Green Rising

by AZ Kelvin

  “Aye, Primerey.”

  “Cassae.” Joseah handed her a wrapped bundle. “You are a skilled healer. The nightshade is yours to deal with. Sixty-four leaves need to be mashed. Take care with it.”

  “I will, Primerey.”

  “Sovia, warm a flagon of water and add sixty-four drops of the rose hip oil and eight smidgeon-spoonfuls of cayenne powder into it.”

  “It shall be so,” she said.

  “Therin, we’ll need a bucket of water from the well. Would you get it?”

  “At once, Primerey.”

  “Wylla, we’re going to need twenty forearm-length strings of twine to tie the sprigs.”

  “I’ll take care of it, Primerey.” Wylla nodded.

  In short order, all of the plant ingredients lay in the bottom of the kettle and the flagon was warming.

  Joseah looked at Quinlan. “Well, are you going to sit around all night and watch the rest of us work, or are you going to macerate the ingredients?”

  “Ah—apologies for my laziness,” he said. “I shall do so immediately.”

  “Kian, will you stoke the fire good and warm?” Joseah asked.

  “Aye, Primerey.”

  “Sovia, stir in the flagon as Quinlan mashes the ingredients.”

  Sovia added the rose hip-and-cayenne elixir while Quinlan mashed it into the plant ingredients.

  “Now, we fill the kettle three-quarters and let it bubble for an hour or so,” Joseah said. “Quin, if you would please?”

  “Of course.” He placed the kettle on the hearth hook and poured in the water.

  For the first time, Quinlan noticed faces and bodies filled the windows and doors of the kitchen. Word of what they were doing had spread and they had drawn a quiet audience including Ronni and the Lords of Raskan.

  “Ronni!” Ticari said and grinned before he caught himself. “Lady Ronirah, I mean.”

  “Greetin’s, Ticari and Grove Seven.” She came forward and embraced them all. Quinlan thought Ticari might float right out of his moccasins.

  “Hope we’re nae interruptin’,” she said. “We’re all pullin’ fer Chyne ta come through.”

  “Nae ta mention a chance ta watch druid magic bein’ done should never be passed over,” Renalth said. “Dear Joseah, ’tis been too lon’ since ye walked in Aibreann’s Garden.”

  “Renalth, how good it is to see you.” She welcomed his hug. “I would love nothing better than to wander Loko de Belaj Floroj for the rest of my days, but sadly, it shall not be soon.”

  “Aye, Joseah, we have a difficulty of grand proportions ahead,” he replied.

  “We may have discovered something, Renalth. I believe we may hold an advantage.”

  “I’d like ta hear more. I’m holdin’ a council with the Vakerian and Kalnuvian commanders and the Gwylari chieftains in the mornin’. Would ye come?”

  “Yes, of course. You’ll want to hear from three, maybe four others as well.”

  “Brin’ who ye need.”

  Talk of recent events took up the time until a murmur went through the crowd outside and six Gwylari appeared at the door, one of which was Chieftain Myzani, the one they had met near Drifting Leaf. He stood behind another man whose clothing bore different markings than the others.

  “Grymni Kai-Nal!” Joseah said.

  “Joseah, sha kin Druidae-Nal.” He touched foreheads with her. “Mine eyes rejoice to behold thee.”

  “And mine, dear friend Grymni.” She turned to the druids. “This is High Chieftain Grymni of the Gwylari.” She went around the room and introduced everyone there.

  “Blessed be thee and thyne for thy caring of Chyne,” Grymni said, and the other chieftains all echoed his sentiment.

  “We hath come to blend with thy rhythms, Joseah,” Grymni said.

  “Gratitude, friends, one and all,” Joseah replied.

  “Primerey?” Kian said from the hearth. “Ye may want ta have a look.”

  “Oh, yes it is ready. Sovia, grab the bowl. Ticari, dear, hold this cloth sack over the bowl. Kian and Therin, grab the kettle—mind the hot handles—and pour the contents into the bag.”

  Ticari struggled to keep the top of the sack open and hold it at the same time. Ronni stepped up to help hold it while the mixture was poured in. Quinlan noticed she and Ticari locked eyes for a moment through the steam of the hot pomace before she turned her attention to the sack.

  “Good, now twist hard. Squeeze all the juices into the bowl,” Joseah said.

  The Gwylari lined the wall behind Chyne’s cot, holding brands of wood and whispering chants. Quinlan was sure they floated and swayed just above the ground when not watched and quickly stood grounded and still when looked at.

