by L. Filloon
I turn to her and ask, “Was Ziri with Mellis when you met up with him?”
She shakes her head. “No. Mellis was alone.”
I turn to Tolan who is still in a tense conversation with Julia. “Tolan, Ziri is missing.”
Tolan straightens from Julia and looks at me, Julia’s attention follows. He says something to her before turning to join us – his face hard and hers flustered and annoyed.
Lily slips her hand from mine and I glance at her as she moves toward Julia. She stops momentarily in front of Tolan and he reaches out to her, hugging her warmly. She greets him with a kiss to the cheek and then moves aside to let him pass. I look at Julia and she smiles, lifting her hand in greeting. I nod, smiling in return.
Without turning I know Alorn is behind me.
“The last I saw of Ziri he was heading toward this area,” says Mellis.
“Same here,” adds Tolan.
“Then he’s in this grove,” I say as I continue to scan the area. I turn to Tolan and ask, “Can you reach out and find shelter for Lily and Julia?”
“That’s not necessary,” says Alorn, lifting his chin toward Lily. “She can make the calling herself.”
Tolan turns toward Lily and then back at Alorn. “What? Si’i didn’t come to you and offer her help?”
“No,” replies Alorn. “We were seconds from being discovered by the Ange when Lily stepped forward and called the dryad to her. Si’i took us in within seconds of Lily’s calling.”
Tolan turns to look at Lily again as she and Julia continue to be lost in their own conversation.
He looks at me. “How does that happen? The calling was natural for Phoris, but it took me almost three seasons to get it right.” He looks at Alorn, asking, “Did she do a calling or did she do a summoning?”
The warrior shrugs, “She simply looked for the dryad and then asked.”
Tolan turns to me, giving me an irritated look. I understand where he is coming from. Lily just came into her abilities and to call a dryad, especially by a Halfling, is close to impossible. And, there is that fact it took him almost three seasons to get his first dryad calling successfully.
“Let’s leave it for now, brother,” I soothe, knowing it will drive Tolan mad until he finds out how she did it. Having her “look” and “ask” is too simple of an answer for his Sidhe trained mind to accept.
I turn to the others. “You head east,” I instruct Mellis. “Alorn, you go north and Tolan, you take the west route, I’ll head south.”
Alorn glances at Lily and Julia. “Should we wait until they’re in a thela?”
“I’ll take care of it,” I answer.
I nod at Tolan and without looking back at Julia he takes off. I feel the slight movement in the air and know Alorn and Mellis have already gone. As I approach Lily and Julia, Julia looks up quickly, searching for Tolan. A look of disappointment comes over her face but when she looks at me, she quickly masks her emotions.
“We’re going to look for Ziri,” I say and Lily’s reaction is immediate.
“Without us?” she asks worriedly.
Julia steps up. “Is it the Ange? Are they here?”
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. I turn back to Lily, “Yes, you’ll be safe here. Find a thela and stay there until we return. It could be nothing, but it’s not like Ziri to take off like this, especially in a strange place so far from home.”
I lean down to give Lily a kiss but I am stopped by a single finger which is pointed at my face. I stare at her index digit before giving her an arched look.
“Are you serious? We just set the grass on fire where we stood and kissed.”
She gives me a squinted look. “You got me off guard, Tharin. No more kisses until you tell me everything about that night with Kalis.”
I have an itch to grab her up and kiss her the way she deserves to be kissed, but that damn finger of hers is in my way. I step back, saying, “All right, Lily. I’ll let you have your way for now and you’re right, I do owe you an explanation. But after that, I don’t want to discuss that night again – ever.”
She cocks her head to the side unruffled. “Okay, Tharin, fair enough. But it better be a damn good reason, until then you’re not off the hook.”
Incredulously, I laugh as I say, “Off the hook? You forget yourself, bride.”
“I haven’t forgotten anything, groom. I want answers and until then, these lips are off limits.”
Without another word I turn south ready to leave, but before taking off I give her a backward glance. “We’ll see.”
