Aftermath

by Meiling Colorado

  Lorenna's focus was elsewhere, though. A short while before she had spied Benton heading toward the wise-woman's tent and there was no-where she would rather be. Her teacher might not allow her to be present while they talked, had in fact made it quite clear her presence was neither required nor welcome, but she could jolly well find something to do outside the tent until he came out again. She couldn't help smirking. A woman with a purpose, that's what she was.

  The boy's voice was a hushed whisper now. He was huddling as if trying to disappear into the background, a difficult feat considering his size, big hands toying with the frazzled remains of what must have once been the red tasseled fringe on his cushion.

  ¨Once I reach out and get a hold of the...power, or whatever...I can't control it. It burns everything up.¨

  He looked up at the two adults in front of him defensively. ¨Lately I was trying to stop the dream before I came to that point. I mean, it was really awful. I would wake up sweating, with nothing but flames and ashes in my head.¨

  ¨In your head, up till today.¨ The Healer was looking at him in a stern way that made Ren feel like an insect under the magnifying glass. ¨I myself saw the flames running up and down your hands just before your uncle smothered them. What changed, Ren? What were you dreaming about?¨

  The boy blushed and suddenly looked even more uncomfortable, if that were possible. After the hellish time he'd evidently been going through Benton couldn't for the life of him imagine what could possibly unsettle him in this way.

  ¨It was ...different. Different from the nightmare, but also different from other normal dreams. Just weird.¨

  ¨How was it different?¨

  Ren frowned. She just wasn't going to let it go.

  ¨Somehow it felt like I wasn't really asleep. And then it kept changing, and I was aware of how strange that was, not like in a proper dream where all that seems normal.¨ The Healer looked up sharply and regarded him with a strange expression.

  ¨So, in this dream ...in which you felt strangely aware, you at some point you must have actively, consciously reached out to the source of power, is that correct?¨

  Well, thought Ren, this couldn't possibly get more embarrassing now, could it? Especially since he had the craziest notion Leiren knew exactly what his dream had been about. God! He tried to erase the image of a naked Lillith in his arms from his brain. Is that what she was up to? Did the woman intend to dig until he spewed the whole pitiful thing up?

  ¨I embraced…the…heat, I suppose.¨ And let's leave it at that, please.

  Benton didn't know the kid could blush so furiously. Was he about to burst into flames again? Looking over at the Healer for guidance he was relieved to see she appeared relaxed, even amused, this time with a knowing glint in her eye. Damned if he could see what she could find amusing, but the woman seemed to have a strange sense of humor.

  Silence fell over the tent, the oil-light throwing their flickering shadows on the tent walls. Leiren mused silently, nodding to herself at times, and Benton watched his nephew. The boy's shoulders had slumped and he looked drained, tired out, defeated.

  At least he didn't look flushed anymore.

  ¨Well,¨ Leiren looked up and addressed them after a while, ¨I think I can set your mind at rest on one score...you can sleep. We all can.¨

  ¨But...¨ stammered Ren, ¨I might dream...¨

  ¨I'm sure you will, but I don't believe the dreams are a problem, however disagreeable they might be. That probably was your subconscious knocking at the door. The more you refused to open up, the worst it got. No, what you did, you did in a…let's say ´half-awake´ state, for simplicity's sake.¨ She took in their bewildered faces and sighed. ¨Ren, this could be a gift, not a curse. Some people have to train for years just to achieve a glimmer of what you did. You must learn to control...but that is for the future. For now, sleep well, child.¨

  As they left her tent Benton let an exhausted Ren pass him as the Healer laid a hand on his arm, holding him back a pace just outside the entrance. When she judged the boy was out of ear-shot she whispered, ¨Needless to say, keep an eye on him as part of the guard duty. I think he's too tired to day-dream but,¨ she chuckled softly to herself, ¨one must never under-estimate the power of teenage hormones.¨

  He didn't fully understand the meaning behind her words, but he'd already decided to do just as she had suggested, anyway. Nodding, he started to follow his nephew, then stopped as he realized she still retained him with her firm touch.

