The Pariah Child- Sarafina's Return

by Natasha D Lane

  She nodded. “But by then, Sarah will have seen the healers and be recovering.”

  “I can fly up with Sarah and Ree,” Jacob offered. “If Sarah wouldn’t mind, I mean.”

  Skuntz opened his mouth but quickly closed it. His nostrils flared as he took in Jacob.

  Sarah stared between them. He couldn’t be left alone with Klara and Skuntz, after all, and at least she’d have familiar company. Very unwanted company but familiar nonetheless.

  She rolled her eyes. “I don’t care, Jacob. Do as you wish.”

  He flexed his wings. “Perfect. Lead the way, Ree.”

  She scoffed. “Are you going to be able to keep up? You weren’t too fast when I was chasing you.”

  Klara snickered.

  “I’m more than capable,” he replied. “Just lead and I’ll follow.”

  A sly smirked pulled at Ree’s lips. “We’ll see,” she said before mounting Beaker in one leap.

  Sarah was tall, but nowhere near as tall as Ree. She moved back a few steps before trying to get a running start. Klara held out her axe, blocking Sarah’s path.

  She stared at the dwarf. “What are you doing?”

  “Stopping you from opening your wounds even more.”

  “I’m fine, Klara,” she retorted.

  Klara huffed. “The blood on your shirt says otherwise.”

  “Hm. Very true.” Ree gave Sarah a hard look, then Klara a sharp nod.

  Skuntz stepped in front of her. She looked at him but his eyes were focused just above her head.

  “I can lift you onto the bird, but only if you want me to.”

  Sarah tried to find his gaze but he diverted. A small line was noticeable between his brows and his arms were taut at his side.

  “Only if you want my help, Sarah.”

  Foolish, stubborn child.

  She bit her lip.

  “Yes. Please.” The words were barely audible.

  Skuntz kneeled down, scooping Sarah into his arms. His hands were under her knees and placed flat against her back. Still, Sarah could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. Her heart started hammering in her chest.

  What am I doing?

  Having to stretch up just a bit, Skuntz placed Sarah on Beaker’s back. From there, she lifted her leg to the other side and scooted behind Ree.

  The sky elf leaned down by Skuntz’s ear. She cupped her hand around her mouth and began whispering. When she was done, Ree sat up again and sent her cousin a large grin.

  “Understand? I don’t want you to get lost now.”

  “We’ll be fine. See you in a few days.”

  She turned to Sarah. “Hold on to my waist. We don’t want you falling off.”

  Sarah sent up a brief prayer.

  “Keep up if you can, angel! Let’s move.”

  Beaker bounced on his talons before spreading his wings and soaring into the air. They curved upward like moving along the underside of a bowl. Sarah gripped her arms around Ree, as the whipping air caused her eyes to water.

  Through her tears, she saw a hazy image of Jacob beside her. Wings fully extended, arms outstretched as he broke through the clouds. And he was smiling.

  Chapter 19

  Once, when Sarah was a child, she had hiked up the mountains outside her home alone. Her father had been working and her mother distracted with housework. It was too easy for her to sneak out.

  She spent the better part of her day alone in the mountains, traveling farther than she ever had. At a certain point, her tiny frame ached with exhaustion. A thin layer of sweat built over her skin, despite it being a cool day. Her steps became weighted, her brisk walk slowed into a tread, and the higher she climbed the harder it became to breathe.

  But the air on the Montana mountains was nowhere near as thin as what Sarah was experiencing now.

  Once Ree had stopped teasing Jacob and ceased her onslaught of questions, the three had lulled into a comfortable silence.

  Jacob flew beside her and Ree, an easy smile still on his face.

  Apparently, he was not having the same problem as Sarah. Each time she breathed through her nose, a groggy whistling sound followed. If she breathed through her mouth, there was a horrible wheezing sound.

  She put a hand to her swollen cheek. Despite the salve, the swelling had only worsened. Even just using the tips of her fingers made her bite her lip because of the pain. The air whipping around them didn’t help.

