by Deb E Howell
“Emylia!” Llew said, and Jonas lifted the lamp into the room.
Blood pooled on the woman’s bedding.
“What’s happened?” demanded Aris as he strode from the men’s room with Cassidy behind him. Cassidy saw Llew lowering the unconscious Anya and hurried toward them.
“Aris, stop.” Jonas stepped back into the corridor. “It’s Emylia.”
“Is she–”
“She’s alive,” Jonas said, before dropping his voice. “But it’s not good.”
Llew’s first instinct was to dash into the room and heal Emylia, but Jonas’ warning shake of the head stopped her cold. She felt helpless, more so than if she had been powerless.
“Llew–”
“Aris.” Jonas stepped between Aris and Llew. “You said yourself, Braph’s tryin’ to weaken us.”
Aris puffed up and started to raise one arm, like he was going to brush Jonas aside and defy his own warning. Then his shoulders slumped and he nodded. His eyes glistened, and again Llew felt the urge to go into the room and heal Emylia.
Jonas stepped aside to allow Aris into the room, then called down the corridor, “We need a doctor!”
“Is she going to be okay?”
Jonas didn’t reply, only driving Llew’s desire to heal the woman to boiling point. But when she made a move to dodge around him, he stepped in her way. She rocked back and he mirrored her.
“She’s still sleeping.” They both turned to where Cassidy cradled Anya. She looked peaceful, despite the blood splattered across her night gown.
A man carrying a bulky leather bag came running along the corridor.
“Somebody called for a doctor?”
Jonas directed him into the cabin.
“How bad is it?” Llew tried again.
“She took two to the gut.” Jonas folded his arms and leaned against the door frame, resting one foot across the other. “It’ll be slow, but they’ll do.”
“They’ll do?” Llew was incredulous. “They’ll do?” Llew moved to push past, and Jonas put an arm out to block her. He didn’t say anything. Llew stepped back, impotent and frustrated.
Jonas watched her fidgeting, with his cool assessment frustrating her even more. But she supposed someone had to keep their head, and it wasn’t going to be her.
“So, now he’s got the power to control people?” Llew blurted. What couldn’t Braph do? Llew caught herself on the opposite wall and kicked it. The shock and a dull pain shot through her foot and up her leg. She kicked the wall again. This time it really hurt, but she did it again anyway. The door to the cabin behind the wall opened and an annoyed-looking passenger poked her head out.
Llew sneered at her.
“Llew.”
She hooked her arm out of Jonas’ grasp and spun to face him. “No! Emylia’s in there, maybe dying, you won’t let me help her, there’s a madman with who knows what kind of magic trying to hurt or kill all my fr– all you guys, and you think I’m just going to stand here and accept it?”
“No.”
Llew hated him for being so calm and was about to tell him so.
“Emylia’s dying?” Jonas and Llew turned at the sound of Anya’s sleepy voice. She was already standing.
“I don’t– I didn’t–” Llew gaped at Jonas.
Anya headed into the room, reappearing at the door less than a minute later, her eyes drowning, her skin pale, and her hands splayed out before her, bloody and trembling.
“I did it. I hurt Emylia.”
“Shh.” Cassidy moved to pull Anya into an embrace, but she pushed past him and threw herself at Llew. Anya gripped Llew’s shoulders, pressing her head into Llew’s chest. She sniffed and whimpered. And then she brought her head up.
“You have to help her, Llew. You have to heal her. Please.” Her voice was heavy with sorrow, fear, and pleading. Llew nodded.
“No,” said Jonas, flatly.
“But–”
“That’s what he wants. You heal her and then what? No one can touch you. That what you want? To get isolated, so he can swoop in and take you?”
It wasn’t what Llew wanted, but she didn’t want Emylia to die either. She knew the guilt of killing someone, and she didn’t want Anya going through that.
“Where can he take me? We’re on a boat!”
“I don’t know!” Jonas was losing his cool. “But if he can control our minds, he’s more powerful than we thought. I don’t know his limits.”
