The Heart of Oldra

by Georgina Makalani

  ‘Should have?’ Cora asked.

  ‘It was something we could not heal.’

  ‘He healed himself,’ Cora said. ‘I have done such a thing.’

  ‘Another child, a sister of his, was helping with his treatment. She cared for him, wished him well, and he grew better, although no one knew how. The sister withered away to nothing.’

  ‘How is that possible?’ Cora asked.

  ‘It scared a lot of people, and it isolated him somewhat as he grew. The other children were wary of him.’

  ‘What did the Ancient say was the cause?’

  ‘She did not know, but his mother was sure that Essara herself had saved him. She didn’t seem to wonder why the daughter had died as she had. There were some strange occurrences that I have heard of as he grew, before he reached the decision to leave.’

  ‘What sort of occurrences?’ Cora asked.

  Henda shook her head. ‘It is all long ago. Whether he has a gift or not, I have seen what he will become.’

  ‘Does he visit your dreams?’

  Henda shook her head. ‘I am not as strong as he is. I’m not much use at all, other than some healing.’

  ‘You are Ancient.’

  ‘Sometimes that is not enough. I know Artell is much stronger than I, a better Ancient than I could ever be, yet he chooses not to be here. He struggles being close to the people. Namings are painful, and the few he has performed worried the families of the child more than he wanted. He can feel the joy,’ she said, ‘but he focuses on the pain.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘It may be his mother’s death; he was too young to feel such a thing.’

  Cora was reminded of the vision she’d had of him running away, and although it was a terrible thing for a child to live through, she also knew he had chosen to show her that memory. There were other memories that might have better explained who he was. ‘Why does Teven think Artell is dead?’ she asked.

  ‘He would come to visit Artell. They were close, in a way. When Artell ran away, although he would visit, it was thought best to tell Teven he was gone, trying to keep him away.’

  ‘That seems cruel,’ Cora said. ‘He was just a boy with no one to care for him.’

  ‘Some of our hunters would allow him to tag along, learn how to hunt and fish and collect wood.’

  ‘And yet you would not take him in, leaving him with that man.’

  ‘He wanted to stay for his sister. She didn’t hold enough gifts for Merik to be interested. When her mother died, she would have followed if Teven hadn’t cared for her.’

  Cora nodded slowly and ran her fingers through her hair, remembering the long braid he had tied for her.

  ‘You have gifts,’ Cora said. ‘You must have something, or you would not be Ancient. You may be a better healer than you allow, but you have deferred to Artell.’

  ‘He does not heal.’

  ‘Rhali can heal with herbs, but she doesn’t have the gifts to heal as you would.’ Cora looked over the woman before her. ‘You hesitated with Teven, yet that wasn’t because you couldn’t heal him; you didn’t think you should.’

  She shook her head quickly, but Cora was sure she was right. ‘I must do what I can for my people.’

  ‘Even if that means people will die?’ a measured voice asked behind her.

  The chief stood in the doorway, and Cora sighed. She wasn’t sure that she wanted to stay with these people. She might be able to hide herself away as Artell had and learn what she was from the other Ancients. She wondered if she needed to know them by name or learn about them from others before she could talk to them in her dreams.

  ‘What is it?’ the chief asked, stepping forward.

  ‘I may know what he wants from me,’ she whispered. ‘I don’t think I should stay.’

  ‘He is strong, but we can protect you here.’

  She shook her head. ‘He can still find me.’

  ‘Not at my cavern. He can’t see you there,’ Artell said, entering the cavern behind the chief.

  Cora stepped back, shaking her head again. She didn’t want to put herself close to him again. He might be the similar to Merik in many respects. He might not want her gifts to stop Merik. She was only sure he wanted to use her.

  ‘We will keep you safe,’ the chief said again.

  ‘Then I will stay here,’ she said, looking at Henda. ‘But I would like the chance to make my own arrows. I am a Draga without weapons.’

  The chief nodded and waved a man forward. ‘Tilwin will go with you. He knows the woods well and where you can find what you need.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Cora said.

