Silver and Light

by J. R. Castle

  Kellie plopped down beside Kardia and reached into a cloth bag, bringing out two small pies about the size of her palm. “You’ll love these.” Kellie gave one a sniff. “And they’re still warm. I ran all the way down here. Almost knocked the poor regent on his backside in my haste.” She giggled and set the pie gently into Kardia’s cupped hands.

  “Sometimes I’m not too sure about him,” Kelly went on. “Twice now I’ve seen him pacing around aimlessly, talking to himself, but his words are gibberish. They make absolutely no sense. I’m not sure what’s better, an aloof ruler or a mad one?”

  Kardia clicked her tongue. “He’s not mad. Listen to how you talk, silly girl.”

  Kellie giggled, knowing Kardia’s scolding was in jest. She loved how the whole family was always laughing and full of joy.

  Falling back into the soft, plush grass growing along the shoreline, Kellie nibbled at her own pie. “Well, he’s…different. My sister keeps going on about how handsome he is. As if someone like her would even have a chance with him. I’ve told her he has his interest set on that fine lady from outside of our province. Nell’s in denial, I fear. Poor girl.”

  Kardia thought about the day the two of them had been face-to-face with the regent, and Nellie didn’t seem to have any interest in him. Not like her sister was suggesting. But then Kellie was a flirt and always talking about the boys who worked the fields and cared for the animals.

  Kardia’s lips pursed as she said, “I was under the impression that Nellie already had a suitor. Someone named—”

  “Oh, Timothy? Please, he’s always covered in dirt and smells like mud. Ugh. And he has this horrible beard that covers his face. Which might be because he’s part troll.”

  Waving the switch she used to guide the geese, Kardia narrowed her eyes at the young girl. “That’s not nice at all.”

  Kellie’s nose wrinkled as she scooted out of reach of the stick. “Well, if I ever marry, I want someone fine and handsome. Maybe with me being an Illuminate, I can work my way up to the council. They all get the nicest houses.”

  Kardia’s gaze scanned their surroundings. She wanted to warn the girl about talking so openly about her giftings, but they were in Rodon. This place was supposed to be safe. She glanced down at her damaged hands. Nellie said no wizard would step foot in Rodon. Kardia breathed out a long breath, pushing aside her worries.

  “What exactly does an Illuminate do, Kellie?”

  The girl’s twinkling blue eyes widened as she sat up and dusted the crust crumbs from her hands. “Well, it’s more impressive if we were somewhere dark, but here’s something neat I just learned I can do.” She clapped her hands together, causing a ball of shimmering light to dance between her fingers. Looking around, she noticed a duck and goose, circling each other, feathers ruffled and necks craned. “Let’s teach them a little lesson about how to get along, shall we?” With a giggle, she tossed the sphere of light as if it were a toy ball.

  Kardia’s mouth gaped open as the orb spread out into a shimmering bubble that landed over the goose a moment before the duck went in for a jab with its beak. The bubble shielded the goose, causing the duck to bang its beak against the wall of light. Soon it faded and the two swam off in different directions. “That’s amazing.”

  Kellie’s smile split her young face. “I know.” She wasn’t modest in the least.

  From behind them, someone said, “That’s not bad. Have you been practicing?”

  Both girls turned to find Regent Leon standing behind them clutching a blue cotton bonnet in his hand.

  “Hey,” Kellie quickly stood. “That’s mine.”

  The regent held it out to her with a bow. “You dropped this after stampeding over me, young lady.” His smile and the humor dancing in his brown eyes belied his scolding.

  “My apologies, Regent.” Kellie offered him a curtsy after snatching her hat from his hand. “I was in a hurry to catch up with my friend, Kardia.”

  His grin widened when he noticed she was also sitting beside the pond. “Good afternoon, Kardia. Are you two out enjoying a picnic?”

  Kellie answered first, “No. But I do have some of Mama’s famous beef pies left if you’d like one. Kardia is the new goose girl since the twins are starting their studies. I came to see how she was doing and to bring her something to eat.”

