by Pedro Urvi
“We’ll have to experiment to see whether you can reach that new energy inside you.”
Lasgol’s face twisted. “Experiment is my least favorite word.”
“You need to think of the potential, and what excellent news this is. Your energy, your power, will go on growing throughout your life. That’s fantastic.”
“We don’t know that…”
“It’s a hypothesis based on a recent event. I believe that if it’s happened once, it’ll go on happening over time. That’s the most likely thing.”
“We’ll see. For the moment it’s only happened once, and I wasn’t even aware of it.”
“This must be documented in some tome of mystical or arcane knowledge. I’ll try to find one that talks about it.”
Lasgol smiled. “Go ahead. You may be lucky.” He said this without believing it was possible. He doubted very much whether this problem would be dealt with in any tome of magical knowledge. But they would lose nothing by searching. They might even be lucky.
“In the end, Viggo’s going to be right,” Egil said with a mischievous smile.
“Viggo? What about?”
“That you’re a ‘weirdo’.”
Lasgol started to laugh and Egil joined him. Seeing both friends laughing, Camu began his dance. Poor Ona, not used to this, looked at the three of them with her ears flattened back, not understanding what was going on. Lasgol went up to her and stroked her head.
“Laughter is good,” he whispered to her. “It gladdens the soul.”
“And heals it,” Egil added.
For a moment longer they laughed and allowed that moment of joy to envelop them. Soon everything would change, and moments like this would be long in coming. They were both aware of the fact.
Chapter 9
Lasgol and Egil spent the time left to them chatting about a thousand and one things, as they liked to do. Toward evening, Lasgol went to see the Quartermaster to get supplies for his mission. He met the Elder Superintendent, who was as un-amiable as ever, but at least gave him everything he needed, including a couple of maps of the northern territory. That was one advantage of being a Ranger: at the Camp, in the capital, and at a series of posts scattered throughout the kingdom, they could get a fresh supply of anything they needed.
As he was on his way back for Camu and Ona, he met Eyra coming from the School of Nature workshops.
“Hello, Lasgol,” the Erudite greeted him with a friendly smile.
He bowed his head respectfully. “Good evening.”
“Food for the mission?” she asked, indicating the traveling pack slung on his back.
“That’s right.”
“You’re heading north?”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Perhaps you could do me a favor.”
“Of course.”
“I need a rare plant, a special one, for a remedy that’s very difficult to prepare. It only grows in one region of the North.”
“I imagine it’s the territory of the Wild Ones of the Ice?”
Eyra smiled. “You were always quick. You guessed right. It’s there.”
Lasgol nodded. “I’ll get it for you.”
“Good. Let me mark where you can find it on a map. I don’t want you to go wandering about hostile territory facing unnecessary dangers. Do you have one?”
He nodded. “I don’t know the area too well, so I asked for a couple of maps.”
“Well done. I’ve heard that the Wild Ones are back… be very careful.”
“It looks like it. I guess I’ll find out soon enough. I’ll be very careful.”
Eyra marked the area on the map where he needed to look for the plant.
“It’s the Undying Bell. It’s very rare. It has a yellow-orange flower, with a long stem more than three hand-spans tall. But the most characteristic feature is that the tip is white as snow and shaped like a bell.”
“Oh… it has flowers in winter?”
“All year around, which is why it’s called ‘undying’. It survives the snow and the cold. It’s a very curious plant. Unfortunately, it’s not found in many places, and in those where it grows it’s very occasional. It won’t be easy to find.”
“How curious.”
“So it is. Look for it in open spaces among groves.”
“Understood.” The request sounded strange to Lasgol. Why did Eyra need that unusual plant at that particular moment? Could it have something to do with Dolbarar’s illness? He decided to find out.
“What’s this plant used for?” he asked, trying to sound genuinely interested.
“For healing purposes.”
“Healing? How interesting.” He tried to look intrigued. He needed to get more information. “For fevers?”
“No. It’s used for treating infections of the blood.”
“Debilitating infections? Serious ones?”
“That’s right. Since when have you been interested in healing?”
“Oh, I’ve always been interested. The thing is that I’m better with animals and tracking than with healing…”
She pointed to Lasgol’s chest, where his two Specialist medallions were hanging. “I can see that.”
“Is there someone seriously ill who needs the plant?”
“Isn’t it enough if I ask you to look for it? Do you need any other reason?”
“Oh, no. Of course not. It was just in case it was urgent… I’ll look for it, find it and bring it back to you.”
“That’s better. Try to bring me three plants. It won’t be easy to find them, but I do need them. One alone isn’t enough for the preparation I have in mind.”
“I’ll do that.”
“I need them before the thaw is complete.”
“I’ll bring them back in time.”
“Thank you very much. And one other thing. This request stays between the two of us. Don’t mention it to anybody.”
“Of course. My lips are sealed.”
“Thank you. Good luck and be careful.”
“Thanks. I will be.”
