by T J Kelly
Exactly four weeks after I arrived at the castle, we all went for a walk together. I had spent an exhausting morning trying to throw Mort. He used every dirty trick in the book, but I shocked myself by holding my own. I couldn’t beat him - he was much too experienced for that. But I was giving him a hard time, which meant I was finally catching on. Thankfully, Peony tossed me a spell to ease my pain so I didn’t feel as terrible as I could have.
The weather was warm for the middle of March. Since it had been dry for days, the mud was all gone. Chas suggested we strike out a little further than usual and see if we could find some bulbs of the coveted Chocolate Lily for Peony.
Few grew in the wild, but the slopes to the south of the castle were covered with the spotted flower every spring. The natives used to eat the bulbs, even though they were a little bitter. With the right processing, they became a potent painkiller and sedative. If dried and ground, the powder was included in Flash-bang spells to render an enemy unconscious. Chocolate Lilies were now illegal to use because of the recent conservation laws, but Armageddon was allowed to use them since they were deemed “necessary to the safety the Council.”
I had spent most of my time on the eastern and northern sides of the castle in my special area among the reeds, and I wanted to explore somewhere new. Peter said he was feeling restless and wanted to get out for a while, and it didn’t matter where.
At first, things had been a little awkward between us because Peter was shy with strangers. I knew how he felt, so I spent a lot of time trying to coax him out of his shell, and we had become pretty good friends. The two of us enjoyed hanging out and readily agreed to Chas’s suggestion.
The undergrowth was dense and sticks jabbed us as we pushed our way through a thick patch of trees. Nobody visited the south side often enough to clear a walking trail. I was tugging on my sweatshirt to see if I ripped a hole when I snagged it on a branch when we broke through the trees and found ourselves in the middle of a clearing. It was small, maybe only twenty paces or so from the edge of the trees to where it dropped sharply into a slope that led to steep, rolling hills where the lilies grew.
“I think this is going to be more work than we realized,” Peter said with a snort of laughter. There were acres of lilies. “Nice plan, Chas.”
“Hey now, it’s not that bad. I’ll use a spell, and we’ll be done in no time. There’s a trail up ahead that leads to a cool waterfall. You’ll see that it’s worth it.”
I smiled at Chas’s enthusiasm. I thought it was sweet that he wanted to help Peony get the supplies she needed to restock the arsenal. Even though it would be a pain in the butt to collect them.
We were close to the edge when it happened. Peter had been walking a little faster than I was, so he was hit the hardest. One moment we were following Chas, who was making his way down the side of the hill, and the next moment Peter and I were knocked to the ground by a Flash-bang.
The spell was made of fire and fury. I could feel the heat of the anger from the person who had created it. They were rooted so far down into Dark that every part of my body reacted in alarm. It also felt somehow familiar, as if I had met the magician who had cast the spell.
I blinked, trying to clear the spots floating before my eyes, desperate to see past them to the danger heading our way. I managed to make out three figures, maybe four, when a hand grabbed my arm and dragged me over the edge onto the side of the hill.
I recognized the hum of Peter’s magic, so I didn’t panic as he dragged me behind him. The ground was steep enough that we began to roll. My whole world shrank until all that was left was my body racing down the slope and away from the men standing at the top of the hill. I was so dizzy I couldn’t think, but had enough sense to protect my head with my arms. The rest of my body took a lot of hits on the rocky soil.
Thankfully, there weren’t any trees on the slope for quite a long while, so I didn’t run into any of them. On the other hand, I wasn’t sure how I was going to stop.
Then I hit a knoll and flew upward, catching air. I floated for a moment and then slammed into the ground.
It hurt so bad that I couldn’t breathe.
At least I wasn’t moving any longer. I wondered how far I had gone, but I was still reeling from my roll down the hill, and I couldn’t open my eyes. I felt like I was about to fall off of the world and gripped the grass and soft dirt beneath my hands to steady myself. It was Peter’s touch that snapped me out of my stupor. I opened my eyes, and he was there, leaning over me.
“Are you okay?” he whispered. “Can you get up? We veered to the side. There’s a line of trees not too far from here. If we move quickly, we might be able to hide before anyone finds us.”
I nodded that I was fine, although I kept my lips tightly closed, worried I was going to lose my lunch all over Peter’s feet. He clasped my hand and helped me up. He was strong and capable, but I could feel the tremor in his hand and realized that the tumble down the hill affected him at least as much as it did me. I managed a few shaky steps, gained confidence in my returning equilibrium, and that’s when Peter took off running for the trees, pulling me along behind him.
The slope hid us from anyone standing at the top. There was a clear line of sight to where we were headed, though, and there was no time to plan anything. Just run and hide, and hope for the best.
I looked back as we darted to the edge of the forest. I didn’t see anyone. Hopefully we went unnoticed.
As soon as we were in the shade of the trees, I whispered, “Did you see what happened to Chas?” I was scared for him. Peter and I were okay for the moment, but Chas was far enough ahead of us that he could have been the focus of the attack.
“I saw him duck before we got hit. I think he saw it coming. It landed behind him, closer to us, so he should be okay. I don’t like the look of those guys up there.”