  His brows furrowed. “Goose girl? But didn’t Steward Pavlina…”

  Kellie’s scowl and fisted hands told Kardia that she needed to intervene before something unfortunate was said. “I’m more suited to tending the fowl, than stirring batter, Sire.”

  “Leon.” He corrected. “Please, Issah is the only one here who should be addressed by such titles. Not me.”

  The mention of the Prince’s name, Kardia’s heart beat harder. “Have you met him, Sir—uh, Regent Leon?”

  “Yes, he was here when I was sworn into my position, and—”

  “Here?” Kardia gasped. The prince of Alburnium had been in Rodon? Why was she so close, yet so far from reaching her heart’s desire? “Will he come here again?”

  Leon pointed to the spot where Kellie had been sitting as if asking permission to join her. Kardia gave a nod, tucking her hands inside the folds of her apron.

  “Thank you,” he said while sitting. “I do not expect another visit any time soon, but I’ve found one never knows when he’ll show up.”

  “What about…” should she ask? She’d been wondering about the Elderad who had helped her reach Rodon, then hastily departed. “Riyah?”

  He cringed. “Yes, he sent a messenger bird last night, asking after you. I fear I’ve failed miserably in watching out for you, my dear. I do hope you’ll forgive—”

  Kardia shook her head. “I’m fine. I like the job I have now. But I’m still eager to meet the King.”

  “Oh, me too, me too.” Kellie flopped down on Leon’s other side and grabbed his arm, giving it a gentle pull. “I want to go to Radiance when you send the next group. Mama won’t give me an answer, but I bet if you’d speak to her she’ll agree. We’re also trying to talk Nell into coming along with us. Then maybe Mama won’t be so worried about me, though I’ll be fine. Please, what can happen?”

  “Well, young lady, perhaps I could speak to your mother. I’m pleased to know there are some who are eager to make the trip.”

  Kardia watched the regent banter with Kellie. He was friendly, just as she’d hoped, and seemed to have a kind heart, even if he was easily distracted. She didn’t suppose running a province was an easy task. Not at all.

  A couple of the ducks waddled on to shore and came over to her. That’s when she remembered the bag of grain she’d brought. Even though she was the one who’d looped the drawstring around her belt, trying to loosen the tightened knot was nearly impossible.

  The regent started to reach over to help when Kellie stopped him. “She must learn to do it herself, Regent Leon. She must. Mama said if we keep trying to do everything for her she’ll never be able to heal and take care of herself.”

  Kardia’s vision blurred. Of course, Hilda was right, and Kardia was slowly becoming more adjusted and finding alternate ways to do simple things she’d once taken for granted. At least with her new clothes and boots, she no longer struggled to get dressed in the morning. Closing her eyes, she reminded herself to be grateful for the few kindnesses she’d been given so far, and for people who believed in her.

  “I’m sorry,” he said, drawing his hand back to his side. “If you need help, though, don’t hesitate to ask.”

  One of the ducks honked its annoyance at her taking so long to provide the bits of grain they were accustomed to. It didn’t help when one of the smaller ones tried to help her by snapping at her hand while she tried to get her stump of a thumb under the tight string.

  Leon offered her a small stick. “Maybe this will help?”

  She grasped it in one hand and finally managed to maneuver the tip between her belt and the tie, pulling it loose enough to get the heavy bag free. Next ti
me, she’d need to secure it a different way. “Here you go you greedy little beast.”

  Hurling a palm-full of the grains away from her and out onto the water, the flock of ducks hurried off to snag their share.

  When she finished emptying the bag, she glanced at Regent Leon and Kellie to find them both smiling at her. Her cheeks started to burn. “I should get the geese back to —”

  “What happened?” Leon demanded. “I know you’re the one who healed my leg.”

  Kellie gasped, her mouth dropping open.

  “When Nellie the gardener mentioned that you were from Goia, I knew why you seemed so familiar. You’re the Healer, the Sano, who mended my broken leg.”

  “Noooo,” Kellie gasped. “She’s a Sano?”