  ¨Oh, and Benton, finish this business before we reach the other community.¨ He looked at her uncomprehendingly and she cut her eyes swiftly to her left. All he could see in the dark was a crouching figure. He narrowed his eyes and made out Lorenna, getting some firewood ready.

  ¨As entertaining as it may be, I have more pressing matters at hand. I need my apprentice, preferably with her wits around her, and I definitely have no use for a camp-fire.¨

  With these cryptic words, she turned on her heel, went back inside her tent, and closing the flap firmly left him standing outside in the dark.

  As much as Leiren hated to admit it, she was tired. The day's events had effectively drained her and, though she could usually summon further energy through sheer will-power, today she felt that she had bitten off more than she could chew.

  Closing her eyes she lay back on the sleeping-bag and covering herself with the soft woolen blanket took a deep breath, putting off changing into more comfortable clothes for the night until she had regained some strength.

  She had been aware of the change in Ren, had been waiting for it to manifest in some way, in fact.

  Lillith, however, had blind-sided her, coming right out of the blue like that. She didn't think the child fully understood what had happened in the car, when she had mentally lashed out and transmitted the thought into something physical. Leiren had known people who could do similar things, but not without training. And with time, a lot of time. A wry smile fleetingly touched her lips. It had been a jolly good yank, she thought. The child must have been angry as hell to pull her hair that hard.

  She grimaced...with no training and no control, Leiren was lucky she had not been scalped!

  Lillith was definitely not aware of the implications. The Healer was. Very much indeed. Put this together with the boy's very obvious romantic interest in her and this could be a combination difficult to control. She had little doubt the source of today's mess had been teenage hormones. She rubbed her eyes, and felt a tired smile forming on her lips…now that had to have been the mother of all wet dreams. Talk about hot. Ha!

  She gently massaged her forehead and sighed as she felt some of the tension leaving her brow.

  For the first time in her admittedly long life the Healer wondered if she was up to the challenge. The potential for material destruction in those two was frightening and, if her senses were correct, it was just starting to develop. Insanely fast and strong, yet only the beginning. Closing her senses to the outside world in an attempt to focus, her thoughts raced ahead to the community that was their destination, and to Garand's plea for help. Yes, the beginning. But, a beginning to what?

  Leaving Leiren's tent behind Benton set off after Ren's dark figure, catching up with him just as the kid stumbled from pure exhaustion. It seemed rest was a priority, coming even before food. A pity, they both needed to eat, and he could smell something remarkably good coming from some camp-fire.

  He didn't need his keen, conflict-honed senses to detect that they were being followed so he was not surprised, as he held Ren up and led his way to their tent, when a tall slim figure appeared on the boy's other side just as he swayed again and helped steady him. Benton stifled a groan, remembering Leiren's words. He was really too tired for this.

  ¨Thanks, Lorenna.¨

  ¨Don't mention it. It looks like you two need some food and a good night's sleep.¨ Her soft voice echoed Benton's thoughts to the letter, but he knew it wasn't to be, at least for him.

  ¨The guys and I will
be taking turns at guard duty, but food sure sounds good.¨ he said wistfully as they aided the exhausted boy through the tent flap. ¨I'll go out once he's settled and get something for both of us.¨ Thankful that Lorenna was there to help him while he lit the oil lamp they laid Ren down on his sleeping bag under its sputtering light, where he promptly appeared to fall deeply asleep. The kid had grown so much...Benton was no lightweight himself and he would have managed, but he would definitely have had an awkward time of it on his own.

  Deciding against removing the boy's clothes Benton set his mind on procuring some food.

  Yeshra, yes...she would be the one in charge of distributing supplies. Maybe he was still in time to get something warm from whatever he had smelt cooking earlier.

  Looking up he saw Lorenna's deep green eyes fixed on him. All of a sudden uncomfortably aware of the close quarters he shifted warily on his feet, feeling caged, and thought of a way to break the suddenly heavy silence. Lorenna spoke first, however.