Eyra walked away slowly, and Lasgol was left wondering about the strange request. She wanted to keep it secret. That could only mean that it had something to do with what was happening to Dolbarar.
He was on his way to Egil’s cabin when someone spoke to him.
“Look what the spring breeze has brought,” said a feminine voice. “A hero no less, and from the West.”
The voice sounded familiar to Lasgol, although he did not fully recognize it. When he turned toward it, he found a very pretty blonde girl dressed as a Ranger watching him with a mischievous smile.
“Valeria! What a surprise!”
“Valeria? Aren’t we friends anymore?” she said with a grimace of mock-annoyance.
“Sorry, Val,” he said with a smile.
“That’s better,” she replied, still smiling roguishly. She came up to him and hugged him tightly, then gave him a kiss on the cheek which caught him completely by surprise.
Ona growled in warning.
“I see you have a new girlfriend. She looks jealous.”
Lasgol smiled. “She’s no girlfriend, she’s my Familiar. Her name is Ona, and she protects me. She doesn’t like strangers coming near me. I see you’re still as impulsive as ever.” He stroked the snow panther to let her know there was no danger.
“Only with you,” she replied, pretending to apologize. “And I’m no stranger,” she added looking offended.
“Don’t be like that. For her, you are a stranger.”
Valeria smiled. “Can I stroke her? She’s beautiful.”
“You can, but when you do it you have to lower your hand below her head, so that she sees it coming. If you do it from above, she won’t like it and she might lash out.”
Valeria smiled. “Cautious girl.” She did as Lasgol had told her, and showing Ona her hand, she brought it down below her head until she touched her back and began to stroke her.
Ona chirped with a questioning look at Lasgol.
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“This is Val. A friend,” he whispered, nodding so that Ona would accept her.
“A very good friend,” she emphasized.
“What are you doing here?” he asked. He was surprised to see her. “You should have already graduated.”
“And what happens to the best among those who graduate?”
“They go for the Specialization Test.”
She smiled proudly. “Exactly.”
He nodded. “I see. When will that be?”
“In three days’ time.”
“You’ll do fine.”
“I know,” she said, full of optimism and confidence. “But thanks for the good wishes.”
Lasgol took a good look at her. She was wearing her golden hair loose, looking at him with her enormous blue eyes in a beautiful face that drew the light and all gazes. She had grown up. She was more of a woman, more attractive than a year before, and even then she had been ravishing. Without a doubt the most beautiful in the whole Camp. And this was not just something he himself thought, it was a fact.
“Are you done staring at me?” she said.
“I… forgive me…”
Valeria giggled. “You know you’re transparent to me, I can read you like an open book.”
“That’s because you’re half-Sorceress, a Charmer.”
“I won’t tell you all my secrets, but yes, you’re right.”
“I was afraid of that.”
“How was the year at the Shelter? We heard rumors that there’d been some ugly complications this year.”
“It was intense.”
“As you were there, I guess the complications had to do with you, right?”
“Does everybody think I attract trouble?”
“Answer me… don’t avoid the question, I know you.”
“Yeah… well… it’s true, they had to do with me.”
She smiled. “I knew it. And I don’t think you attract problems. What I think is that you have something special that means you end up in the middle of complex situations which need a solution. A solution that not just anyone can provide.”
“I don’t follow…”
“You’re special, silly.”
“Ah! Oh…”
“But you must have been told that already.”
“Yeah… but I don’t believe it. I’m just like anybody else, but with a bit more of a tendency to get into trouble.”
“In other words, special.”
Lasgol rolled his eyes. “I’m just a regular guy,” he insisted.
“Sure, and I’m the ugliest girl in the Camp.”
“You know perfectly well that’s not true.”
“Exactly.”
Lasgol shook his head. “Let’s drop it.”
“You seem stronger, more mature, to me,” she told him, looking him up and down, then up again, shamelessly.
“The training was hard at the Shelter and what happened… was too…”
“I feel like giving you another kiss.”
Lasgol put out his hands to stop her. “Nooooo!”
Valeria laughed out loud. “Relax, I’m not going to do it.”
“Sure?” Lasgol asked, unconvinced.
She nodded, with a sardonic smile. “Sure. Although I know how much you liked it the last time.”
“I didn’t… it was the surprise…” Lasgol muttered, uncomfortable with her boldness.
“Of course it was a surprise. Otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to do it.”
“You have to understand… I…”
“Yeah, you’re with the brunette.”
Lasgol nodded. “That’s right.”
“You’re still crazy about her.”
He thought for a moment, “Completely and absolutely crazy about her.”
“That’s a pity. You and I make a much better couple.”
“Val… behave…”
“Okay. But if one day you and the brunette split up, let me know.”
“We’re not going to split up.”
“Life takes many turns.”
“I don’t deny that, but I can assure you, Astrid and I are going to stay together.”
“We’ll see.”
Lasgol changed the subject. He was not comfortable at all talking about all of this with Valeria.
“As you’re in Archery, what elite specialization are you after?”
“I don’t know them all, only some from hearsay. The one I’m interested in is Elemental Archer.”