  “Was,” stated Kardia, brushing the bits of grass and dirt from her skirt. “I’m…I can’t…” she shook her head and picked up her herding stick. Giving a low whistle, she called the geese to her. Already they followed her like they’d done the twins.

  Leon also stood. “Please tell me what happened. I can see that your wounds are still healing, so this happened recently. Was it right after I left? Or…?”

  “Why does it matter?” Kardia asked, waving the stick to get the geese moving back toward the fowl pens. “It’s all in the past and I—”

  “Because,” The regent took hold of her free wrist, gently turning over her hand as he examined the damage. “I’m the regent and I knew there was something…off…about Goia. But then we received that strange letter asking that we hurry back home. I’d wanted to stay and find out…more. Your parents acted like you didn’t even exist, but I’d seen you. Riyah purposefully went looking for you. He didn’t say so at first, but when he showed up here with you, I knew there was something important about you. Will you please help me understand? I’m commissioned to protect my people and this land. I know there’s a threat of wizards trying to take over the outlying towns. We fought them in Tarest. Was there—”

  “I was traded for the gold that saved Goia.” Kardia blurted. And before she realized what she was doing, the whole story spilled out. As they walked the geese back toward the pen, Regent Leon kept hold of her free hand, while his other arm draped across Kellie’s shoulders.

  The younger girl listened to her story with great interest and when she got to the part where the wizards showed up to claim her, she asked, “What were they going to do with you? Why did they—”

  “They seek out people with special talents,” Regent Leon explained. “I thought it was just scary stories to keep children from wandering too far from home, but it’s quite true. And it happens more than I realized in the smaller villages, those that had been ignored.”

  Kardia stopped and pulled her hand from his. “Please don’t banish everyone from their homes, Regent. We were starving when Dadda made that deal, and he didn’t believe it at first. He thought it was a joke. Until he came home and our house was overrun with gold coins. And they used it to help others, they tried to—”

  “Hush, Kardia dear.” He rested his hands on her shoulders. “Don’t fret. I’ve sent my cousin and his family there to take over Priorship. Your father wrote to me, did you know? He explained some of what happened, though he did not mention…” Once again he took both of her hands, his soft brown eyes full of sorrow. “I want to help. My cousin has written to let me know that the town is willing to accept the changes he wants to make. So good did come from your terrible sacrifice. But more good, perhaps, can come even still. I don’t want to see anyone left out in the cold again. That includes you.”

  She didn’t know what to say, but Kellie didn’t seem to lack in words. “Can you help her? With her hands? She’s so brave, our Kardia. She’s brave and good-hearted.” Kellie slung her arm around Kardia’s neck. “I bet you have an idea, don’tcha Regent? You’ve been places and seen things, haven’t you?”

  He smiled and tapped his finger against her nose with a chuckle. “Perhaps.” His smile relaxed as he locked Kardia into his stern gaze. “Promise me that if you need anything, or have any problems with anyone else here, that you’ll come to see me. Either come to my cottage by the orchard, or you’ll find me in the Meeting Hall. I’ll always make time for you, understand?”

  Once they reached the area where the livestock was kept, Regent Leon offered them both a low bow and bid them a good evening. Kellie wrapped her hands around Kardia’s arm with a loud, sigh.

  “He’s handsome and kind, isn’t he? Good thing Nell likes that ol’ Timothy because I can see our regent is very taken with you, Goia-girl.”

  “What? Me?” She shook her head in denial. Impossible. He only felt sorry for her, and perhaps indebted, but nothing more. She was sure of it.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Leon paced around his office, looking over the dusty volumes lining the bookshelves of his study. There was something that could be done for Kardia, but he wasn’t sure how to go about getting it done. Or who to contact. Nobody in Rodonal had the skills with mechanical gadgets like the Logorians in Aloblase, or the Curians at the Hall of Knowledge.

  Kardia talked about her healing skills as if it was something of the past. Since learning that she was now a goose-girl, he’d found new excuses to take his morning strolls around the pond. Sometimes he was lucky enough to catch her feeding the ducks, others times she was off walking the geese through the harvested fields.