Anya pulled back, clapping her hand over her mouth. “Oh, Llew. I didn’t mean to put this on you. Please don’t fight!” Cassidy caught her before she collapsed again, weakened by shock at what she’d done.
“It wasn’t your fault.” Llew knelt and reached a hand out to the girl. “Braph did something to you. He used your hand, but it wasn’t you.”
“Llew?” Aris’ tired voice floated from the room.
She stood, frozen. If she entered the room, the urge to heal Emylia would be immensely more powerful. But if she stayed outside, if she turned away and Emylia died . . . These people had helped her leave Cheer. They had given her safe passage even after discovering what she was. All she’d done in return was put them in harm’s way.
“Llew.” Aris waved her into the room. His voice was husky.
She gave Jonas a quick glance, but didn’t wait for a response and moved forward.
“Emy’s dying,” Aris said quietly. Emylia lay in her bed, bandages wrapped about her middle, the doctor leaning across her. Her breathing was ragged. “I wouldn’t ask if it was anyone else . . . Doc says she’s got a fighting chance if we close the wound before infection sets in.”
Llew heard Jonas shift behind her, and Aris raised a placating hand.
“He’s from Rakun, and won’t be tellin’ no one from Turhmos.”
Jonas didn’t look convinced, but there was little they could do now the doctor knew what she was, so he eased his stance a little, folding his arms defensively.
“It would leave Llew an outcast. She can’t complete the journey with the need to heal. She might as well have yellow-fever.”
“What if she healed off me?”Anya entered the room. Her voice was quiet and nervous, but she stood tall. “I did it. It should be me, shouldn’t it?”
“Braph did it,” said Llew.
“I can’t let you,” said Aris.
“What if we all gave a bit?” Llew smiled to see Alvaro standing at the doorway. He looked a lot better for all his rest, and returned her smile with a brief one of his own.
Jonas’ eyes narrowed, but Aris’ widened with hope.
“I don’t know how to control it,” said Llew. That was what she hated most. It happened to her. It happened through her. It wasn’t hers to control.
“Jonas could do it,” said Aris. “He’s strong enough to break the hold.”
“What about the kitchens? Don’t they have animals for meat?” asked Jonas, still seeking some alternative.
“Not live ones on a trip this short,” said Aris. “Look, the doc said the injury itself isn’t that big. Spread between the rest of us, we’d hardly notice.”
It struck Llew how unusual the situation was for the two Quavens. Normally, Jonas did everything Aris, his captain, instructed him to do but in this case it was Jonas who had assumed the commanding role.
“What about the horses?” asked Jonas.
“Do you want to go carrying Llew that far?” asked Aris. “You can’t bring a horse up here.”
“Well . . . ”
“Not off Amico,” said Llew. “I want him to still like me when we disembark.”
“Any horse she touches could be ruined by the experience,” said Aris. “And you have to get her down to the hold without touching her or letting her touch anyone else on the way. Look, the sooner we act, the less damage there’ll be to deal with. If we leave her . . . ” Aris fell silent.
Reluctantly Jonas nodded, and Llew moved immediately to Emylia’s bedside. Cassidy, Anya and Alvaro gathered in a tight group just
inside the door and Cassidy closed it behind them. This wasn’t something they needed an entire boat-load of people knowing about.
Llew knelt, took a breath, and prepared herself. She had healed Cassidy by accident. This time she was doing it on purpose, and she knew what was coming: it would hurt. She took up Emylia’s hand in both of her own. She expected it to hurt, but it seemed the mind had a way of dulling memories. She’d forgotten how a severe, localised wound felt when it poured through her being, forgotten the nausea, the labouring heart, the heat and the cold.
She hadn’t forgotten her inability to break the hold once established, though. It was terrifying to have so much power flood through her, and yet have no control over it. Emylia’s wounds weren’t quite as drastic as Cassidy’s, and Llew’s grip suddenly loosened and she fell back. Jonas swooped in and scooped her into a sitting position, propping her against the set of drawers. Then each of their companions knelt before her and held her hand for a minute or two, until Jonas pulled them apart. Llew was sapping ghi from him each time he did so, and feeling progressively better.