~ * ~
Chapter Five
~ Lily ~
“Um, I take it you two were just in a deeply serious discussion?” asks Julia with a raised brow.
I nod as I stare after Tharin even though he has been out of sight for a few minutes. Despite the heat, I shiver at the memory of his voice in my head and the intimate way he said it. The kiss, of course, still burns on my lips, sending my system into a chaotic symphony of trills. I sense Julia staring at me and I turn to face her. She smiles at me knowingly and I laugh in embarrassment.
“Sorry. He has a way of unbalancing me.”
“Please, if I was kissed like that a moment ago, I’d be unbalanced, too,” says Julia.
“Trust me, it’s not what you think,” I answer.
She stares at me for a moment and then asks, “I thought things were okay with the two of you?”
“Sure, yeah,” I say, uncommitted. When she continues to stare at me, I add, “It was after you left.” I hesitate and then rush through the rest. “I found him in bed with Kalis.”
Julia is quiet. I glance up at her and note the blank look on her face.
“What?” I ask.
“That’s crap. Tharin would never hurt you like that. And if it were true, no way in hell would you even let him get close to you,” she says simply.
“Yeah. My mom had the same reaction.” I give it more thought. “And deep inside, I don’t think it was his idea as well. As for Kalis, she pretty much rubbed it in my face after. It kinda irked me.”
“Kinda irked you?” she says with raised brows. “Girl, it would more than just irked me, I’d be pissed.”
“I just didn’t think it was worth my time. I realized on the Day of the Seating that my feelings were secondary to the well being of the realm. Phoris, Sema and Milina died protecting me from Kolinest and Harlu; people who want to destroy their world. I can’t let their deaths be in vain. I can’t let them down because I suck at being with a guy I have no idea how to be with.”
Julia places a hand on my arm. “Lil, you know their deaths weren’t your fault, right? You’re not responsible for anything that’s happened up to this point.”
“Yeah, I am, Jules. I’ve being fighting my destiny since the day I met Tharin. I’ve fought the idea of being with him, of being queen, denied caring about the people of Velesi and denied the idea of marrying the future king of the realm. If I would have just gone with it when Tolan first told me who I really was, maybe they would still be alive today.”
I yelp when Julia punches me in the arm. “You’ve never felt sorry for yourself before, so don’t pull that crap now. How the hell could you have known what would happen? And who in their right mind would believe anything someone who claims to be from another realm said anyway? Come on, Lil, don’t go off trying to prove that you ‘get the big picture’.”
“I hear you, Jules, but I’m not reckless – far from it and I won’t go off trying to be brave. If I were, you wouldn’t be coming.” I smile at her and she rolls her eyes, but eventually she laughs with me.
Julia shakes her head and looks after the direction Tolan took. “Are you okay?” I ask, touching her arm to get her attention.
She nods, smiling. “Yeah, I’m good. We should do as Tharin said and find a thela quick.”
I look at the trees surrounding us. I reach out to them and wait for an answer to my calling. “I don’t know, Jules. Maybe I can just
get us into a thela without one. It doesn’t look like anyone’s here.”
As if to prove me wrong, a tall, beautiful young dryad, who looks to be around fifteen or sixteen, approaches us. The sway of her hips belies the youthfulness of her face. Her skin the color of dark bark, her hair the color of deep forest green, flecked with tiny leaves throughout. Her hair falls forward, covering the sides of her face, hanging down past her waist. Her sheath is long and loose on her, hiding her small frame. I look at her feet, but they are hidden under her gown.
“I am Minth,” she greets, her voice soft. Her dark brown eyes smile as she continues. “We welcome Queen Lilianethia and her berhna on their return to Pathen. We are honored that you are here.”
Julia asks curiously, “Berhna?”
Minth turns to her and nods politely. “Yes, berhna. It means sister.”
“Ah,” replies Julia and smiles at dryad.
“Thank you, Minth,” I greet in return. “We are honored to be greeted by one who has lived centuries in this realm. We seek shelter and ask for the hospitality of the dryads of this grove.”
