Mariana's Secret

by A D Lombardo

  Kai swallowed hard, shocked by the news. They had raised the mountain. Liam was right—the Stonekings were very powerful. “There are ways to cross if you know how,” Kai said sheepishly. “My uncle travels back and forth.”

  “Davi, don’t yell at the boy.” Naia let her hand rest on Kai’s knee. “It wasn’t his choice to hide behind the mountain. The longer people were away, the more they forgot our ways. Their children and their grandchildren never saw our homeland—lessons were lost over the generations. Katori from this side stopped crossing over. Their children stopped trying. Separated, the young lost their gifts. Each burned out and faded away.” She bit her lip.

  This was surprising news to Kai. He had no idea Diu and Katori were once one nation. They had fought together in the war, but this was astounding to learn.

  Naia continued. “Davi and I left in peaceful protest. Youthful children, hopeful that unity could heal the world and the rift. We wanted to remind the lost generations where they came from. Welcome back any who wanted to come home. Our leaders refused to welcome home their lost children. Let me tell you, those who venture too far lose everything. We had no idea what it meant—our choice. Not really.”

  The sadness behind her eyes struck Kai’s heart. “Losing my sight made the world dull and dark.” Naia’s voice wavered. “I still care deeply for plants, but my gift to make them flourish by my touch is gone. All we have left is our strength and speed, which will fade with each generation after us.”

  Hale spoke for the first time. “Gabe is a wandering spirit; he never cared about the gifts. He just wanted to live secluded with nature.”

  Gabe nodded in agreement. “It’s true. I am happy to live free, where I choose. But honestly, it was their rules—the chiefs now dictate who can travel and when. And Naia is right. This world is dark, without the ability to glean. I had not yet manifested a gift as a young man. Some believed I would be Lumen, but I don’t know. There are some who have no real talent outside of being able to glean. Though seeing you walk with beasts, well… happy to meet you, Beastmaster.”

  Hale pointed towards his home. “Jada and I left because we were told we couldn’t go. Our parents forbade us the rights of the journey. In protest, we ran away. We boarded a ship in Port Anahita and sailed to a place called Bangloo. When we ran out of money, we were trapped in Bangloo. By the time we were able to return...” His head hung low in disappointment. “We were simply gone too long. When we sailed home, we were shunned by our families. Now we live here. Our child will be a Half-Light with no power. Within a few generations, the light within each child will fade. Future generations will be weak, like ordinary folk.”

  Stunned by their willingness to share and their bitterness about their choice, Kai cupped his chin. “Forgive me for the asking, but is everyone who doesn’t return bitter?” He winced, waiting for their response.

  Davi snorted. “I suppose we sound angry. Naia and I left seventy years ago. We’ve had time to come to terms with our choice. Kaila is our daughter. She has no gifts beyond speed and strength. We are lucky Gabe chose to stay with us. They are a good match. To answer your question, many are very happy on this side, though every now and then pangs for home prick at our hearts. I doubt there is one of us who wouldn’t return, given a choice.”

  “This certainly sheds new light on my choice,” Kai said. “What of the child? Will you share Katori secrets, like you have with Kaila?”

  Hale shook his head. “No, we will keep our regrets and the Katori secrets, as we were raised. They never need to know what we gave up or why.”

  Davi stood and motioned around the clearing. “You should meet the others. All around us are nearby settlements. Let me introduce you to your future neighbors should you consider staying on this side of the Katori Mountains.”

  Kai accepted the invitation. It made him happy to find many who were very happy with living away from Katori. He was grateful Davi and Naia’s group was willing to share. Although he wasn’t sure if they were encouraging him to return to Katori or live with them.

  Realizing the day was getting late, Kai said his goodbyes.

  On the long hike back to Albey, he thought about the Katori secrets he’d learned.

  The more Kai knew, the more powerful the Katori people became. For him, Davi and Naia’s wisdom was needed to serve a purpose. When his time came to choose, he would have to be sure what he wanted and what he was willing to give up. He did not want to live in regret, either way. Rayna would need to be given the same choice.