  ‘I could help,’ Artell said, but she shook her head, and the man indicated the doorway.

  She followed him out through the cavern, where some people looked up from their hearths and more dragons seemed to fill the space. They nodded towards her, but she couldn’t hear them. Her heart ached, and a lone voice called out.

  ‘Where is your dragon?’ Tilwin asked when they were outside the cavern.

  ‘Keeping her distance for now,’ Cora said.

  ‘You came by dragon,’ he said. ‘Where is that animal now?’

  ‘He returned home,’ she said with sigh. ‘I can’t reach him.’

  ‘Is it lonely without him?’

  She looked at Tilwin, taking in his serious face. The chief must have talked with the clan about what he had learnt from her, as her father would do if a stranger were to appear in their midst. He was older than she was, but not by much.

  ‘I just thought that if my dragon disappeared, it would be as bad as losing my mate.’

  She nodded. ‘We have been bonded my whole life,’ she said.

  ‘Truly?’

  ‘He chose me early on. There were times that I resented not being able to find my own dragon, but I think it is always their choice.’

  ‘And now?’

  ‘She chose me too. And it changed everything.’

  Tilwin stopped then and looked her over. ‘What happened to your arrows?’

  ‘I lost them when I fell, or they were taken from me. I’m not sure which. Either way, I need more.’

  ‘Do you have arrow heads?’

  She shook her head. ‘I’ll sharpen the points like our practice arrows. It will be effective enough.’

  ‘What are you hunting?’ he asked as they headed off.

  ‘Where do you hunt?’

  He stopped and pointed into the trees. ‘Further down the valley, there are a variety of animals.’

  ‘There are none near the other cavern.’

  ‘I don’t think it was a consideration when they left.’

  ‘Did you know them?’ she asked.

  He shook his head and continued walking. Before long, they were amongst some younger trees with branches strewn around the ground. Tilwin produced a sharp knife. He cut a number of branches from the tree and handed them to Cora as he went. Once she had an armful, he looked at them and then those on the ground.

  ‘They take some aging, but they will be suitable.’ He collected an armful of branches from the ground and indicated that she spread what she had in her arms across the ground in their place.

  Cora was surprised at the ease with which Tilwin accepted her and talked with her. They spoke of her life with the Penna and how she had come to be where she was. The conversation continued when they returned to the cavern, and she was invited to sit at his hearth. She accepted a cup of ale from his mate, a friendly, smiling woman. Cora wondered why they were so accepting now, when they had been too eager to kill her not long ago.

  They sat in silence by the fire and scraped over the branches they had collected, smoothing out the already narrow lengths. Tilwin had a bowl of arrow heads, and he showed her how they attached them. It was a little different from what she knew, but it didn’t take long to adapt. She ran her hand over the fine blade, then looked at it closely.

  ‘Is it different?’ he asked.

  She nodded. ‘Do they break off
before they imbed into the flesh?’

  ‘Are you thinking of a man or an animal?’

  Cora looked up and noticed that Tilwin’s mate had frozen mid-activity by the fire.

  ‘The animals have different fur where I’m from. The cold means they have a thick wool. And not so long ago, we fought men on dragonback. The arrows are larger, heavier and sharper.’

  Tilwin laughed, and his mate turned a nervous smile Cora’s way.

  ‘What else do you hope to learn while you are with us?’ the woman asked. Cora noticed she was with child, but she said nothing. She wondered if the women of this clan sought the advice and gifts of the Ancients. Artell wouldn’t want to see what might lie ahead for them, and Cora didn’t have the ability. But she wondered if she could ask others for help.

  ‘You look well,’ she said to the woman.

  ‘She has not been herself,’ Tilwin said.

  ‘It can be a change,’ Cora said.

  He looked at her with confusion, and the woman shook her head. He looked between them and then stood quickly, making her stand back. Was she worried what he might say? Was the child of another man?

  ‘Perhaps I should return to Henda,’ Cora said, climbing to her feet.

  ‘Take the arrows,’ Tilwin said, squatting to pick them up. She nodded her thanks and hurried across the cavern.

