“You were the only one I found alive.”
“Oh, Frasie…”
She gently repositioned his head. “She may have escaped.”
“Water.”
She shuffled around, then a cold metal can hit his teeth. “Sorry.” She lifted his head and helped him put the cup in his mouth.
He drank quickly, but she pulled back when he started to cough. “Slowly, Aiden.”
“Was I dead?”
“Close enough,” she replied. “But I was able to heal you and drag you here.”
“Where is here?”
“We’re in a cave just north of Lahara, along the cost.”
“Frasie was in the tower,” he whispered.
“I don’t know what happened to her. But worrying about that will do you no good. You must use your strength to recover.”
He licked his lips. “More water.” She gave him what was left in the canteen. “That’s all for now. I’ll melt some more snow in a few minutes.”
“How is Niv?” he asked.
“Last time I saw her she was safe.”
A terrible pain pierced his chest when he inhaled deeply. “I think I have a broken rib.”
“Probably several,” Shareis corrected.
“But we have to find Frasie.”
“We will. But you need rest. Your body has a lot of healing to do.”
He leaned up, grimacing in pain. “I can’t wait for these ribs to heal.” A sudden wave of vertigo hit and forced him back down.
“You took quite a bump to your head. You’re not going anywhere for a few days.”
He tried to move his leg. He yelled in agony before he could put weight on it.
Shareis eased him back down. “Your body is broken. The magic I used to heal you will take time. There is no other option.”
He had no choice but to relent. “I didn’t know Proctors had that kind of magic.”
“It doesn’t work the same as Niv’s magic. Aiden, please, get some rest. The more you sleep the faster you will mend.”
He grunted in disapproval, but knew she was right. He wanted to get out of the claustrophobic, moldy cave and help his friends. His last moment with Frasie before she headed for the clock tower kept replaying in his mind. If only he had tried harder to convince her not to go, to stay with him, he could have kept her safe.
What am I thinking? I can’t even keep myself safe!
After another drink of freshly melted snow, he drifted back to sleep.
Chapter 52
Frasie and Farius made their way to the abandoned section of Lahara just outside the western gates. Though most of the buildings were uninhabitable, a few were serviceable as shelter in a pinch. They were lucky enough to find one that had a functioning fireplace, though half of the roof had caved in, leaving only the main living room usable.
Frasie sat on the floor and leaned against the wall while Farius gathered firewood. She wished she could help, but her leg was killing her. Limping along as fast as she could had kept the cold at bay, but now the chilly wind that whistled through the broken windows sent a powerful shiver through her core. Her tensing muscles ached, so she was delighted to see him return with a load of kindling.
“It is not much, but it will do.”
She maneuvered closer to the hearth. “I won’t complain. I’m freezing.”
Farius withdrew a flint from his pocket and started the fire.
“I thought you have magic, Farius?”
“I do. But druids practice geomancy. I draw magic from the earth and can only utilize the elements naturally around me.”
She grinned. “So, you could summon a mean snowball?”
“Indeed. Wind and water are the primary elements of winter in a climate like this.”
She put her hands as close to the fire as she dared. “That’s a bit better.”
A strange groan echoed through the room. It came from outside.
“What was that?” she asked.
Farius rushed to the open window. “We have company.”
She hobbled next to him. A group of undead marched toward their position. She drew her bow.
“Stay here, Frasie. I will be back.”
She hesitated to let him go but knew she was in no shape to fight. She nocked a flaming arrow and shot one of the approaching undead. The corpse stopped and tried to remove the arrow, but only managed to spread flames to its arm. Its tattered skin melted, and the skeleton crumbled to the ground.
Farius raised his hands and drew a tremendous wall of snow and ice from the ground. He forced his arms forward, projecting the icy mass toward the mob, burring most of them under a heavy pile of snow. Frasie fired a few more arrows and knocked down the remaining attackers.
“That was awesome!” she squealed from the window.
Before she could celebrate further, a second wave of undead approached. Farius conjured another wall of frost and dispatched at least a quarter of them. He quickly summoned another, but it was smaller and less effective. Her arrows swiftly brought down some of the ghouls, but their numbers were too great.
He ran into the house and tugged on Frasie’s arm. “We cannot hold them off any longer, we must leave.”
“To where?” Frasie asked. He threw her bow on his back and picked her up. “We can outrun them, but we must go now!”
A woman wearing a deep maroon dress draped with a fur cloak stood just outside the doorway. “Who are you?”
Frasie scrunched her nose. “Who are you?”
Farius pointed to the undead.
She dropped the firewood she carried, closed her eyes, and slowly rose her hands. Her arms gracefully arced above her, pulling a purple wall of energy from the ground. The leading edge sparkled with intensity, and it ascended until it joined the other side, forming a dome above them.
Waves of distortion rippled through the shield as the attackers mindlessly collided with the wall. Their bodies vaporized into a green plume of smoke upon contact with the field.
The woman rolled her chestnut eyes. “Idiots. You know that must smell. Good thing we’re on this side of the barrier.” She picked up the firewood and headed inside.