  Crossing the enormous river rocks in the Conha River, Kai thought about the risks his uncle Haygan took in sharing secrets, and that frightened him. What would they do if they knew how much his uncle had shared? Maybe they would banish him, or perhaps they would keep him in Katori.

  Shiva and Smoke ran to his side. They sniffed the air. Kai’s own sight told him a pack of wolves approached. The Nebean wolves relaxed. The gray wolf pack ran out of the deep woods. They approached Kai and trotted in line with the two black wolves to create one large group. His heart lifted at the sight of them. Smoke placed himself between the alpha and Kai. Kai chuckled at the thought Smoke was jealous. You are my forever bond, Smoke.

  Smoke cocked his head. Companion.

  Content, Kai shifted into a run as the trees cleared enough to make bolder moves.

  He and his pack ran through the trees. Their path kept them at a reasonable distance from town. His own wolves made people a little nervous, but he knew the wild wolves would not be welcome. He stopped in a clearing just outside of town and sat with his pack in the tall grass. It was good to run with them.

  The warm sun rose overhead, a cool breeze rustled the trees, and the sounds of birds chirping bounced through the glade. This was the life. He could spend hours outdoors. The forest felt natural. He did not belong in the city, in a palace. Before he could stand, the alpha’s ears perked up, and Kai sensed a man walking in their direction. It was Dresnor. The pack reared and darted off into the trees.

  “Kai, were you lying with a pack of wolves?” Dresnor asked, his expression surprised and confused. “A wild pack of gray wolves?”

  Kai wasn’t sure how to answer. Was this a secret he needed to keep? If only he knew all their rules. He nervously ran his hand through his hair. “Well, I…um. They were just…” He stumbled through his response and avoided eye contact, hoping Dresnor would not press for an answer.

  “You are incredible. What I wouldn’t give to be at ease with wild animals.” Dresnor raised the back of his hand to Smoke’s nose. Smoke sniffed him and stepped forward. He let his hand softly sink into the thick black fur on the wolf’s back. “Smoke and Shiva are the only wild animals I’ve ever been near. Shiva still won’t let me pet her. She will sniff my hand, but then she moves away.”

  “Don’t be offended, Philip. She is very wild. She acts civilized, but she would rather be in the woods. She is not one for strangers.” Although Kai could pet her freely, he knew her heart. The woods called to her, and she missed Haygan when he left her behind.

  ◆◆◆

  The walk into Albey was pleasant. Kai and Dresnor walked down several small streets and peered into the windows of a few closed-up shops. Some were boarded up, others just abandoned. One shop’s little wooden sign read Apothecary. Cupping his hands around his eyes, Kai pressed his face to the glass. The place was in shambles. “How could they let this shop go neglected?” he asked Dresnor.

  Behind them, Kai heard a voice. “Hello, Your Highness. Would you like to go inside?” The man offered a small bow in greeting. “I am Kinnon Albey, Zayne’s brother. I just returned this morning. I was hoping to find you in town.”

  Kinnon was tall and lean. Like Zayne Albey, he had black curly hair and a short stubbly beard. “I’d love to go inside,” Kai nodded. “Pleasure to meet you, Kinnon. This is my Kempery-man, Dresnor.” He watched as the two men sized each other up before shaking hands.

  “Why is this shop empty?” Kai asked, following Kinnon in
side. He noticed a small hitch in the man’s stride.

  “The old man died about ten years ago,” Kinnon replied, wiping away a cobweb.

  The small shop looked like someone had walked out one day and never returned. Dried herbs hung from the rafters, and dead plants sat in pots near the window. Dust and cobwebs covered everything. The shop smelled stale like a forgotten place.

  On the center table, a mortar and pestle still held the remnants of one last concoction. Along the back wall were two small chairs, a desk, a long bookshelf, and a spiral staircase. Kai tilted his head upward. “What, may I ask, is upstairs?”

  “The living quarters.” Kinnon followed Kai’s gaze. “For an apprentice. Near the end, the old man moved in. Said traveling across town to his home was too much of a bother. The house also sits empty. His apprentice left the following year.” Kinnon ran his fingers down the length of the table, leaving a trail in the dust.