After we caught our breath, I said, “Do you know this area? Can we get back to the castle from here?” The men who attacked us were located between the forest and the castle, blocking our path to safety.
“I’ve only been here a couple of times. Chas is the one who knows this area best. He spends a lot of time here when he meditates.”
I sighed. “I think we’re going to have to chance it then.”
Peter nodded, running his hand through his tousled hair, making it stand up on end. He had dirt marks on his face and even a few cuts. I probably looked a lot like he did. I was grateful I was still wearing the braids from my fighting lesson with Mort. What would have happened if it was flowing freely and had gotten tangled up on my way down the hill? I shuddered at the thought.
“We should follow the slope since uphill is essentially due north. Then we can cut over towards the castle when it looks like we’ve gotten around the men. Will you help me find a sturdy stick? We should get one for you, too, if you’ve started staff training.”
“I have. I’m not great, but I can swing it well enough to smack a few knuckles.”
“Excellent.” Peter and I scoured the area. It was mostly virgin forest, so it didn’t take long to find what we wanted. We knocked off the bark, and they were smooth and usable in no time. Once armed, we headed uphill.
I used my stick to steady myself. I was still too dizzy to walk straight. There was a sore spot near my ear that throbbed. I must have hit my head at some point. I was starting to feel several other sore places on my body, but I could still walk, so I pushed the pain out of my mind.
It was hard to tell how long we had been walking when we heard angry voices. Peter and I froze. After a split second to exchange a look, we ducked behind a rotting tree stump. We couldn’t hear well enough to make out what they were saying, but then we heard Chas’s voice. I strained to hear. Then came a shout, and the sound of a heavy object moving through the trees.
A body leaped over the stump where we were hiding and kept moving downhill. It took us a moment to realize it was Chas. Peter let out a sharp, short whistle. Chas stopped running and turned. Peter stood
and waved at him, motioning him to join us. Chas searched the trees uphill, then ran to us.
“I thought I lost you,” Chas said as he pulled me into his arms.
Peter looked surprised at the gesture, but then shrugged. “Nah, we’re too tough for a little ole Flash-bang to take us out,” he said. “Where have you been?”
“Running for my life. Looking for you.” Chas’s eyes searched the trees around us. “Come on, I know where we are. There’s a ridge east of here. We can walk up the other side for about half a mile before we need to head west. That will get us back to the castle.”
Chas grasped my hand, and we walked quickly. Fast enough that I stumbled once or twice. But Chas kept going without pause, heading for safety.
An outcrop of rocks jutted up sharply, and we crawled over them before dropping down on the other side. We turned uphill, and I was grateful I had held onto my stick so I could use it to help steady me as Chas practically dragged me behind him.
I tried not to pant too loudly, but my stamina was wearing thin. Peter and Chas had no problem breathing, but they were used to hiking at the higher elevation. I was about to ask if we could stop for a break when we finally reached the top of the hill near the same ridge where we were first attacked.
Chas stopped short and stood as still as a statue, listening for movement. Suddenly, he dropped to the ground, tugging me with him. Peter dove to the side.
It was too late, though. The three men saw us. They were just far enough away that I couldn’t make out their features. One of them let out a shout, and a spell exploded right in front of us, showering us with dirt and rocks. I raised my hands to block my face and felt something sharp dig into my left arm. Chas let out a burst of sound, and the three men were blown backward. We ran north then west, trying to get far enough uphill to go around them. Peter shouted my name, and I turned towards him.
I should have known better. I should have ducked instead of turning.
An invisible wall connected with my shoulders and head, knocking me to the ground. I screamed, but the force of the blow had dazed me, and I couldn’t keep it up. My voice faded. I touched my face, and it was wet. Bewildered, I looked down at my hands. My fingers were red with blood.
Chas leaned over me, saying something that I couldn’t hear. There was no sound except my frantically racing heart. Chas was trying to get me to sit up, but I was so woozy and confused that it didn’t work.
My head lolled to the side, and I caught sight of the men moving closer even though it was difficult to see anything around Peter’s legs. He was standing between them and us. Peter leaned forward, striking the ground with the stick we had found earlier.
Finally, I could hear something else. It sounded like a train was rushing towards us, and in a moment of clarity, I realized it was the blood rushing through my veins, echoing in my ears. Darkness surrounded me, closing in from the edges of my sight. I blinked frantically, trying to chase it away. Then everything shifted, and I was viewing everything from higher up as Chas lifted me off of the ground.
Peter drew a line in the dirt, and a spell flew out in front of him, knocking the men off their feet. Swinging the stick around in an arc, he marked the ground, creating a flash of light that blinded me. My eyes closed in response, and I couldn’t open them again. Darkness waited for me.
I lost consciousness.
NINE
Infirmary
The first thing I heard was Chas’s voice.
“I’m sorry I left you behind,” he said. “You know I love you like a brother, but I had to get Lia out of there. She was bleeding, and I thought she might not make it. I can still hear the sound of her screams before she collapsed.”
“We’re cool, man,” Peter replied hoarsely. I could feel that I was in a bed, warm and surprisingly comfortable, but I couldn’t see. “Lia was the helpless one, we both know that. I would’ve done the same thing. It all worked out okay.”