  “Sovia, Wylla, Swela, Ticca, come help Cassae and me,” Joseah said and looked at the male remains of Grove Seven. “Apologies, boys, this one will take a woman’s touch. In the meantime, you may lay out ten piles of hand-length sprigs. Lay one sprig of slippery elm, echinacea, calendula, peppermint, eucalyptus, elder, yarrow, burdock, and lavender in each pile, please.”

  “It shall be so, Primerey,” Quinlan said.

  The women gathered around the bowl and each took up a piece of twine, except for Joseah who held a tri-brand wand. Brands of cedar, osage, and birch were lashed together at the ends with green cord and engraved with small script druidic runes.

  “Hold each twine in the extraction for two verses of the chant while speaking the chant with me. Are you ready?”

  They all were prepared to begin.

  “Sistren, the song of renewal.” She held her tri-brand out over the bowl.

  “Yara vuu nasan beteth drath su in,” they spoke in unison. “Lacas geen ova liv drath su in.”

  The women repeated the chant one more time and drew the twines out of the extraction. Ethereal bubbles of ghostly white rose into the air from each twine silently bursting after a second’s time.

  “It tingles,” Cassae said.

  The reaction was not lost on those who watched from around the kitchen. Conversations struck up almost immediately. Renalth had to shush the crowd.

  They repeated the process thrice more together completing twenty bindings.

  “Now, any who wish to may help tie the bundles,” Joseah said.

  “May I?” Ronni asked.

  Joseah motioned to a chair. Several others, both druid and non, stepped up to each take a place.

  “One binding at each end of the bundles,” Joseah told everyone, “making sure all bundles have one of each sprig tied within.”

  The twine lengths continued to give off the effervescent sparkles as they were tied around the bundles of sprigs. The people involved all commented on the tingling sensation. Joseah took the finished bundles over to Chyne.

  “Now, the sprig bundles must be placed over these areas of Chyne’s body. The forehead to clear her mind. The neck to cleanse the blood running through. The heart to guide her home. The solar plexus to stimulate the breathing. The abdomen to bring health to the organs. The pelvis to initiate rebirth. Plus one over each ankle and wrist to clasp on to her spirit.”

  The sprig bundles now bubbled from the ten areas around Chyne’s body. Joseah brought a palm-sized crystal laced with light blue, purple, and white from her possessions. She placed the gemstone above Chyne’s head.

  “Cassae, take these and lay them by her ears, shoulders, hands, waist, and feet.”

  She gave Cassae ten discs of willow wood, each one engraved with a druidic rune of healing. She placed them where Joseah told her to.

  “Settle down on the other side of her, across from me,” Joseah said. “Good, get comfortable and take my hands.”

  Cassae readied herself and took Joseah’s hands over Chyne’s torso.

  “Prepare your spirit, Cassae. We must continue to sing the song of renewal until we see a response from Chyne.”

  “I am ready.”

  “Then let us sing.”

  They repeated the chant over and over. “Yara vuu nasan beteth dra
th su in. Lacas geen ova liv drath su in.” The bubbles of ethereal energy descended into Chyne instead of rising into the air.

  Two hours passed. The effort of the continued singing brought forth sweat, which soaked through their clothing, yet still, they sang. The Gwylari as well had whispered the chant along with them since they began.

  Chyne drew in a sudden breath and slowly let it out. She blinked a few times and focused in on her surroundings.

  Joseah and Cassae ceased their vigil and both nearly collapsed. Quinlan grabbed Cassae, Therin grabbed Joseah, and they helped them up to chairs.

  “Father mine?” Chyne asked.

  “Daughter mine,” Grymni answered and knelt by her cot.

  “What hath occurred?” she asked and the room almost shook with relieved laughter and cheers.

  Grymni helped Chyne into a chair as well and she was told of all the events that had occurred since she fell ill. Sovia and Ronni helped fill in some events that took place after Quinlan’s group had left Cammachmoor.

  Many emotions passed over her face during the telling. She wept openly when she heard the conclave had been devastated. Many others joined her and the moment helped to ease the grief for them all.

  Chyne looked greatly saddened by what she had heard. She went around and hugged all of her friends and anyone else in the kitchen before returning to her seat. Joseah and Cassae had recovered and Grove Seven was reunited once more.

  Chyne noticed the condition of what she was wearing, and sniffed. “Eww, me thinks mine clothing hath expired.”