Farius tilted his head. “Are you a…”
“Tired, cold, and hungry woman?” she answered. “Yes. Now let’s start a fire.”
“What is she?” Frasie asked.
She motioned inside. “Are you just going to stand there, or are you going to carry this adorably curly-headed girl past the threshold?”
Farius took her inside and carefully put her back on her feet, helping her carry the weight of her injured leg.
She pointed to the fireplace. “Oh, I see you’ve already made yourselves at home.”
“I’m Frasie,” she said. “And this is my friend Farius.”
“I’m Olivia,” she replied, then sighed heavily. “And I can’t find my friend.”
“Were they in the city during the attack?”
Olivia shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. She was sleeping with this incredible looking tower of a man.” She raised her arm and pulled back her sleeve, then held her hand around her bicep. “He had muscles out to here, you know?” She took a deep breath and regained her composure. “Anyway, he was supposed to take her to safety.”
“Narelle?” she asked.
“Yes, you know her?”
“Cadrin is a friend of mine,” Farius said.
Oliva opened her mouth to say something, then stopped herself.
“We know she was cheating on Cadrin,” Frasie said.
Olivia laughed. “Oh, my adorable new friend, I can assure you, she was not cheating on Cadrin. No, cheating implies he wasn’t alright with it.”
“I highly doubt he would approve of her behavior,” Farius said.
Olivia frowned. “You druids walk around half-naked and share your love freely in that little grove of yours, and now you want to cast judgment upon us?”
“Humans have different standards of monogamy.”
Olivia ch
uckled. “Yes, yes, they do. And neither you or I should concern ourselves with that, should we?”
“She betrayed his trust,” Farius said.
“No, my dear, you are mistaken. I know Cadrin. Good man. Dutiful cuckold.”
Farius took a step toward her. “Do not speak ill of my friend. I fear he may be dead.”
“And if he were alive would it be appropriate?” Olivia shook her head. “Every species on this planet sees fit to throw our sexuality in our face anytime it suits them. I’m sorry you didn’t know about your friend’s arrangement with his wife, but that is not any reason to speak ill of my friend.”
“You’re as Skilla?” Frasie asked.
Olivia brushed her long, dark hair off her shoulders, highlighting the deep v-cut in her dress. “In the flesh.” She laughed. “Such a peculiar expression isn’t it?”
“Narelle hid her true nature from Cadrin,” Farius said.
“No, dear, they hid it from you. Cadrin knew full well Narelle was a Skilla.”
“I thought Narelle was a good person,” Frasie said.
Olivia gasped. “She is! Good grief. Judgmental humans.” She put her hands on her hips and walked to the window. “If you two are finished casting aspersions on my friend and I, perhaps we should find a more permanent solution to this problem.”
“Let there be no mistake – I like Narelle,” Farius said. “But I have always detected she was hiding something.”
“She was,” Olivia replied. “In the human’s language, our species is a nickname for whore. It tends to put us on the defensive.” She relaxed her posture. “The fact she kept her identity from you is a compliment.”
Farius took a deep breath. “Perhaps I have been prejudice.”
“Skilla have earned some of our reputation. There are those who use our power to manipulate for evil.”
“Is there a good kind of manipulation?” she asked.
Olivia grinned at her. “We all manipulate each other in many subtle ways.”
“Manipulation is just another form of violence,” Farius said.
“You name one animal that doesn’t manipulate or kill others to sustain itself and I’ll gladly concede your point.” Olivia chuckled. “I can’t believe you want to debate philosophy while we stand just paces from corpses who want to eat us for dinner.”
“Your barrier will hold through the night, won’t it?” Farius asked.
“It should. Provided they don’t bring friends.”
Farius put his arm on Frasie’s shoulder. “I thought it might. Good. That will give me time to heal my friend.”
“Would you like my assistance?” Olivia asked.
Frasie reached for the throbbing spot on her leg. “You can heal?”
Olivia smiled and put her hand on her face. “Of course, my dear. Some think that our magic lies only in seduction, but before we were cast out of the Ael’Shanar, we were known as powerful wizards and sorceresses.”
“I would appreciate your help,” she replied.
“Wonderful,” Olivia said. “Mr. Grumpy and I will put our differences aside and cure all that ails you.”
Farius helped Frasie to the ground. “I will work on her organs. Why don’t you focus on her leg?”
Olivia clapped her hands. “Perfect.” She moved down and raised her skirt. “What a nasty fracture on such an otherwise lovely long leg. Frasie, with your gorgeous locks, beautiful eyes, and these legs, you must have the men buzzing around you like flies.”
She giggled. “No, not really. They think I’m strange.”
Olivia waved her hands over her leg while she spoke. “Oh, nonsense. They’re just intimidated by your beauty.” A purple hue emanated from Olivia’s hands, sending warm, healing energy through the tissue into the bones. “Do you have a special someone?”
Her breaths were staggered while Farius healed her lungs. “I… I suppose. I don’t know.”
Olivia grinned. “Well, what’s his name?”
She looked up at Farius, then back to Olivia. “Aiden.”