“You are always welcome here, my queen. You are welcome to stay within my thela. It is off this path at the lookout point of the Two Rivers.”
“Two rivers?”
“Yes, it’s a lookout point near the place I was replanted by men of this realm. According to them, it was to save me from their own progress. Here, they call me Gija Jumulu.”
I bow to her and nudge Julia to do the same and she quickly follows my lead.
“As I said, you are welcomed to wait with me until Prince Tharin of the Oak Clan returns. However, you will need to leave this grove to save the Lithi warrior.”
Julia and I look at each other and then facing the nymph, I ask, “You know where Ziri is?”
“I do, but I don’t know the way there.”
“Where is there,” asks Julia, stepping up to the dryad.
Minth looks Julia over, smiling. “You are a brave one, Julia Mann. Your friend is with Ka’sith.”
“Ka’sith?” I repeat the name I have never heard of, but somehow just saying it connects me to its owner.
“Yes, my queen. We have been waiting for a Healer of the Willow to free us from Ka’sith.”
Julia and I look at each other once again, confused but intrigued. “How long have you been waiting?” I finally ask.
“Since her arrival here from Velesi,” answers Minth.
“And...that was when?” asks Julia, urging the dryad to spill it out.
“Before my time, since the rendering,” she answers. “When Prince Tharin used the Binding to save you, he awoke within you your mother’s Sidhe blood; you are the Healer we have been waiting for.”
Minth’s words suddenly sits like a heavy weight on my chest. Each time I think I understand what it means to be queen someone else throws a wrench hitting me right smack on the forehead. I turn to Julia to find her staring at me expectantly.
Making a decision, I face Minth again, saying, “Okay, but we wait for Prince Tharin and the others.”
Minth bows her head in consent and is about to go when Julia stops her. “Wait. Why didn’t you just come out when the princes were here? It could’ve saved us some time.”
“Prince Tolan made a call but his thoughts were disorganized, troubled.” I give Julia a arched look. She ignores me as she keeps her focus on Minth. “And he did not call fro me. However, I have been calling for you since you arrived,” answers the dryad simply. Rules. Lucas mentioned something about rules.
Minth turns to leave, but this time I stop her. “Why did this Ka’sith take Ziri?”
“He is the grandson of Zorn, a direct descendant of Lotin, the great Lithi king who banished her to Pathen. She will take her revenge on the young warrior for his ancestor’s betrayal.”
“Betrayal?” asks Julia.
“Lotin and Ka’sith were once lovers. Ka’sith was a powerful dryad witch and she used her spells to deceive Lotin into falling in love with her. When Kalinest’s queen broke the spell, Lotin turned on Ka’sith and banished her to this realm, even though he loved her.”
Julia interrupts her, shaking her head. “If he loved her even after the spell was broken, why did he banish her?”
“Because he was unsure of his feelings. It was much later when he realized his true emotions for Ka’sith. But her bitterness has twisted her, causing her to even turn on her own kind. She has killed many of our sisters, burning their trees that tethered them to Mother.”
“Who knows how to find her?” I ask, now determined to go after Ziri.
If Tharin doesn’t return soon, it might be too late. I don’t like the thought of leaving without him but if this witch is out for revenge, there is no telling what kind of torture Ziri is going through.
“There is a troll by the name Mirnuk who lives within the park, to the south. He knows the way to Ka’sith,” she replies.
“A what?” asks Julia in disbelief.
“A troll, by the name Mirnuk,” answers the dryad.
A troll. A fricking troll. Yeah, maybe we should wait for Tharin and the others.
Minth stands waiting and Julia nudges me bringing me out of my thoughts.
“Can you tell me where Mirnuk is exactly?” I ask.
“Once outside of the botanic area, head toward the playground that is an island.”
“Thank you, Minth,” I bow once again. Before I turn to leave I remember something she said earlier. “You said you’ve been calling me since I got here. Was it about Ka’sith?”