“Excellent choice. I think it suits you perfectly. Especially the elemental fire arrows,” he teased her.
“I’m going to set you on fire…”
Lasgol laughed and raised his hands. “No, please!”
“What other specializations are there?”
“I’m not sure I should tell you. They’ll show you them when you get to the Shelter.”
“Come on, it’s me. You can tell me.”
“All right. The Elite Specializations of your School are: Mage Hunter, Natural Marksman, Infallible Marksman, Forest Sniper, Elemental Archer, and Archer of the Wind.”
“They sound great!”
“Now you just have to pass the Specialization Test and you’ll be on your way.”
“Any advice?”
“Be mentally prepared. It’ll be harder than the training here at the Camp. The Harmony Test is unique, but don’t be afraid, exert yourself to the limit as you always do, and you’ll make it.”
“Anything else?”
Lasgol thought about it. “If the Mother Specialist offers to experiment on you, refuse.”
“Experiment?”
“You listen to me and refuse.”
“Fine, I’ll follow your advice.”
“Did you go home?”
Valeria’s face turned somber. There was pain in her eyes. “Yeah. Unfortunately.”
“It didn’t go well?”
“No. You know about the situation in the West. I had a hard time getting home and I almost didn’t live to tell the tale. But my father… well… I’d rather not talk about it.”
“His attitude hasn’t changed?”
Valeria shook her head. “He still thinks I’m a damsel in distress, even now that I’m a Ranger and I’ve proven myself to him. I don’t want to talk about it, it makes me so angry.”
“I understand. Don’t worry.”
“Are you visiting?”
“No, just passing by. I’m on a mission to the North.”
“The North? That sounds bad.”
“There’s been movement of the Wild Ones of the Ice. They’re sending me to keep watch.”
“Be very careful.”
“Don’t worry, I will be.”
“Don’t tell me you’re leaving already?”
Lasgol nodded. “Yeah, I’m going by the secret passage.”
“Oh… Then we won’t see each other again until I come back from the Shelter.”
“With your Elite Specialization,” Lasgol said showing her his Beast Whisperer Medallion.
“You can count on that.”
“See you in a year.”
“See you,” she said.
This time it was Lasgol who hugged Valeria. “Take good care of yourself,” he whispered in her ear.
“And you. Don’t get into any more ‘situations’.”
Lasgol smiled. “I’ll try not to.”
They went their separate ways, and Lasgol headed to Egil’s cabin, where his friend was waiting to say goodbye. He told him what had happened with the Master Ranger of Nature.
“There’s no doubt it has to do with Dolbarar,” Egil agreed. “Otherwise why the secretiveness, and her reluctance to tell you any more?”
“That’s what I thought. Her attitude seemed to me very like Edwina’s.”
“Everything points to the fact that Dolbarar’s suffering from a serious illness of the blood. If they need those medicinal plants, it must be something quite rare.”
“But can’t Edwina use her Gift to heal him?”
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br /> “From what I understand of the Healers of the Order of Tirsar, they can’t always defeat the illness or heal very serious wounds. There are cases that are beyond the reach of healing, or else their power isn’t enough to achieve a cure.”
“They can’t heal everything…”
“That’s right.”
“Any magic has its limitations,” Lasgol said, nodding.
“That’s how it is, and the magic of Healing, as I understand, has quite a few of them. It’s a very complex art – hard to learn and even harder to master.”
“If Edwina can’t heal him,” Lasgol said, sounding very worried, “it must be something terrible.”
“I’m afraid so,” Egil replied sadly.
“I’ll find the plants. I’ll save Dolbarar.”
“Be very careful, and the best of luck.”
The two friends hugged for a long moment.
“You be very careful too. Remember, someone wants to kill you.”
“Remember that’s true for you too.”
They broke the hug, and Lasgol smiled. “I don’t suppose they’ll follow me where I’m going.”
“Even so, keep your eyes open.”
“Don’t worry. Besides, now I’m never alone.” He put two fingers to his mouth and whistled. A moment later Ona came out of the cabin. Lasgol tapped his thigh and obediently she came to stand by his side.
Egil smiled. “Good girl.”
Camu, we’re leaving. Stay camouflaged till I tell you.
Leaving? Where?
To the North, beyond the great mountains.
Egil coming?
No, Egil has to stay here.
Why?
He has a lot of duties.
Duties?
Things he must do here.
Me sad.
I know. I’m sad too.
Say goodbye?
Lasgol looked around, to check that there was nobody near.
Say goodbye, but be quick.
Before Lasgol could warn Egil, Camu had already jumped on him. Egil fell down, and the little creature began to lick his face.
“Sorry, he’s saying goodbye,” Lasgol told him.
“Yeah… hahaha!... he’s a charmer…”
The scene was comical: Egil lying on the ground, laughing and waving his arms as if he were crazy, since Camu was on top of him in his invisible state. Poor Ona was looking frightened, with her claws ready to attack. Lasgol soothed her.