After a while Llew looked up to see a blood-soaked but otherwise healthy Emylia sitting on the edge of her bed with Anya’s arms wrapped around her as if she might never let go. It was with a relieved sigh that Llew looked about the room to see that each of her companions was well, if rubbing sore fingers and wrists.
“You did good.” Jonas patted her shoulder before he stood and moved off to confer with Aris. After a brief discussion, he dismissed the doctor with a warning not to speak a word to anyone of what had occurred in the room. Emylia was to behave as though the wound wasn’t as bad as had been believed and that she was being successfully treated by the doctor, who would call by at least once a day for the remainder of the trip.
As for the safety of the group Aris, much to the disgust of the ship’s captain, insisted they be moved into a larger room, and that the rules governing separation of the sexes on board be waived as far as his party was concerned. Jonas’ identity, now revealed, seemed enough to let them have their way.
* * *
With Llew and her companions together day and night, no further attacks occurred on board the ship to Phyos, but that didn’t mean she slept any better. Alvaro was fit again by the time they berthed in Rakun, and no one seemed any worse for wear for the part they’d each played in healing Emylia.
They arrived at the Rakun harbour just as the sun was dipping low. It wasn’t late, but the sun had been setting progressively earlier with the changing season.
They disembarked as a tight-knit group, keeping an eye on every other passenger who came close, but Braph was keeping a low profile. That meant little, considering what he had done to them on board without making a single appearance. Aris warned that while it was possible Braph had exhausted his power, it was just as likely he was waiting for them to let their guard down enough for him to slip in and take Llew. Wherever she moved, Jonas stayed right behind her, protecting her back and keeping a sharp eye on the goings-on around them. It should have been a comfort; it wasn’t. Still, she did her best to take everything in without thinking of the knife at her back.
So, this is a whole new country. A whole new continent. Well, the people looked the same, the air smelled as pungent, and the harbour had a busy air like Ryaen, although spread across more docks, more ships, and even more people.
They claimed their horses and carriage and everyone, even Anya, helped get the carriage hitched and the horses saddled for a short journey to a Rakun hotel. It was too late to journey to Lord Tovias’ estate, Aris said, and he was sure the earl would appreciate them having bathed before showing up.
Despite the name, the harbour was a short ride out from the city of Rakun proper, and they set out at a trot, passing a few fields and stands of trees. That was the first real sign that they weren’t in Aghacia any more. The trees were different. The familiar kanuka, manuka and totara trees were absent, and in their place stood tall, thin trees with thin, flaking bark. And the birds were different; the only ones she could hear squawked. Where were the small green birds Llew knew and loved?
It wasn’t long before they were riding between houses and stores again. The stores gave way to more houses, to bigger houses, and then bigger stores. It just kept going. There were still a few people about despite the encroaching evening, all still able to see where they were going thanks to tall poles topped by glass globes with a glowing wick and a whiff of kerosene. Llew wondered who had the job of lighting the lanterns but was soon distracted by the beginnings of a brawl outside a tavern. Well, some things didn’t seem to change, no matter how far she travelled.
The main street was clean and tidy, but what she could see of the unlit side streets revealed piles of rubbish and people who didn’t seem to have homes milling around. An alleyway in Rakun didn’t look half as pleasant a place to sleep as a soft patch under a tree in Cheer.
The hotel Aris booked them into was more than a match for those on Aghacia. It was huge, and included a ground floor restaurant that was feeding several well-dressed patrons already, some of whom stopped eating to follow the tired group with less-than-impressed gazes. A four-piece band played in one corner.
Aris’ party ate at another restaurant just down the street, preferring not to eat under those stares.