  Ree patted Sarah’s folded hands, which were wrapped around her middle.

  “We’re almost to my village. We’ll take care of you there.” She sent Sarah a wide, gummy smile.

  Pulling her hood over head, Sarah gave her a small grin.

  Ree pulled on the reins, sending Beaker into an upward curve. The bird pumped its wings, sending them higher and higher into the sky. Clouds flew by them in a rapid flurry. Sarah’s hair hung away from her with how fast they were flying. Even her cheeks were jiggling from the force.

  Her grip tightened around Ree.

  Finally, hanging vertically in the air, they broke through the last of the clouds.

  A flash of light touched Sarah’s face. She could see the sun in the distance—a warm, radiating yellow far off and away. Her skin warmed as the sun’s light fell over her. Sarah took in a sharp breath, letting the heat refuel her.

  Then it was gone. They moved past where the sunlight reached as Ree straightened Beaker out. Leaning to the left and to the right, she peered below them, then pointed off somewhere Sarah couldn’t see.

  “What is it?” Sarah asked. “Your village?”

  Ree nodded. “We’re going to start the descent. You ready, angel?”

  “I have a name,” Jacob retorted.

  “Me too!” Ree shouted.

  Before Jacob could respond, she sent Beaker zooming downward. Sarah looked over Ree’s shoulder. Gradually, a shape began to take form in the distance. There was a flat slab of rock atop the mountain. On it were small specks, which Sarah assumed were houses.

  Beaker stalled. His claws were noiseless as they landed, leaving thin scratch marks in their path.

  The bird shivered, flashed its wings once more, then hunkered down.

  Jacob landed beside them.

  Sarah slid off Beaker’s back before Jacob or Ree could offer to help. She used the bird as her support when her legs touched the ground and nearly fell from under her. Perhaps the flight plus her exhaustion were finally catching up to Sarah.

  But she didn’t have time to rest.

  “What have you brought up here this time, Ree?”

  Ree flinched. Turning around, both she and Sarah came face-to-face with an elderly man. He wore robes of long clothing all a pale blue. A stone necklace decorated his neck and he walked with a cane.

  Like Ree, he was also that opaque white, and had at least a head over Sarah. His face skin sagged, and there was an evasive feeling of annoyance and lassitude. The old man tilted left to where Jacob stood.

  The angel bowed but the old man didn’t acknowledge him. Instead, he turned back to Ree and glowered.

  “You’ve brought an angel this time. That’s unexpected even for you,” he said. His fingers clenched and unclenched around his cane. He examined Sarah.

  “And a human? Hm. I’m assuming she’s a traitor to her kind, then?”

  “They are not my kind!” Sarah pushed away from Beaker to stand on her own. Her legs still trembled.

  The old man sniffed, then wobbled over to Sarah. She fought the urge to move back.

  “Do you know what the humans have done here?”

  “Of course. They’ve—”

  “Then you would know being a traitor to the humans is a high compliment. Do you understand now?”

  He hunched over to meet her eyes. Sarah suddenly felt like a child being scolded by a teacher.

  “Good.” The old man turned his back was to them. “The dwarf and forest elf on the bend are with them, as well?”

  Ree narrowed her eyes, a smirk pulling at her lips. �
�Panu, how’d you know?”

  He tossed her a look. “I see everything, Ree, you know that. Now, let’s get your friends settled. Especially the human, she’s bleeding.”

  Sarah had tightened the bandage, so the bleeding had actually slowed. Still, the trickles had found their way to the bottom of her shirt. She looked like an artist had sprinkled her in red paint.

  Sarah pulled at her hood and followed behind the sky elves.

  Ree and Panu chatted in their native language, which sounded nothing like the forest elves. Instead of long drawn out vowels, the words were short and clipped with most of the noise coming from the throat.

  “You understand any of that?” Jacob whispered.

  “Not a word.”

  “I’ve studied different Lyrican languages. Never came across a scroll on Sky Elves. Hmmm.” He stroked his chin.

  Sarah rolled her eyes.

