by D. R. Grady
“What side effects might this cause?” Lucy asked Serene and Eliza.
“I am uncertain how it will effect an Aasguard.” Eliza answered as she and Serene turned equal frowns on Fergus.
Serene stirred. “It might make him ill, but some do not experience that.”
“I did add a few herbs to hopefully prevent nausea.” Eliza ran a hand through her shoulder length white blonde hair.
Despite the white blonde color, she might be Fergus’s contemporary age wise. Felicity didn’t know much about mages, such as how long they lived. This woman had seen more summers than most here, and many of them could attest to long years. She had aged as gracefully as Fergus and Mozark, her contemporaries.
“If it allows me to walk, I do not care about the side effects.” A slight growly tone peppered Fergus’s statement.
“Can you feel your legs?” Lucy asked as she studied him.
“No. That is why I have not attempted to stand. I am not in pain, but I still cannot feel my legs. It is as though they are numb.”
“Did you do any exercises with them?” Felicity tried to imagine his life but failed.
“Punzel and I tried. But there was nothing there. No feeling, no control, no awareness. Only intense pain.”
Eliza nodded. “These herbs and plants are powerful. If they do not work, I doubt that you will ever feel your legs again.”
“Most are unaware of two of those herbs. They grow deep in our lake. Lake serpents have been using them for centuries but even other healers are not aware of them.” Serene sniffed at Fergus’s legs.
Felicity thought of their foray into Atlas. “Could we harvest them?”
“That is likely why you have not heard of them. They grow deep. If you can withstand the depths, they are not a challenge to harvest but…”
“Aasguards can withstand depths so we could harvest them for you.” Felicity slanted a look at Serene. “Of course a lake serpent who knows what she is doing might be a better option.”
Both healers laughed. “That is true. I am excited to meet a mage healer. I feel there is so much we could learn from one another.”
“I agree.” Eliza and Serene were already comfortable with each other and Felicity approved.
“This is a school.”
At her statement both of them looked at her. “It is a school. For Aasguard warriors.” Eliza stared at her feet.
“True. However, they need to learn how to heal and I am certain that Kellen and Ari would welcome the two of you coming together and others like you, to learn from each other. If your partnership can result in healing all of us collectively, then this school has accomplished even more than it set out to do.” Felicity felt this to her very being.
“A school for healers of all kinds to come together and learn and teach.” Eliza blinked a few tears away. Serene appeared to join her.
Felicity put out a call to Ari.
Who, once apprised of the situation, in an uncustomary act, showed more excitement than Felicity had seen since Ari’s wedding day. “We hoped that one day this school would grow into something more. We never believed it would be this soon. You must stay with us and learn from one another. In addition, both of you can instruct our Aasguard students. It seems healers would be far better teachers than us on the subject.”
Eliza and Serene looked as though they had been given an easy to make cure-all that never failed.
“We accept.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Felicity smiled as Rykert stood with several Aasguards who clearly knew each other. The usually austere men all laughed in the wake of Rykert’s comments. The levity swirling around them provided a much needed panacea. A balm for their weary spirits. They had drawn Fergus into their midst.
Whether he would walk again was anyone’s guess. Yet hope abounded in Eliza and the assembled powerful mage healers combined with the lake serpent healers. She guessed there must be other healers out there as well who might be drawn to the school.
Already she could tell they might need to expand said school. Or perhaps build an additional structure for the healers. If consolidating their resources and knowledge did not produce new treatments for everyone she would be shocked. It might be a harbor for those such as Eliza who had lived a long time, perhaps on her own, giving and giving of herself. This school could very well be exactly what she needed to reinvigorate herself.
Felicity breathed in the clean air and marveled at those flying. Lucy flagged down Punzel to climb aboard. The two of them laughed and got to know the other. They clearly enjoyed themselves and each other.
She thought this spelled good things for her friend and Fergus in the future. Especially if Lucy’s Issac was as handsome as Lucy declared. She hoped Punzel would find a companion in him if not a mate.
The dragons and water serpents soon landed and joined them. Maeze looked flushed and happy in a manner that made Felicity wonder what she and Felix had been up to. Only attraction caused that sort of excitement.
You should know, the little voice in the back of her mind prompted.
Yes, she was all too aware of attraction and the stirrings they caused. In all her years she had never experienced this. It was both a blessing and a curse now.
This errant thought caused her to dig a little deeper. She sank into herself. Ah, progress had been made on herself through them spending time together. Rykert and being with him felt more right than the last two decades.
The only other time when she’d been this content had occurred when she taught the females in both Montequirst and Swiftland how to fight. Instructing women so they could defend themselves and their family had proved satisfying. It had offered her a sense of accomplishment in her work.
A worthy sense sorely missing in her previous employment.
She wondered if organizing the treasury would satisfy her in the same manner.
An arm slid around her and she smiled at Rykert. “Deep thoughts?”