  Her afternoons were free, and he’d encouraged her to visit their library since she seemed to enjoy reading. She’d even shown him her worn and marked copy of the King’s Book of Letters that she carried tucked in her dress pocket. He was pleased to know the wares he’d left behind in Goia had done some good.

  His times visiting the golden-haired girl were a pleasant reprieve for his troubled mind. Though he didn’t share too much about the province, not wanting to bore her, he found her to be a sympathetic listener and eager to learn more about the wide world outside of the province. She wanted to know why she didn’t see any Creatures in town, then talked about a faun she’d met during her travels to Rodon. He sounded like a scoundrel, but she spoke of the fellow with fondness.

  Such was Kardia’s ways, always seeing the good despite how badly she’d been treated.

  Sitting at his desk, Leon sorted through a stack of parchment papers, various requests from the people of Rodon. He’d not had any more correspondence from the outlying towns since his last request for the names of people who needed to make the trip to Radiance. So far, he only had Kardia and the Illuminate who was still too young to go without her mother being in attendance.

  He slumped in his chair. Making the trip for a handful of people wasn’t exactly feasible, but he feared if he tried to put the Sano off, she’d attempt to make the trip by herself. There wasn’t even a white path from his province to Radiance! The trip through the mountains was dangerous and she’d be easy prey for slave traders and wizards. No, he couldn’t allow her to attempt such a feat, though she’d probably scoff at his attempts to detain her.

  With her damaged hands, she wouldn’t even be able to carry a weapon to protect herself.

  Resting his forehead on the ball of his palm, he sketched his idea on a blank sheet of paper. He knew it was possible. Gloves with fingers that could move. If only he had the technology to make such a thing himself, but it would require a bit of Logorian enchantments and….

  “Of course!” Leon pushed aside the stack of papers and found another blank sheet.

  I have a huge favor to ask, and I’m sure it’s going to cost me immensely, but I know it will be completely worth the cost.

  After describing the situation and including his sketched ideas, he folded the parchment and sealed it with his crest.

  “Samuel!” Leon called from his opened door. He waited for several minutes before the boy’s running footsteps slapping over the stone floor grew nearer.

  “Sir, I’m here, Sir Leonard.” The boy was dressed in his sleeping clothes.

  Leon glanced out the darkened wi
ndows of his study. “What time is it, Sam?”

  “Well nearing midnight, Sir.” He rubbed at his sleepy eyes. “But here I am, ready to help however I can.”

  Now Leon felt terrible for waking the lad. “My apologies, son. I should have been more aware—”

  “No Sir, you’re the regent. You can do whatever you wish, Sir.”

  Leon slumped against the door frame. He did not want to be that kind of leader. “Listen, next time I’ll try to pay more attention to the hour.” Thrusting the rolled letter toward the boy, he said, “Would you please take that down to the messenger office first thing in the morning? Ask for the fastest bird, he will have far to travel. And I’ll need to pay for the bird’s return flight, as well, because I wish for it to remain until I get an answer. Can you remember that, Sam?”

  The boy nodded, still rubbing his eyes with a wide yawn. “Yes, Sir. Send message first thing. Pay for a return message. Got it.”

  Leon dropped a couple of extra coins into the boy’s other hand, then pressed his finger to his mouth. “Because I very much appreciate your dedication, Sam. Keep those and spend them on something you want, understand?”

  The boy beamed a wide grin up at him. “Yes, Sir! Thank you, Sir Leonard. Thank you so much!” Then he tore off, running with a skip and hop back to his room.

  “I should get home myself, I can’t believe it’s so late.” He gathered a few things he still needed to read over, despite knowing once he reached his comfortable little home, he’d most likely collapse into bed right away.

  When Leon reached the lower floor and started for the front entrance, a strange light coming from the library section caused him to stop. Fearing someone might have left one of the gas lamps burning, he turned his steps to make a quick stop to turn it off. Huddled beneath the soft glow, he found a small figure curled up in the chair at the reading table. A large book lay open on her lap. Her golden hair, tied back in several braids that met in the nape of her neck identified the intruder right away.