  “We’ve had a few others come for a season here or there, but they are not interested in staying in a village. We have a few midwives in town. They know a thing or two about herbs, but little about setting bones. We’ve never had a physician.” Kinnon rubbed his hip.

  Kai listened and continued to inspect the books on the shelf, pulling out a few. “Would you mind if I take a few of these with me?” He eyed two books: one on local herbs, their preparation and use, and the other on blending oils with herbs and creating healing ointments.

  “They are yours,” Kinnon answered.

  “If you ever want them back, let me know, and I can have copies made and return the originals,” Kai added, laying them down to climb the spiral staircase. “I hope you don’t mind, me going upstairs. I find this place fascinating.”

  Upstairs was a spacious loft, equal to the downstairs space. Simply decorated with a double-wide bed, an armoire, two chairs, a square table, and a corner desk. Like downstairs, everything was covered in dust.

  Kai’s solo footprints displaced the dust, proof the place had sat empty for years. The loft’s double-window overlooked the street below with tattered curtains hanging on each side. A brown and tan braided coil-rope rug covered the floor. On one wall hung a set of crudely sketched plant diagrams. Rayna would love this place, he thought.

  Kinnon’s voice echoed up the stairwell. “The old man had no family. You are welcome to take whatever you wish. The books and tools are of little use to us without a healer.”

  Kai came downstairs. Books in hand, he dusted off the bottoms. “Dresnor, what do you think of this place?” he asked.

  “You plan on moving in, do you?” Dresnor jested.

  Kai chuckled. “You know, if I thought I could, I would. But Rayna might like this place. She is studying herbs and plants in Diu.”

  Kinnon opened the door and walked out into the fresh air. “Well, I have a few tasks to complete before the day wastes away. We can talk more at dinner tonight. My sister Brianna and her family will be there; she is expecting her second child this winter. I would be pleased to introduce you to Petra, my wife-to-be. We will be getting married in a few weeks. We were pleased to hear Zayne would be home for the wedding.”

  “We look forward to meeting Petra,” Kai nodded. “See you at dinner.”

  ◆◆◆

  After dinner, Kai approached the old duke. They sat across from each other in large leather chairs. “Lord Lars, I’ve been looking around the town, meeting the locals. Everyone loves the town and those working at the estate are very loyal, proud, and kind people.” With a nod, he raised his glass to the man.

  Lars raised his eyes. “We treat them like family, not servants.”

  “I also noticed that there are several empty homes and empty shops. Kinnon tells me your apothecary died a decade ago and nobody has taken his place. I heard his only real skill was plants and herbs. You’ve never had a physician. Is that true?”

  “Yes, it’s true. Kinnon broke his hip. He fell from a horse when he was young—it was never reset properly and healed wrong, not that it ever stopped him. We are proud of both of our sons. They’ve accomplished so much in different ways.”

  Kai studied the old man. Lars seemed like a good man; only he had no ambition. “I will write several letters tonight. We will send word to Nebea, the other estates and to Diu city. Surely we can find someone by summer’s end. You may have to offer the shop space and land to get them to move. Winter is no time to be without, considering you have a baby on the way. He nodded to Brianna.

  “Empty space is of no value to me. A physician willing to move here could restore faith in our city. Now, your other ideas... I am not sure we have it in the town treasury to build a warehouse and a factory, but I will set Kinnon to explore bringing people here to process our wool intro thread and ship it abroad. We had people when my father was alive, but they left several years back.”

  The old man tossed up his shoulder at the idea. He acted ambivalently to the idea that his town would fail if he didn’t show an interest.

  “Financially speaking,” Kai tilted his head, “we should look over the town's books. If money is a concern, use two of the empty shops. One for storage, the other for processing. I can investigate loaning you the equipment. Start small. There are ways to grow with minimal cost.”

  “I suppose,” Lars scowled. “Shipping our honey and preserves, but I don’t know if we can spare them. Kinnon? Son. Are you getting all of this? You’ll have your work cut out for you now that you are back from Port Anahita. No more travel. We should send someone else for supplies.” The old man sat back in his chair, pleased there was a plan in place, and someone else was responsible for the outcome.