  ¨You don't look fit for guard-duty, to be honest, but at least I can remedy the food situation. Yeshra has some kind of communal camp-fire going - I'll go and fetch something. Save you the trouble and give you some more time to rest.¨

  Barely giving him time to nod his relieved assent, she quickly made her way out, leaving him alone in the peace and flickering light of the quiet tent. With a weary sigh, he settled down on the pallet next to Ren, rubbing his big hands over his face briskly and smiling slightly at the boy's soft open mouthed snores.

  The kid was exhausted, and he himself was running a close second, to be honest. The emotional roller-coaster of the last couple of days was taking its toll, and he couldn't remember ever having felt so bone-weary before, not even in the fighting days.

  But then battle was different.

  Adrenalin had always tided him over, young as he had been when things got bad, and it had definitely been a way to work off frustration. And he had had a lot of that. It had taken him all of the post war years and all the ensuing violence and heart-ache to work his shit out, and there had been a fair amount of collateral damage left by the way-side.

  He shook his head wonderingly...he must have been such a pain for his brother, with all his aggression and unresolved issues. Not that Garand had ever complained. He was a good man, and this time, as soon as he saw him again, he would make sure he expressed his gratitude for not only the care he had afforded him during his least enviable years, but also for having trusted the man Benton had eventually become enough to leave his teenage son in his care.

  As she walked over to the fire-pit set up next to Yeshra's tent Lorenna asked herself what the heck she was going to do, and could come up with no answers.

  Well, first things first. They said the way to a man's heart was through his stomach but it was the first time Lorenna had ever had to resort to such wiles, she thought despondently. Cooking was definitely not part of her skill-set.

  Pathetic, but she didn't know what else to do. He'd looked strangely like a wild animal about to bolt. She was sadly out of her depth here but at the very least she could feed the man.

  Thank goodness for Yeshra.

  With a touch of wry self-deprecating humor, she reflected that it wouldn't have helped her case if Benton had been forced to swallow down the food she could dish up!

  Yeshra looked at what was left of the food in disbelief, and Serbell gently chuckled next to her saying, ¨I know, you thought we'd cooked enough for an army!¨

  Lillith laughed out loud and Yeshra couldn't help laughing at herself, too.

  ¨I guess I hadn't realized how much an army actually ate! Good thing you put some food up for Leiren and the guys Lillith, or they would have missed out.¨

  It would have served the woman right, thought Yeshra, tucking a stray wisp of blond hair back into her low bun. There were enough provisions; of course, the Healer wouldn't have gone to bed hungry...but honestly. Was the woman so self-centered she had to set up a mini-Council meeting the first night of camp?

  But enough of that. She wouldn't let thoughts of Leiren spoil what had turned out to be a really nice evening. Serbell was a really nice girl beneath her tough exterior, and Lillith...well her daughter was wonderful. She had grown up to have a giddy sense of humor that could have kept the other two women rolling for hours, now the work was done. Yeshra couldn't remember the last time she had felt this happy.

  Lillith was grinning appreciatively. She seemed a whole lot more relaxed than before dinner. ¨It's not so bad, really. There are about six bowls left...We might even have enough for seconds!¨ she joked. Looking up she caught sight of her fellow apprentice making her way toward her. A guilty expression flashed across her young face.

  ¨Oh dear. I'd forgotten about Lorenna. Leiren must have changed her mind about needing assistance and kept her till now.¨

  ¨Relax, Lillith, there really is enough food.¨ Serbell's voice held a certain curtness which surprised Yeshra. She watched as her daughter's fellow student reached the fire-light, puzzled. Her senses were now keener than before, and the vibe she was picking up from Serbell didn't seem to correspond to worry over portions of food. Yeshra still hadn't learned enough about her gift to be completely sure, but…

  ¨Am I too late, Yeshra? I got...delayed…¨ Lorenna hesitated. Her demeanor was strange too, but Yeshra couldn't quite put her finger on what was off. ¨But I did promise Benton some food, and I still haven't eaten myself.¨

  She felt Serbell stiffen beside her.