“Maybe. I still felt like a rat leaving you behind.” Chas sounded miserable. I remembered him lifting me up. He must have carried me to safety. I was amazed at the strength and determination that must have taken.
“I’m serious. Don’t sweat it.” Peter tried to clear his throat a couple of times, but it didn’t make a difference. He still sounded rough and shaky. “Look, if you still feel like you owe me one, how about we just mark it down on your tab?”
Chas laughed. The sound warmed me to my toes.
Whatever happened, the three of us were still together. That was good. I wanted to ask them what happened, but I couldn’t seem to lift my eyelids, and my mouth felt glued shut. I was helpless. Trapped.
I must have made a noise after all because Chas said, “Did you hear that?”
“I think so,” Peter answered. “Lia? Are you awake, can you hear me?” It was hard, but I managed to make a small noise. “We better have the footman let Peony know that Lia is awake.” I listened as Peter relayed the message and the sound of footsteps heading away.
A drop of water touched my lips. I groaned. My mouth felt like it was made out of sand and crystals. More water dribbled into my mouth, and I stuck out the tip of my tongue to touch the wetness on my lips.
“That’s right, Lia. Drink the water. It’ll make you feel better. Are you okay, sweetheart? Can you open your eyes?” Chas had such a soothing voice. I managed to finally open my eyes, and there he was, leaning over me, looking tattered and bruised. And concerned. There was a cut above his right eye with several stitches holding it together. “That’s my girl. How are you feeling?”
I felt good, all things considered. I bet Peony had something to do with that. She was wonderful with spells that blocked pain. Chas was helping me sit up when a footman returned with Peony in tow. She looked so worried that I felt guilty. Surely my condition wasn’t that bad.
“Aunt Peony,” I said. It was difficult to speak. My words slurred and my tongue felt heavy. “Don’t worry. I feel fine.”
Peony chuckled weakly. “Oh, sweet girl. I know you don’t feel pain, but you’re severely injured. Do you understand me? Move carefully. You have a head injury, and your cheek and mouth were split open in the blast. I’ve repaired that damage. You won’t have a scar, but your mouth is swollen, and it’ll be difficult to talk for a while. It isn’t always wise to use too much healing magic. I encouraged your face, sprained ankle, and twisted knee to heal, but it’ll take about a week. It’s imperative that you stay off of your feet as much as possible or else you can cause further damage. Understand?”
I found the list of injuries shocking, but I was glad Peony told me. “I hear you loud and clear,” I said. A few more sips of water made it possible for me to speak almost normally. “You want me to lounge around all day watching TV. No problem.”
Peony laughed. “Maybe today, my dear, but you still have a lot of studying to do otherwise. Ged doesn’t let anyone off that easily. Speaking of which, your uncle will come to see you soon. He stopped by earlier, but he had to leave to track your attackers.”
I nodded, my eyes closing against my will. It would be nice to see my uncle, I thought, but I was too tired to wait. In a moment, without realizing that I hadn’t asked any questions, I slipped back to sleep.
◆◆◆
“It’s nice to see you awake,” I heard Peter say when I opened my eyes again. He sounded terrible. I turned to my right, and there he was in another bed a short distance away. I smiled weakly at him. My face felt odd, and I realized that if my lips were as swollen as Peony had said, he might not know I was smiling.
“Thanks, Peter. Where are we?”
“Peony’s infirmary. She set it up downstairs near the kitchen. It’s easier for her since she takes care of the Irregulars when one of us is injured. That way our treatment won’t require an official admission to one of the hospitals.” Magician hospitals were run by only a handful of clans. There were a lot of politics involved in who got which treatment and when. I was sure that the lack of security was also a concern.
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“I’ll be fine. You’re lucky Peony is going to let you out of here in a week. She told me I had to stay longer. It’s going to be boring when you leave, trust me. I’ve been here once or twice before. There are only so many books you can read or pictures you can draw before the stillness gets to you.”
“I know what you mean. I remember when I had pneumonia. They kept me cooped up for ages, and I thought I was going to go crazy. Hobbies are only fun if you have a choice about doing them.”
“Exactly!”
Now that my brain was functioning properly again, I was wildly curious. “So what happened to us? I can’t remember anything after that Flash-bang hit me.”
Peter sighed. “I’m sure Ged and Peony know more of the details, but I can tell you what I know. Chas and I both thought you might have been done for. He grabbed you and ran up the hill while I engaged in battle, distracting the enemy. They weren’t all that powerful, actually. I held them off until Chas had a chance to set the sirens off. Several guards showed up immediately and helped me. Ged appeared a minute later, and those cowards took off. Ged’s the one who carried me back.”
Peter didn’t say anything about being injured, but how he looked told me that there had to be more to the story than what he told me. I wasn’t going to pry if he didn’t want to go into detail, but I was definitely going to ask my aunt about it as soon as I had a moment alone with her.
“Thank you, Peter. For everything. You’re amazing.”
“It’s no big deal. Anybody would have done the same. I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to get you to safety, but luckily Chas met up with us.” It was hard to see around the bruising, but I think he was blushing.