“I am contemplating about how good I felt teaching the women of Montequirst and Swiftland to defend themselves.”
He stayed right with her thought process. “You are concerned about our endeavors with the treasury.”
“Perhaps. It is a worthy cause. Something that needs doing.” She bit the inside of her cheek.
“It does. However, I believe there might be another pair who are better suited to searching for treasure and setting up the treasury in Atlas.” His gaze swept to Lucy and Fergus.
This made her pause. She considered the pair. “Can we ask them?”
He escorted her to Fergus’s chair where he and Lucy appeared deep in discussion. The both smiled when Felicity and Rykert approached. “We were just speaking of you.”
“Good things, I hope.” Rykert quipped as they settled in beside the couple.
“Yes. Or more of an inquiry.” Lucy darted a look to Fergus. The connection between these two warriors was nearly tangible. They had formed a strong alliance already.
And were well suited. Both of them had an affinity for water, enjoyed the company of fierce sea serpents, and were the first of their kind to train as Aasguards. Even she blinked at these similarities. A burst of happiness for the pair made all three of her companions cock eyebrows at her.
“I am so happy for the two of you. You are so well suited.” She enjoyed the coloring of both their cheeks.
Fergus took Lucy’s hand. “The long years of pain and loneliness are negated by Lucy’s addition to my life.”
Lucy looked as though she had swallowed a lit crystal. “I am so thankful you talked me out of passing on, Felicity.”
“I am as well.” Fergus’s comment was heartfelt.
“I had a niggle it was the wrong time for you.” Felicity shrugged. “What did you wish to speak to us about?”
“We would like to attach ourselves to your treasury project.” Lucy glanced at Fergus, who nodded, before returning her eager attention to them.
Rykert squeezed her hand. “We were thinking of
thrusting the project into your capable hands.”
Stunned silence greeted them before Lucy and Rykert conducted an entire conversation with a single look.
Both turned back to them and said the same thing at the same time. “We accept.”
Felicity laughed. “Both of you are far more suited to set up the general treasury. Fergus knows Atlas better than any Aasguard and has Punzel to help him. And you, Lucy, have always had an affinity to water.”
“I have. I am eager to see the city and island.” She did radiate excitement.
“I am eager to show you.” But Fergus frowned at his legs. “We might need to postpone that for a time.”
“You have made astonishing progress since this morning.” Rykert pointed out what they should be focusing on. “And we shall be here for a few days. If you continue to progress at this rate, you very well could be up for exploring by then. If you are not, you can finish your recovery at Lucy’s house, meet Issac, then when you are ready, head to Atlas.”
“This is an excellent plan. It will be wonderful to enjoy the company of other Aasguards and get to know some of our mages.” Lucy radiated good will toward all.
Felicity had never witnessed this side of her friend but she approved of what love had done for her.
If, indeed, this was love.
Why hadn’t she reacted the same way with Rykert?
Is there something wrong with me?
‡‡
He and Felicity left Fergus and Lucy to make plans. Rykert thought maybe he and Felicity should settle their own.
By mutual consent, they moved away from the other couple to take seats in a niche that had been designed for study. He was pleased when Felicity sat closer than she normally did. As though they had crossed one small bridge in this relationship they were forming.
“If we are not going to treasure hunt, what should we do?” A small furrow creased Felicity’s forehead.
“I am sure we can aid as needed. I doubt two people can accomplish everything that needs doing. If they sort out Atlas, we will still likely need to help discover treasure.”
“Rykert, what are you thinking, exactly?” No exasperation emitted in her tone or from her person.
“You enjoyed teaching the women to fight in Montequirst and Swiftland, as did I.” He ran a hand through his curls to move a tickling one off his ear. “So we continue to teach females around the globe to defend themselves. This is something that fulfilled you. Throughout our travels, I am certain Felix will discover additional treasure.”
“He can find it but we should make certain that treasure belongs to someone who has passed.”
“That would be ideal.” He said this tongue-in-cheek and enjoyed her resulting chuckle.
“Yes. But we did help two warriors to meet and all evidence indicates they will join their lives together.”
He nodded. “I would say it is a given that Fergus and Lucy will marry.”
“Except…” The small furrow returned.
“Except?”
“If Fergus never regains the ability to walk, he might turn her away because he fears she will be ‘saddled’ with his limitations.” The face she pulled told him exactly what she thought about that ridiculous notion. It warmed his heart that Felicity planned to remain with him regardless of any future limitations.
“Lucy will not mind in the least if he never walks again.” Not that he knew her well. Yet he upheld his bold statement.
“Exactly. She will not mind one fig. He has become an essential part of her life, but you might know this—Aasguards are a stubborn lot.”
He rubbed his jaw. “I have heard something about that over the years.”
Another sweet chuckle and his heart expanded.
“We can interfere if necessary.” She tapped a firm finger to her thigh. But turned a serious face to him now. “Our plans, therefore, are that we continue to train women in various kingdoms. Chariovalda has expressed interest in us at least setting up the program for them.”