  Following Ree and Panu, more homes became visible. Unlike the forest elves who primarily lived in huts built around trees, the sky elves had no trees to build around. Their homes were stacks of polished rock and stone built into short towers. Wooden doors with carved birds were at the front of each home.

  The elves were busying themselves around the village. Everyone’s arms were filled with tools, stones, or a crying baby. They carried baskets on their heads, people traded goods outside of their homes, and a few large birds like Beaker were being led around by the reins.

  The village was alive and buzzing until the villagers caught sight of Sarah and Jacob. Their brisk walks slowed. They stared long and hard at the foreign visitors, turning their necks as far as they would go.

  Sarah gulped. Some of her red hair had spilled from under the hood. She tucked the strands behind her ears and pulled at her hood for the umpteenth time.

  Could they still see her? Could they see the bruises?

  She stared down at her shirt. If anyone were to get close enough, they would see the blood trails.

  Moving her eyes to the ground, Sarah hugged herself. She watched her feet as she walked, hoping to drown out all the stares and whispers. It was almost like she was back in the schoolhouse, surrounded by her gossiping classmates.

  “I think we’re almost there.”

  Jacob.

  “And trust me, no one can see your face. You’re fine.” He patted her shoulder, careful of her wounds.

  She moved to look up at him but thought better of it. After all, it was embarrassing for him to see her beaten up, as well. Even if he had been there when the attack occurred.

  “Thank you,” was all she said.

  “Of course, Sarah.”

  His hand lingered for longer than a moment. Sarah closed her eyes and pictured Montana. She thought of her hometown, walking in the woods, traveling to school before the first bell.

  The Earth Lyricans like Franklin were always there with her. Yet, each time she reached her destination, they disappeared. Or, sometimes, she would have to pretend they weren’t there, and she would again find herself alone.

  What would it have been like if Jacob had stayed?

  The world she was supposed to belong to didn’t want her.

  But Jacob lived in both worlds, too.

  What would it be like to have a friend who understood what it meant to live in two worlds?

  “Oh, I see Ree brought some more friends.”

  The voice drew Sarah’s attention. There was a young man standing outside a towered house. He wore an easy smile and waved at the approaching party.

  “Better than the mermaid she tried to catch,” replied Panu. He turned, making sure to meet all their eyes. “This is the young man who will heal you. Kerem, this is a human and an angel Ree found. Sarah and Jacob.”

  He held out his hands, which both Sarah and Jacob shook.

  “Very nice to meet you. Please, come inside.”

  The inside of Kerem’s house was decorated with rugs and cushions. There was a wall with nothing but shelves, viles, and books.

  Sarah peered over the different items, wondering if she would recognize the names from her time with Serwa. None of them stuck out.

  Everyone found a cushion; Kerem placed himself next to Sarah. Not meaning to, she flinched away and drew her hood in. She knew red had flared to her cheeks underneath all the bruising.

  “May I look? It’s fine if you’d like to wait. I’m sure I’ve seen worse though.”

  Glancing down at her hands,Sarah saw they were quivering. She folded them together and squeezed until the shaking stopped.

  She undid the clip, then pushed her hood away from her face.

  Kerem didn’t even blink. He simply took her face in his hands and moved the pads of his fingers over her skin. When she flinched, he softened his touch.

  “You used some medicine on these wounds?”

  She nodded.

  “Hm. It helped. It’s not the right mixture though. There are also a few light cuts.”

  His hands traveled down to her throat.

  “I have just the right ointment for this. What else? I see the blood on your shirt.”

  “I…I was hit in one shoulder with an arrow. The other was a knife,” Sarah muttered. “The knife didn’t go all the way through.” She gestured toward her left shoulder.

  “I will need to examine the actual wounds. Would that be fine?”

  Sarah’s eyes had rounded and she was shaking her head. It was hard enough when Skuntz patched her up. She wouldn’t undress in front of a man she didn’t even know.

  Kerem’s smile didn't falter. “Would you prefer if a woman healer helped you?”

  Sarah paused, then nodded.