  Chapter 24

  ‘Why does she not tell him?’ Cora asked with little introduction when she pushed the curtain back and found the chief sitting with the two Ancients. ‘Forgive me,’ she said, turning away.

  ‘Come in.’ Edgris waved her forward.

  ‘Who do you speak of?’ Henda said.

  Cora sucked in a deep breath before answering. ‘Tilwin’s mate.’

  ‘She is worried. She has lost babies before.’

  Cora nodded. ‘Has she asked for help? Has she asked you to see how the child grows?’

  ‘Not anymore,’ Artell whispered.

  ‘She looks well, but Tilwin said she has not been herself.’

  ‘She tries to hide it,’ Henda said, looking at the chief.

  ‘I know of her condition,’ he said. ‘I have children of my own; I have seen others. There is a hope there, or at least there was.’ He looked at Cora closely. ‘Can you help her?’

  ‘I can’t see what might come,’ she said. ‘Only what has been.’

  ‘Are you willing to tell me what you think Merik wants?’ the chief asked.

  She shook her head. She only hoped they hadn’t worked it out. She might have had the chance to talk to Ancients far away or already with Essara, but she wasn’t sure if she could talk to all previous Ancients as she hoped. And if she could, it would mean she could access their knowledge and skills.

  ‘You healed Teven’s heart,’ Henda said.

  ‘I’m not sure that is the best description. He hasn’t appeared healed the last few times I have seen him.’ She shivered.

  ‘He scares you,’ the chief said, leaning forward.

  Cora shook her head, but in some ways he was right. She had been scared by what he might do when he had kissed her. And his anger had worried her when he’d appeared in the cavern.

  ‘Will you look at my heart?’ the chief asked softly.

  She looked at him closely. ‘Are you unwell?’

  He smiled kindly. ‘I wonder what you will see.’

  Cora wasn’t sure she wanted to see anyone else’s past, or pain, but she bowed her head as he motioned her closer. Trying not to bite into her lip, she raised her hand. He pulled at the material to reveal the mark of Oldra, and she placed her hand directly over it.

  She closed her eyes, trying to calm her breathing and focus on what she could feel. There were no sharp burning pains, but there was an ache. She looked deeper. It was for all those he had lost, for the family taken away that he could not free, the mate and child he had lost. It was because he cared for his people. She smiled, despite the ache. He had the heart of a leader, of a true chief. There was more love than pain, more care and understanding. She saw him as an old man, still strong, still guiding the clan.

  She pulled her hand back and bowed her head to him.

  ‘I don’t feel any different,’ he murmured, rubbing his hand over the mark before tying his tunic. It was still loose around the neck. Although they were so different, this man reminded Cora of her father again.

  ‘What did you hope for?’ she asked.

  He shrugged then.

  ‘There was nothing to heal. The pain you have is for the losses you have experienced with your people. You need to have them to appreciate the joys and wonders.’

  ‘You sound like an Ancient,’ he said, smiling kindly.

  ‘I am not what you hope I am.’

  ‘Even more,’ he said with a grin. ‘You have worked with an Ancient.’

  She nodded. She would like the chance to work with more.

  ‘Would you see what I am?’ Artell asked, but she shook her head. She was sure there was far more pain inside this man than he had let her know, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to get anywhere near it.

  ‘Have you sensed something in him?’ the chief asked.

  Cora tried not to sigh. She needed some space, but she wasn’t going to get it no matter where she went in this world. ‘He feels the pain of others,’ she said.

  ‘Do you think you will feel that too?’

  ‘I may,’ she said carefully. ‘I could feel Teven’s pain, and his mother’s.’

  ‘Truly?’ Edgris asked. ‘You felt her pain?’

  Cora nodded, and a shiver ran down her spine.

  ‘Could you feel Merik? Could you change him, do you think?’

  ‘I didn’t change Teven,’ she murmured. ‘And I couldn’t get that close to Merik. I don’t know what he can do.’

  ‘Try Artell,’ the chief said. She could sense his excitement, as though he was keen to see just what she could do, but she shook her head again. And clenched her fists in her lap. ‘We are here with you,’ he pressed.