***
The following morning saw them enjoying steaming baths and donning fine new clothes. Aris had sent a runner ahead to the estate, and Lord Tovias expected them to look their best. Llew was disappointed to find herself expected to wear a dress for their arrival at the estate, but supposed she had no reason to parade as a boy any more. Still, no matter how many layers of undergarments she wore, she felt naked stepping into the world as Llewella. Llewella was a girl that Llew barely knew.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Llew had to admit it was a beautiful dress. Blue again. Llew had rather liked the pinkish-purple colour of one of the others, but Anya and Emylia had both agreed that the cut wasn’t right. Whatever that meant. At least it didn’t have flowers. Llew had never considered herself a flowers girl.
A mirror on the wardrobe door displayed her in her full glory once Emylia and Anya had helped tie it all together – it had a lot of ties, as well as loops and hooks. Lord Tovias had provided six stunning dresses for the women to choose from, along with a variety of hair clips, ribbons, and shoes. Llew’s feet were too big for any of the latter, but her dress hid her riding boots if she stood still. And her hair was too short to take advantage of the clips on offer, but Emylia managed to arrange it in such a way as to give Llew a surprise when she looked in the mirror. She looked . . . feminine. It was a sight as foreign as it was welcome. She smiled and a pretty girl smiled back.
When the women presented themselves in the restaurant downstairs, the boys had the same awestruck looks on their faces as they had during that brief evening in Osurnu, and Llew had to work to hide her own admiration for them. They all looked handsome. Alvaro had swapped his wide-brimmed hat for a top hat to match his grey suit, gold waistcoat and stunningly white shirt. He was immaculately shaved, making him look younger than his eighteen years, while the suit gave him a maturity beyond that, despite the self-conscious smile he flicked Llew’s way when she gazed at him. Cassidy wore a golden suit that set off his blond hair. He, too wore a matching top hat, and had accessorised with a cane. To complete the look he put on an aristocratic air which, while Llew knew it was meant to be funny, somehow suited him. Aris wasn’t in clothing dissimilar to his usual get up, but everything was perfectly clean and perfectly pressed.
Jonas had opted not to wear a hat. His long hair hung down, one side hooked behind an ear. He wore his own vest, as always fully loaded with knives, but over it he wore a pitch black short jacket, and trousers to match. Over the trousers sat his knife belt with his Syakaran knife even more visible against the crisply clean background. Underneath it all was a tidy white shirt. Llew was almost disappointed by his lack of bravery with colours, but he could sti
ll force the wind out of her with but the slightest upturn of his lips.
This time they ate in the hotel’s restaurant. The other diners still looked at them, but no longer with the wary, distasteful looks of the previous evening; rather, with the whispered question of just who are these fine people?
Aris hadn’t told them that Lord Tovias had also sent a new carriage and horses for them to ride to his estate. These were accompanied by an escort of ceremonially dressed soldiers. They appeared very fancy in their shiny get-up of royal blue jackets and straight black trousers. Many of them had badges on their jackets and Llew wondered what kind of battle action they had seen, or if the decorations were rewards for keeping a tidy uniform.
She expressed her concern at leaving Amico behind, but Aris assured her he would be brought to the estate and well tended by Lord Tovias’ grooms. Besides, he reminded her, there was no way Jonas would let them forget his horse.
Being in a dress, Llew was expected to ride in the carriage with Aris and the women while Cassidy, Alvaro and Jonas joined the escort. Surrounded by all the finery, Llew felt as though she were little more than the street urchin she had hoped to leave behind in Cheer. The dress felt like a costume. How could any of it be real?
She watched the city pass by as the group moved through the busy centre of Rakun at a walk. The cobbled town square was a hive of activity. Overall, it was clean, well kept and the people seemed happy. Money exchanged hands in swift business as people moved from one stall to the next, and milling casually amongst the crowd were beautifully dressed military men. Some sort of city police force, Llew thought. Their uniforms stood out, even amongst the brightly coloured expensive clothes of the civilians.
And the people were beautiful.
She assessed the city for the possibilities it could offer her: a denser population, more money. Two very obvious benefits over Cheer. Just how good were those street soldiers, anyway? With her keen eye she noted that there were no pick-pockets loitering in the crowd. Was that because the city simply hadn’t fostered them and it was ripe for someone to move in? Or did that mean that they didn’t survive long in these streets?