“Ah, Aiden. A pleasant name. Surely he follows you around like a little puppy.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” she replied. “But we have the best conversations.”
“Sounds promising.” She felt a tinge of pain as Olivia continued on her leg. “Have you kissed him yet?”
She blushed. “No. He hasn’t tried to.”
“Well, you should. I tell you, Frasie, some men are forceful, and some will wait an eternity before they make a move.” Olivia put her hand underneath her leg. “If you want Aiden, then you’ll have to show him you’re interested.”
“He seems happy when he’s around me,” she replied.
“I’m sure he is.” Frasie’s leg warmed and the pain intensified. “Does he have a good sense of humor?”
“Yes.” She grinned. “He’s funny.”
“Good. That’s very important, you know.”
With a sudden jerk, Olivia magically realigned the bones in her leg. The pain was intense, but she had a pleasant memory of Aiden to soothe her.
“There,” Olivia declared. “In a few days, you’ll be able to dance with this charming fellow.”
She raised up. “Hey, you just manipulated me!”
Farius gave a hint of a smile. “Nicely done.”
Chapter 53
Shareis stood at the cave’s entrance and took a full breath of the cold salt air. The smell stirred a memory of collecting seashells with her mother and brought a much-needed smile to her face. The moist air from the ocean dampened the bite of winter’s chill. She lingered a moment, then gathered some snow and returned to the campfire.
Aiden called for Frasie while she melted the snow. “Frasie’s not here.”
He coughed. “What?”
“You must have been asleep. You called for Frasie.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
“No need to apologize.” She felt his ribs. “You are mending nicely. The after effects of the magic are accelerating your healing.”
“Good.”
She sat by the wall of the cave. “You care a great deal for her, don’t you?”
“I do. Do you have anyone special?”
She smiled. “Yes.”
“Do I know him?”
She chuckled. “Yes, you know her.”
“Her? Oh, I should have known. You’re a Proctor.”
“Proctors mate with both sexes. Anyway, I am in love with Niv’leana.”
Aiden was silent for a moment. “Niv? I didn’t know.”
She realized she shouldn’t have disclosed this without asking Niv. “For now, please do me a favor and keep this to yourself.”
“Why?”
“I’m not sure how human culture deals with this. Proctors have no shame or stigma regarding our sexual preferences, but I shouldn’t have assumed.”
“Your secret is safe with me.”
She wrung her hands. “Will others disapprove of Niv?”
“No one worth caring about,” he replied. “Besides, in my experience, most people are more worried about themselves.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“I was leery of you at first,” Aiden said.
“I remember. With good reason.”
“Maybe. But Niv forgave you, and you saved me. I owe you.”
She walked to him and took his hand. “You owe me nothing.”
“I think you and Niv will be a good couple.”
“Thank you. And, the same with you and Frasie.”
Aiden chuckled, then groaned in pain. “Don’t make me laugh, Shareis.”
“Laugh? It’s not funny.”
“I’m so shy. I should have told her how I feel.”
“Yes, you should.”
Aiden sighed. “I hope it’s not too late.”
“Don’t think like that.”
His stomach growled. “I can’t believe it, but I’m actually hungry.”
“That’s a great sign, but I’m afraid your options are limited.
I can make you a salad with delectable cave moss topped with slimy mushrooms.”
“Ugh. I think I’ll pass on the moss… but the mushrooms…”
“They’re edible,” she said. “I nibbled on a few myself.”
“I’d like to try one.”
She walked to the end of the cave and picked a few, then made her way back to Aiden. She brushed one and offered it to him.
“Shareis, what are you doing?”
“What?”
“Why are you trying to put it in my eye?”
“I’m sorry.” She lowered it down to his mouth. “Thank you. Not bad. How’s the moss?”
“You don’t want to know.”
After he finished the mushroom, he asked for seconds. She tried to place another in his mouth, but he refused.
“Put it in my hand, Shareis. That’s why I held it out for you.”
“My apologies,” she said. “I hadn’t realized you could move your arm yet.”
“It’s really sore, but I can. See?”
“That’s good.”
“Now, how about that mushroom?”
She reached for his hand, but she couldn’t find it.
“Shareis, what’s wrong? Can you not see?”
She franticly felt for his hand. “Of course, I can see.”
“How many fingers am I holding up?”
“Three.”
“I’m not holding up any.”
She turned away. “This cave is dark.”
“I can see just fine,” he said.
“Humans have better eyesight in low light.”
His hand rested on her forearm. “Tell me the truth, Shareis. Can you see?”
She sighed. “No.”
“What happened?”
She put his arm down and patted his shoulder. “It doesn’t matter. Tomorrow, if you are well enough, we’ll leave for the Den’tari.”
He grabbed her hand. “Shareis, I’m not going to sleep until you tell me how you lost your sight.”
“In the attack,” she replied.
“You weren’t in the city.”
She walked away and stopped when her hand reached the cave wall. “Why are you questioning me about this?”
“I don’t mean to cause you grief. I’m very grateful for what you’ve done. I just don’t understand. You couldn’t have been injured in the attack.”
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