  This turbulence she felt in both women's flow made her think there was bad blood between her and Lorenna. She'd not been aware of such a thing before and it troubled her.

  ¨It's okay. We knew about Leiren, Benton and Ren, but there's enough for all of you.¨ she answered, heaping the food into four bowls. ¨Will you be able to carry it all, or shall we help?¨

  ¨Oh, I think I can manage, thank you. I'll drop this off at Leiren's tent first, and the boy... well, he's asleep, I'm not sure if we could wake him up even if we tried….¨ Lorenna paused to take the tray Lillith was handing over, and smiled down at the girl when she asked in a faltering voice, ¨Is Ren all-right, Lorenna? We've been rather worried...¨

  Neither of the apprentices had witnessed whatever had got the rest of the men in the car so nervous, since the Healer had been the first to arrive on the scene, blocking the view with her body, but they both knew something out of the ordinary had happened.

  ¨Well, his temperature is gone...he'll probably wake up later on hungry as a wolf. I don't know much else, you know what Leiren's like,¨ Lillith humphed in assent, ¨Right now it looks like what he needs is a good night's sleep.¨

  Lillith sighed in relief. At least there didn't seem to be anything seriously wrong with Ren. Involuntarily her shoulders slumped a bit as they watched Lorenna's voluptuous figure walk away from the fire, though.

  ¨Quite a woman,¨ voiced her mother. ¨So..... Benton, hmmm?¨

  Lillith felt Serbell flinch and wondered what was up with her...she had seemed to be on edge before dinner, now she thought about it. They watched her fellow apprentice's retreating figure until she disappeared into Benton's tent before Lillith decided to comment on what was bothering her.

  ¨I can't help feeling overshadowed by her at times, mother. She is so very talented.¨ she admitted ruefully.

  Warmth flooded Yeshra's heart at Lillith's words. Mother. Maybe the two-year gulf between them could be bridged after all. She then realized what her daughter had said. ¨Sweetheart, you are just as talented, though younger. You have not achieved your full potential yet, not by a long shot, Lillith.¨ Hesitantly she stroked her daughter's shoulder, and was gratified when the girl did not pull back.

  ¨But just look at her! She's beautiful as well as talented. I'm so clumsy... She even walks...well, gracefully, like a cat.¨

  Serbell said something under her breath which sounded suspiciously like cat-like morals, too!

  For a moment, the other two women looked at her in amazement and then
the three of them burst out laughing, laughing so hard they were forced to sit down. It just seemed so out of character for Serbell to make such a comment. One thing they knew she was not, was catty.

  ¨Whatever you think of her, Serbell,¨ said Yeshra, wiping her eyes, ¨you cannot deny her good taste. That man is hot.¨

  ¨Mother!¨ Cried out Lillith sounding mortified.

  ¨Oh shut up, Lillith! I may be your mother, but even I can see he is sex on legs.¨ While Lillith gawked at her mother as though she had suddenly sprouted two heads the other two women chuckled appreciatively at her expression, and made a couple of sarcastic and, in Lillith's opinion, completely unnecessary comments on young girls and their innocence.

  That was the end of the evening, however. A pall seemed to have fallen over Serbell, and after a while she got up heavily and started clearing up the remains of the camp's dinner. Not needing any special talent to detect the shift in mood mother and daughter looked at each other and, shrugging, got up to help her.

  CHAPTER 8

  TATTERS OF PRIDE

  Serbell had reached a decision.

  She was going to ignore it.

  All of it.

  It just hurt too much. This last encounter with the beautiful red-head had highlighted how vulnerable she was. She felt mortified remembering her snide remark about Lorenna. The other two women had chosen to overlook the cattiness and laugh, but she would never have considered herself capable of saying something like that before...her emotions were changing the very core of her personality.

  So, she would shut her mind to her heart's clamoring and simply ignore both Benton and Lorenna's existence.