  Why did she feel so silly?

  “I’ll see who we can bring in. She’ll knock on the door before she enters.”

  “Thank you.” Sarah met his eyes briefly. “This is very kind.”

  “Of course. Just wait here.”

  Kerem got to his feet, Panu wobbled, and Ree jumped up without effort. She turned her large smile on Jacob.

  He gulped.

  “No boys!” She pointed at him. “Including you. I’ll show you around while Sarah is treated.”

  “Um…I can wait outside if—”

  “Young man,” Panu said, clasping both hands behind his back. “Pick and choose your battles wisely. Now, let’s leave Sarah for the healer.”

  Jacob’s face dropped. Once he had recovered, the angel heaved a sigh and rose to his feet behind the others. He was the last one to leave the house, and sent Sarah a small wave before leaving.

  Soon, she was alone.

  Sarah slumped over and nestled up on the cushions. She held the hood against her chest, taking in several long breaths. She felt leaden. The cuts in her shoulders were burning.

  She rolled from her side to her back. Her eyes closed but she kept forcing them open. She couldn't sleep, at least not until the other healer came.

  No, she would stay awake.

  She had to.

  She would definitely stay awake…

  Sarah jolted up. There was a fire burning in the room’s center; the smell of spices and fish wafted through the air.

  Her stained, dirty cloak fell off her, revealing tightly wrapped bandages. Her shirt was gone and replaced with a short-sleeved white tunic. The fire crackled beside her.

  Sarah sighed and fell back onto the cushions.

  She had fallen asleep. The healer must have bandaged her while she was out, which didn’t make Sarah feel great. Still, at least it was a woman, rather than some man. And, she had to admit she felt better.

  The burning had stopped. She could actually touch her face without wincing.

  Progress. She grinned.

  There were shallow sounds from outside Kerem’s house. Even the smell of fish and spices was coming from whatever was happening beyond the door. But Sarah didn’t move.

  She stretched out as far as she could go before pulling the cloak up to her chin. She released a hard exhale and snuggled up.

  There was a p
eace in the darkness.

  Sarah was rested but was not ready to move. She let her body slouch against the soft cushions.

  Where was Jacob?

  She reached out with her magic to ensure she was alone.

  “Maybe Ree took him out for another race.” She imagined them zipping through the clouds again, specifically with Beaker chasing Jacob.

  She laughed. In moments like that, it was almost easy to forget that he had once lied to her.

  But he saved me, too…

  She clutched her cloak.

  What if Jacob had had to take the stone from her? Would he have actually done it?

  Sarah didn’t know the answer. But Jacob did seem different. Just as she wasn’t the same naive thirteen year-old, he wasn’t the same carefree fifteen year-old. His accent was gone, for one thing.

  He was older, actually Jacob was twelve years older than Sarah considering the Lyrican-Earth time difference. That made him twenty-seven.

  She shuffled under her cloak.

  “When did he grow up so much?”

  Jacob had once been her closest—really, only—friend. Then, they were separated by a lie, and now there was time and age too.

  Sarah thought of Mr. Greensburg and her stomach roiled.

  Jacob was old enough to be her teacher.

  Her cheeks grew warm. Sarah covered her face, and shook her head.

  “No, no, no, no,” she whispered. “Not appropriate, Sarafina!”

  In school, Sarah had heard a few of her peers giggle and whisper about the younger teachers. A few even dreamed of marrying a teacher once they graduated.

  Sarah always thought it was odd. But now, with Jacob, could she have those same feelings again?

  She hadn’t felt anything like she had with him before, had she?

  Sarah groaned and pulled at her hair. There were too many questions and no answers.

  She scrubbed at her face. “Resting gives me too much time to think.”

  With those words, Sarah re-clipped her cloak, stretched, and headed outside. Most of the houses around Kerem’s were dark. The only light was from a bonfire several houses down. She could hear a few voices.

  As Sarah approached, one voice in particular stood out.

  “Oh, Panu, it was so fun! I had never seen one of our forest cousins before,” Ree said with a squeal.