Minth looks at her feet, which are still hidden under her long sheath. Then she straightens and with slender fingers, she pulls her hair over one shoulder. Along the side of her face, running down her slender neck are large pock marks, holes that are deep and ugly. They are brutal and angry looking against her smooth skin, marring her beautiful face.
I am instantly at her side, looking at the marks, and through clenched teeth I ask, “Who did this to you? Was it this Ka’sith?”
She shakes her head and smiles. “No, my queen. When the men removed me from my seed place, they could not pull all of my roots. So they cut them off in order to relocate me to my new home here. They did not realize the damage they were inflicting on me and I hold them no ill will. These wounds are minor.”
I sigh and say, “Show me.”
The dryad hesitates but then slowly lifts her sheath to show me her feet. I hold still afraid my shock would offend the wood nymph, but I forgot about Julia.
“Damn,” she says next to me, looking down at Minth’s feet. They are cut off almost to her ankles; however, new shoots of roots are growing from the severed limbs.
“Although I am healing, the cuts are so severe that it is taking me longer than usual. If they had left a foot or more of my roots, I would be completely healed within a few decades. It may take me longer to grow the roots far enough to where they would generate at a faster pace.”
“How old are you?” asks Julia.
“I have been with Mother for almost a millennium. By man’s calculation, I have been here for almost eight hundred years.”
“Wow, that’s a lot of roots,” says Julia, still staring at Minth’s feet.
Minth turns to me. “I know that you have much to do, my queen, and you will need all your energy when you face Ka’sith. But the pain lingers, causing my self-healing to be slow and arduous.”
I place my hand on the side of her face without hesitation, closing my eyes to concentrate. I call to the elements, to the healing powers of my ancestors and to the Mother herself. I open myself to their response and let their energies flow through me, but there is something else. Something from deep within awakes and the energy of Jarhan flows forth infusing the energy already at my disposal. I feel Minth jerk under my touch and I pull the flow back a little. It only takes a few seconds and I open my eyes to see a golden glow encase the dryad. Her head thrown back, eyes closed, she trembles as the gold light slowly disappears. Along
with it, the pock marks on the side of her face are gone. I look down and from under her sheath strong healthy roots peek out and grow forward, seeking water.
The dryad looks at me, bowing slightly and again I’m in awe of her beauty. She takes my hand, squeezing it warmly and whispers, “All you have to do is call my name.”
I open my hand and find three seeds in it and when I look up the dryad is gone. I turn to Julia and she gives me a skeptical look and shrugs as I hand the seeds to her. They quickly disappear into her coat pocket.
“Should we wait for Tharin and Tolan?” asks Julia.
“It’s the smart thing to do. But I’m worried about Ziri and what this witch is doing or going to do to him.”
I look around me debating what I should do. I search the ground for pebbles, stones, rocks – anything I can use to leave a message for Tharin. I gently pull the energy to me, careful not to take more than is needed. With my hands stretched out in front of me, I make slow circular motions.
“What are you doing?” asks Julia, staring at my hands.
“A trick Sema taught me,” I answer, relaxing once the task is done. I turn to Julia with a satisfied smile. “There. Once Tharin is here, all he needs to do is call out my name and the message will appear.”
“What did you say?”
“I told him to look for a troll name Mirnuk at an island playground.”
“What does that mean, anyway?” asks Julia.
“A playground that’s on an island,” I reply, shrugging. “Besides, between him and Tolan I’m sure they’ll figure it out. If not, Alorn will.”
Julia nods. “So which way do we go?”
“Hello, I got here the same time as you, remember?” I look around. “Maybe I can reach out to another dryad here.”
“Fine,” replies Julia. “Go ahead. I’ll cover you while you do your elf thing to find Ziri.”
I look at her perturbed, before closing my eyes again. I concentrate on releasing my senses searching the nearby trees for a dryad to help us find our way to a troll. I feel a tug at my coat and look down to find a dryad who looks no more than six years old.
I smile down at her and without a word she takes my hand and leads me further into the grove until we reach a young gum tree. Julie moves next to me and we stand looking at the tree. When I look down to ask what to do next, the dryad is gone.