“Do their women already know how to fight?”
“They have proportionally more women who work as warriors but the vast majority of their women have rudimentary skills or less.” Felicity played with the end of her braid.
He thought about that information and a new notion entered his mind. “It occurs to me that we will meet new people as we train females. This opportunity will enable us to send warriors and healers alike here.”
“I suspect that the first expenditure from our general treasury will be to expand this school.”
The sunlight danced across her face. He caught his breath.
“Yes. I imagine this new place will expand several times over.”
Amusement escaped. “I am certain Kellen and Ari never expected their teaching endeavor to become something other than a mere training place for new Aasguard warriors.”
“Think of all the possibilities this place could become. Already esteemed healers are eagerly collaborating.” Felicity clearly approved of this and so did he.
“I overhead a few of their ideas for their section of the school.”
He recognized the amusement spiraling through him in Felicity.
“We need to find several treasures.” They spoke at the same time and laughter erupted from both of them.
“What are you two so happy about?” A frazzled-around-the-edges Ari joined them.
“You do realize your school is about to expand to immense proportions, right?” Felicity draped a friendly arm across Ari’s shoulders.
Some of the frazzle dissipated. “I am getting used to the idea and am thrilled for our healers. They are so happy.”
“They are. And imagine what this could mean for all inhabitants of the land.” Felicity gently guided Ari’s thoughts.
The woman had more on her shoulders these days than she had since her training.
“Kellen and I are actually thrilled that we’ll have healers in residence. But we just finished building.”
“Right. We recommend an entirely different building. They should be connected but you do not want to compromise any of the current training fields.” Rykert added his own thoughts as Ari appeared to be at wits’ end.
“No, we need those training fields.” Ari gazed in the direction where he believed a new building would work nicely. “I wonder if they will want an apothecary?”
“Most certainly.” Felicity didn’t take long to answer. “Apothecaries and healers go hand-in-hand.”
“They do.” Much of Ari’s trepidation had already dissipated. “If they can teach promising new healers to heal every being…”
“And all the lands can send their most promising, we will live in an impressive new world.” Rykert added to Ari’s budding excitement. Something Rykert felt he was well suited for as his best buddy for centuries was a sunny yellow dragon.
“Have you actually spoken with Eliza and Myrtle?” Felicity questioned Ari.
“No. Perhaps Kellen and I should speak in depth with them.” Ari rose, brushed off her trousers and left them as quickly as she had come.
“Exciting times.” Rykert did not merely reference the plans for the school.
Felicity traveled his thought process. “Yes. We are so fortunate to be living in this day and age.”
He kissed her and her violet eyes sparkled. “We are.”
The hall outside their alcove suddenly seemed far busier so they followed Ari out into the corridor.
Rykert looked forward to the looming future for a change. In the past it had always stretched with monotony and boredom. He certainly did not feel that way now.
Following Felicity up the hall, he anticipated what lay ahead for the first time in more centuries than he cared to count.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Dinner found them seated at a table with Ari, Kellen, Fergus, and Lucy. Felicity could not have asked for better companions and it had all just randomly happened. Ari’s brothers and their wives weren’t due to arrive until tomorrow.
As she surveyed the other tables, interspersed with Aasguards and mages, Mozark approached their table with Eliza. Kellen invited them to be seated.
“Why have Aasguards and mages not combined forces long before now?” Felicity asked the table at large.
“We have, only we have all gone our own ways afterward. It appears that we might be better together.” Mozark answered her but his gaze rested on Fergus.
“Had we been better about regular interactions with one another we might have found Fergus before now.” Lucy also gazed at the man, her expression as troubled as Mozark’s.
“I am thankful Rykert and Felicity came calling. I was found and now Punzel and I are much better off.”
“You and Punzel have become family.” Rykert mused as they all started on their full plates. Ari and Kellen had set up a buffet for their guests and this allowed for less fuss and servers and the like. The school had plenty of money but why waste it when all of them were capable of choosing what they wished to eat?
Even Fergus had no trouble selecting his meal. And appeared to relish the experience.
“We have. Living without her is not an option.” Fergus sounded firm.
“Of course not. You have been through a traumatic experience together. It makes sense that you have bonded and view each other as family.” Felicity thought of her own experience with Salunga. But it had not been similar in some ways. Salunga had spent most of her time in the treasury.
“You and Punzel spent all of your time together?” Rykert inquired.
“The only time Punzel left my side was when she hunted for us.”
“Did you spend time in the water with her other than when you explored?” Lucy’s eyebrows drew together.
“We did. Punzel needed the water and Aasguards can breathe just fine in the sea. The water offered me some buoyancy so Punzel did not need to support me entirely.”
Felicity performed quick calculations. “She is plenty capable.”
“She is happy to do so, but I have no interest in taxing her.” Fergus moved in his chair in what could be construed as restless but she was no healer.
