled. The Elder was clearly thankful for Mina’s recovery – far more thankful than a healer typically would be on the recovery of a patient. It was almost as if Mina’s demise would have affected Bellasiel personally.
The Elder continued to examine her and then finally remarked with satisfaction on her progress. Eagerly Mina asked if she might be able to go to the gardens. She’s glimpsed them through the windows and was longing to be outdoors again.
Bellasiel studied her for a moment, her eyes serious and assessing. "You are not strong enough to go out of doors," she said firmly. Mina opened her mouth to argue. But her mother shook her head.
“You’ve been through a lot, darling. Take this time to rest and recover fully,” Brijit advised.
Disappointment rolled over Mina and she felt tears burning in her eyes. She was so frustrated with this room when she knew there was a whole world outside waiting for her.
Bellasiel was watching her. "You are eager, aren't you?" She seemed pleased with this fact. For a moment the Elder paused and seemed to be considering. "I have a compromise. Let me speak to Brigit."
Later that morning, Brijit told her that she could leave her chambers. "Don't get too excited," her mother said cautiously. "We must still stay indoors."
Disappointment was surging through her when Brijit held up her hand and smiled. "But Bellasiel has given us permission to explore the Sanctuary."
This did not overly excite Mina and it must have shown on her face. "Don't be too disappointed, Mina, this building itself is vast and unlike anything you have ever seen before. And Bellasiel has granted permission for you to explore the library. That is rarely given to visitors to Séreméla."
Intrigued, Mina followed her mother out of her room. She saw at once that the Sanctuary was an ancient building, with floors of polished old wood and walls of grey stone, interlaced with intricate carvings. And everywhere there were plants. Ivy grew over the stonewalls throughout the hallways. When they entered into what appeared to be a common area, there were small trees growing along the far walls, while a fountain bubbled in the centre. The cheerful song of unseen birds, hidden high in the branches of the trees filled the space. Mina felt an overwhelming sense of joy pass through her.
And everywhere tall, beautiful Elder people dressed in flowing light robes passed quietly by, smiling joyfully in her direction. Mina looked at Brijit in surprise.
"They are happy you are recovering," Brijit told her. "The Elders take the health of their guests very seriously."
Bemused Mina gave tentative smiles back to the people who drifted past them.
"Would you like to see the library now?" Brijit asked her.
Mina nodded.
The library was wonder onto itself. The ceiling of the circular room was so high that Mina wondered where it ended. A walkway spiraled up close to the walls, with ivy growing around endless shelves of books. In the very centre of the room was the largest tree Mina had ever seen. Its trunk was so wide she thought the room surely must have been built around it.
Brijit led her up the curving walkway until they came to a hidden alcove, two stories above the floor.
"Would you like to look at some of the books?" she asked.
Mina was speechless. There were more books in this room than she had ever seen in her life.
She soon found that while they were written in Elder language, she could understand many of them perfectly. She was suddenly very thankful for the hours Brijit had spent tutoring her in Elder language. There were books of Elder stories, Elder history, Elder philosophy and Elder geography. And they were all new to her. There was so much to learn. Mina let out a little laugh. Where was she going to begin?
Just as she was starting to feel overwhelmed, an Elder man with white hair and brilliant blue eyes approached her.
He bent his head in greeting. "May I be of assistance, Banphrionsa? I am Eöl Ar-Feiniel, the head archivist in Séreméla," he said kindly.
He called her by the Elder word for princess. She couldn’t help smiling at the thought of this ancient Elder using a term of endearment with her. He certainly didn’t look the type. He was the first truly old Elder she had ever met. She wondered fleetingly at his age but then realized she was staring at him rudely.
"Thank you,” she said and then a thought took hold. "I would like to read about the history of Séreméla." Yes. That seemed to be the place to start.
He tilted his head and nodded. "There is much to read as we are an ancient people." Then he gestured toward the table in the alcove. "If you make yourself comfortable here, Banphrionsa, I will bring some materials to you."
Soon Eöl Ar-Feiniel had piles of scrolls and leather bound tomes piled on the table. Before Mina could feel too overwhelmed, the archivist sat down with her.
"Let's begin here," he said decisively, his lined hands grasping a bound scroll. "With the first known history of the Elder people."
****
Mina's routine soon revolved around her time in the library with Eöl Ar-Feiniel. The table in the small alcove became her domain and she couldn't get enough of the history of Séreméla.
Mina found that with her growing knowledge of the Valley, her desire to see the gardens beyond her rooms grew. But Bellasiel still was reluctant to let her go out of doors. She preferred to keep her in the Sanctuary and after some time Mina began to question why. She suspected there were other reasons the Healer wanted her indoors but she didn't know what they could be.
Mina discovered that Brijit had been given her own living quarters down the hall from Mina's room. Living quarters that she was supposed to be sharing with her husband, Weylon.
Mina hadn't seen Weylon since she'd awoken but she soon insisted that Brijit move out of her room.
"It's ridiculous that you sleep in a chair in my room when you have a perfectly fine bed just down the hall from me," Mina told her.
Brijit looked like she would argue but Mina was adamant.
"I do appreciate that you watched over me when I was unwell, Brijit, but I'm much better now. I don't need you jeopardizing your own health by sleeping in a chair instead of in a bed. Go."
Brijit. That was new. Mina had always called her Mama or Mother but upon waking in Séreméla, Mina found that those names felt odd on her tongue. Brijit was the only name that seemed to fit the woman who raised her. There was a growing distance between them and Mina couldn’t explain why.
So reluctantly, Brijit moved to her own rooms and Mina was left on her own.