  Kinnon finished the last of his tea, set his glass down on the small table, and stood. “I will see to the changes father. Now, please excuse me, everyone, I need to walk Petra home. I look forward to working with you, Prince Kai. Thank you for your ideas. Goodnight, everyone.”

  Kai set his cup down to shake Kinnon’s hand. “Thank you for listening. I look forward to helping you. I should also retire for the evening. I have several letters to compose and send on the morning ship to Diu.” One letter, in particular, needed to recommend Kinnon to become the next duke.

  Chapter 16

  Summer’s End

  Nothing about this summer had gone as Kai had hoped. He wanted to travel to Katori. His uncle had said no. He wanted answers about his mother—there were none to be found. With one week left in Albey, Haygan had yet to return. Was this the price for helping Kai? Would the elders forbid Haygan to return?

  Soft sheets and a comfortable bed cradled him after a long day. His long day weighed on his tired mind. A sensation raised the hair on Kai’s arms. The air around him felt thick and powerful. Whispers floated into his mind and beckoned for attention. Magic surged up his spine. Even with the electricity coursing through his body, his heavy eyelids struggled to stay awake.

  He felt the influence of someone manipulating his awareness. A powerful presence drew Kai into a vision.

  A pitch-black forest, specks of moonlight trickled through the trees. The smell of pine lingered in the night air. Unbearable heat welled in Kai’s chest. His body was consumed by fever. The pain in his head crippled his focus.

  His shirt was drenched in sweat as he marched along a narrow ledge. Rayna led the way at a quick pace. The snap of a twig behind them caused Kai to swivel around.

  He lost his footing.

  Kai tumbled down a large embankment covered in a strange, flowery vine. A plume of pollen filled the air.

  Darkness clouded his vision. When he opened his eyes, his skin burned. Large red welts covered his hands, arms, and face. His lungs burned, making it difficult to breathe.

  Rayna’s voice sounded distant and echoey. Hands trembling, he reached for her. His vision waned again. Two large hands wrapped in black cloth reached under Kai’s armpits. Someone was dragging him through the tall grass.

  Freezing water splashed his legs and back. His hot body tensed as it was engulfed in the co
ld water. A rushing river enveloped him. He began to wheeze. Rayna’s face came into view, towering over him. She offered him something to drink.

  Her hand was wrapped in black cloth, and she wiped cool water across his sore skin. “Dragon’s Breath is a dangerous flower,” Rayna said.

  Kai’s airway opened and he gulped in air. She set her bare hand on his chest. She pushed him under the water and held him in place. He could feel the heat pulse through her hand into his chest.

  Her face blurred, and he woke gasping for air.

  Sweat drenched his nightclothes.

  “What was that?” he said. His voice sounded too loud, and he covered his ears. Not fully awake, he looked to Smoke and joined him on the floor. Smoke’s calm, relaxed heartbeat soothed Kai’s restless spirit. Back to back, they lay in silence.

  ◆◆◆

  Early, just before dawn, a crowd gathered at the Albey Estate for Kinnon and Petra’s wedding. The garden path was lined with tall posts, topped with white paper cones that were illuminated by small white candles. Their warm glow made a delicate trail through the gardens. Kai walked behind Haygan.

  Near the back of the garden, everyone assembled under a tall banyark tree, surrounded by rows and rows of small white paper lanterns, lit with tiny candles. The chaplain addressed the crowd. Kinnon and Petra held hands.

  Watching the couple stand together and commit their lives to one another, Kai couldn’t help but think of Rayna. He wondered if the fates would bring them together or pull them apart. Given that he still had no idea how to convince his father to call off his betrothal, he was bound to Amelia and Milnos.

  Lost in thought, Kai watched dawn’s early light splash into the garden as the crowd focused on the happy couple. Hands raised above the couple, the chaplain spoke, “Now by the power entrusted to me by the blessed Alenga, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may seal your promise with a kiss.”