  ‘But will you be here in the night when I dream his nightmares?’

  ‘Will you dream mine?’ the chief asked seriously.

  ‘More of your past might come to me now. This is new; I’m not sure.’

  ‘Will they come for you?’ he asked. As she tried to understand his meaning, he added, ‘Your people.’

  She shook her head. ‘I am where I am meant to be. I will return when it is right to do so.’

  ‘Again, sounding like an Ancient,’ the chief said with a grin. He climbed to his feet, glancing only quickly at Artell. ‘I shall leave it to you to determine what you should do.’

  She bowed her head to him, and he left the cavern. She could feel the eyes of the other two on her, trying to sense just what she was. And how they could use that.

  ‘I would like to rest,’ she murmured. ‘It is harder than I would like to admit to see so much.’

  Artell nodded with a sigh. Cora climbed into the sleeping mat and closed her eyes. She wasn’t sure she wanted to dream of the chief, or anyone else for that matter. When she next became aware of her surroundings, it was dark, the cavern lights dim, and Merik stood over her. She jumped up and stepped back, nearly tripping over someone. She turned to find Artell slumped across the ground. She looked around in the dim light and realised she was still in the Ancients’ cavern.

  Henda was lying by the entrance. ‘What have you done?’ Cora asked, struggling to keep her voice level.

  ‘You must return to me and bring your gifts.’

  ‘I don’t know that I have what you want. I’m still searching.’

  ‘You have found them,’ he said.

  ‘Who?’

  ‘The Ancients, all of them. I have many names for you to call. I can take this from you, I can take it from them, and I will be the most powerful of them all.’

  ‘How?’ Cora asked. ‘How can you do this?’

  He reached for her heart, and a sharp pain sliced through her chest.

  ‘Stop
!’ she cried out, sitting up. She pressed her hand to her heart, it ached and she wasn’t sure if that was due to the dream. Had he really reached her through the shadows?

  What if he could take from her without being there? She looked around then, the light brighter than she expected. Henda sat by the fire, watching her closely. Cora looked around for Artell. He appeared beside her with a cup, and she jumped.

  ‘Thank you,’ she murmured, and her hand shook as she took it from him. He closed his hand around hers for a moment to steady her and directed the cup to her lips. The water was cool. Cora transitioned to protect herself from anything else that might try to get at her. But Artell’s hands were warm and comforting and still wrapped around hers, and the transition failed.

  ‘Ice,’ he murmured.

  ‘I wanted to teach Teven, but he couldn’t.’

  ‘Does it melt?’ Artell asked.

  Cora nodded and tried not sigh, instead sipping from the cup again. He was too close, but she didn’t want to continue to push him away.

  He waited.

  ‘Dragonlight will melt it, and it is hard to maintain if I am overwhelmed.’

  ‘Dragonlight?’ he asked. ‘When would a dragon be aiming their light at you?’

  ‘In battle,’ she said. ‘Although it has been some time, and I haven’t seen any myself...’ She trailed off as he studied her. ‘My people were at war with another,’ she said. ‘It ended just before my birth.’

  ‘Your mother took on dragonlight?’

  She nodded. Had she told him of what her mother had done, how she had risked them both? Although her mother might say it was because of Cora that she could do as she did.

  ‘Now tell me of the dream,’ he whispered.

  She looked up into his too-close face and shook her head.

  ‘Can all of your people turn to ice?’ Henda asked, drawing his attention.

  ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘You cannot?’

  ‘Ice would not do well in the sun,’ Artell said. ‘We haven’t the need.’

  ‘Living in the snow, we do. It keeps us warm as well as protected from swords and arrows.’

  ‘Can you show me?’

  She nodded once and took his outstretched hand, trying to keep her mind from his as she had when she was younger and didn’t want Arminel to reach her. Then she transitioned. He grinned, and then his hand turned to ice. ‘It is easy when you see how,’ he said, turning back to Henda. He closed his eyes for a moment, and Cora could feel him searching, but it wasn’t her mind he searched.