It worried Mina that there was little talk of her sisters. As the days passed, her worry grew and Mina asked Brijit more and more about Thia and Kiara. It soon became apparent to Mina that Brijit was making excuses for avoiding the topic. One day she would say that was that it was a long story and she wanted Mina to be well before she could share news of Kiara and Thia with her. The next day she would make an excuse about it being complicated.
Mina had a feeling there was something else behind her mother's refusal to talk about her sisters. And she was determined to find out what it was.
****
One morning as Mina was waiting for Brijit to come and take her to the library, a knock sounded at her door. Mina opened it expecting to see her mother but instead she found herself looking into green eyes that strangely mirrored her own. They belonged to a handsome young man she’d never seen before.
Surprised Mina just stared at him for a moment. He was taller than she was and was clearly an Elder. But there was something about his face that was hauntingly familiar. She couldn't put her finger on what it was that seemed so familiar about him. It was almost as though she'd seen him before.
"May I come in?" he asked after she stood studying him for a few minutes.
Mina started suddenly realizing that she was keeping him standing in the hall while she stared at him dumbly. "Forgive me. I just ... do I know you?" she asked.
He shook his head solemnly. "My name is Meldiron but I don't believe you know me." His deep voice had a musical quality to it and immediately Mina wondered if he sang. A harp had been brought to her room the previous week and she'd taken to playing it again. She noted that many of the Elders were musicians, often clusters of them would gather together in song as she made her way to the library.
"I'm very happy that you are doing better now," he told her earnestly.
Mina was surprised. How had he known she'd been ill?
He smiled apologetically when he saw the confusion on her face. "I'm sorry. I forgot that you were unconscious when we arrived. I was one of the party who escorted you back to Séreméla.”
That explained it. She must have had some kind of subconscious recollection of him. Mina wondered if Meldiron knew more than Brijit about what had happened to her. "Can you tell me more about what happened to me? Do you know where my sisters are?"
"Your sisters are well," he said softly. "Put your mind at ease. They travelled a different route than you to Séreméla and we expect them at any day now."
Mina felt the worry that had been weighing on her heart lighten slightly.
"Minathrial, you must be very careful,” he said seriously. “We know that your attacker could not be acting alone and we could only assume that there may be others hunting you."
Mina interrupted, "But why me?"
Meldiron shook his head. "We do not know if it is just you or all the Marked Ones. We could only assume that you were all in danger," he paused. "
Her heart sank. "So these Hunters could have found my sisters by now?"
Meldiron reached over and covered one of her hands with one of his own. "I can't say for sure, Minathrial, but I hope that what we've done has worked and that they are safe."
Mina nodded. "But you can't be certain of it, can you?"
Meldiron shook his head. Her heart clenched with grief and worry but she appreciated his honesty in telling her this.
"How long has it been since my sisters left the Inn?"
Meldiron hesitated. "Some time," he answered vaguely.
"They should have been here by now, shouldn't they?" Mina asked bluntly.
He nodded reluctantly.
"How overdue are they?" she pressed, determined to understand just how bad it could be.
"Seven weeks," he admitted quietly. "But I don't want you to worry about this. The weather has been very bad. We are protected in Séreméla by wards and summer is never far from us. But beyond our borders the Five Corners is experiencing one of the worst winters in history. That alone could have delayed your sisters."
Mina looked at him closely. "Is that what you believe?"
Meldiron nodded firmly. "It is what I choose to believe for present. Our decoy parties are also delayed."
Mina nodded, suddenly feeling extremely tired. Meldiron noticed right away.
"I've kept you talking too long. I will take my leave now." He stood up.
Mina started to stand but he waved her into her chair. "Rest now. You are tired. I will come to see you tomorrow and we will talk more."
Mina nodded vaguely, her thoughts on all he had told her.
Meldiron paused at the door just as Brijit came bustling into the room, apologizing for being late. She halted when she caught sight of the Elder.
"Prince Meldiron!" Brijit gave a small curtsy. "I didn't realize you were here," she said apologetically.
He smiled down at her. "I was just leaving. I must apologize, I fear I've overtaxed your daughter."
Brijit hurried over to Mina as Meldiron left.
"Prince?" Mina asked weakly.
Brijit looked surprised. "He didn't tell you?"
Mina shook her head, "I suppose it slipped his mind to mention the fact that he was a prince."
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Thia saw an eerie glowing light beginning to emerge from the tunnel. She barely had time to move closer to Teague before the source of the glowing entered the chamber.
Strangely enough, it was a person, a woman. And it was her hair that was glowing. For a moment, the figure in front of her was so unnatural, so unreal that Thia wondered if she'd hit her head harder than she'd originally thought and was now hallucinating.
The woman was small, close to Thia's size. Her strange hair hung in waves down her back and lit up the cave. As she glided closer to where Thia and Teague were, Thia saw that her eyes were dark flat ovals. She was dressed in black robes and carried a small iridescent sphere. With a start, Thia realized that it was actually the sphere more than her strange hair that sent off the light that was illuminating the entire cave. Behind the woman were four more beings dressed in black, with the strange iridescent hair, following her into the cave.
Don't be afraid. The words in a female voice echoed in Thia's head as the woman continued to glide towards her.
Thia instinctively shrank away but the voice continued, we are here to help you, Little One. Soon the cave was overflowing with more of the glowing robe-clad humans.
The woman continued to approach Thia and Teague but her attention was focused on Teague. She was silent but seemed to be communicating without speaking with the others. Two of them came forward and gently took Thia by her arms, moving her away from Teague.
What were they doing? Didn’t they realize how unstable the rocks were? They could crush Teague. And the boulder on his foot was impossible to move. Besides couldn’t they see how sick Teague was? Moving him would just traumatize him further. She had to stop them! Thia began to struggle against the hands that were gently restraining her.