  Another round of laughter sounded off and all, for the moment, was well.

  ~~~

  Ronni MacRory stayed to talk with Renalth and Modgrin after witnessing the incredible healing ritual. She walked down by the lake to unwind from the night’s events before going to her room.

  Ticari walked up from the beach clutching his clothes in one hand and holding a drying sheet around his waist. He smiled and nodded to her.

  Eck, I should nae’ve come this way. She swallowed and quickly looked away.

  “Fine night for a swim,” he said, coming up next to her.

  “Aye, ’tis.” She nodded and continued on her way.

  “Lady Ronirah.”

  “Good evening, druid Ticari!” she said and kept walking.

  “Ronirah, wait.”

  She stopped and immediately wished she had not.

  “Ronni, I know you feel the same.”

  A knot formed in her stomach, telling her to walk on, yet her heart begged her not to.

  “Do you not?”

  She spoke over her shoulder to him, “Nae, Ti, I—I dinnae have feelin’s fer ye, so…”

  “Liar, I saw the spark of if it in your eyes earlier.”

  “Even if ’twere true, and I’m nae sayin’ ’tis, I’ve duties as a lady of the royal court of Raskan and I’m nearly ten years yer senior ta boot.” She started to walk away.

  “Who’d rather run around the countryside in rags—and likes to pretend she’s much older.” He caught up to her again. “I know there’s not even four years between us.”

  She turned on him, hands on hips. “Just how’d ye find out how old I am?”

  “The answers are out there. You just have to know where to find them.” He cocked his head. “You pretend to be older, so you feel accepted around lords and kings and all, yet who’s there with you when you simply want to be a woman, young and free? Anyone?”

  Ticari’s remark struck a nerve even though there was no way he could know how she longed for someone to be with, to be next to, and to lie with. “Ti—”

  “Ronni, I cannot keep your face from my mind,” he said quickly. “I try not to think of you, but then I see a rose and I think of your hair. I think of your hair and I see your face all over again. I’ll be eighteen by the turn of the year. I’m nearly a man—I am a man and I love you.”

  Oh, dinnae say that. She swallowed hard and looked at him, fully intending to end the matter and walk away. A man’s eyes looked back stealing away her resolve. A man’s body trimmed and toned from his life as a druid stalled her voice. A warmth deep inside began to build into a yearning.

  Nae, nae, nae, nae, I cannae sleep with him.

  Ticari leaned in and kissed her tenderly, just once.

  Shite! She fought to let it pass, but the touch of his lips ignited a passion that burned through her body like wildfire across a dry grassy plain. Her inhibitions were melted away by the white-hot heat of her desire. She snatched the clothes from his hand and the drying sheet from his waist, throwing them to the ground. They wrapped each other in passion and fell into the secrecy of nearby shadows.

  *~*~*

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  The first light of dawn fell on Quinlan’s face as he sat outside his room listening to Pinebough waking up. The city sat in a valley below the pass, but the south end of the valley was open and dropped away offering a panoramic view. The spires and towers of Teivas Keihas glistened from Trossachsmuir along the horizon. The quietness of it all sat contrasted to the turmoil of the recent weeks.

  “Quin?” Cassae asked from the doorway. “Is all well?”

  “Yep, just enjoying the sunrise.”

  She stepped out wrapped in a blanket and looked to the south at Trossachsmuir.

  “Do you think he’s really there?” she asked.

  “Joseah said she saw him walk from the volcano in her mind’s eye and he certainly is not in Fairtheora anymore.”

  “I still can’t believe it’s all gone, the Great Marsh, the conclave hall, Bertrynn and the others,” she said.

  “Me, either,” he replied. “I hope every day it is nothing but a dream and I’ll soon awaken.”

  The sound of others moving about below drew their attention to the kitchen. Quinlan’s stomach growled.

  “I agree.” Cassae nodded. “Let’s go eat.”

  The breakfast idea must have hit everyone at the same time. The Broken Belt brasserie was almost full when they got there, but members of their grove had already secured a table in back. Ticca shared a piece of banana with Pie as they walked up.

  “Where’s Ticari?” Quinlan asked her.

  “I know not,” she answered. “His bed was empty when I awoke. I thought he would be here.”

  Ronni MacRory walked in right then looking a bit disheveled. She waved heartily at them as she joined Renalth’s table. Ticari walked in a few moments later. He and Ronni appeared to be trying not to look at each other—it wasn’t working. Ticari’s hair was a mess and his clothes were sandy and wrinkled. He smiled at them as he sat down and grabbed a biscuit.

  “What?” he asked and tried to smooth his hair. “I fell asleep on the beach after a swim last night.”

  The sudden quiet smiles and lack of responses from his grove mates were almost deafening.

  “I did.” Ticari almost held it together, but he could not stop his cheeks from reddening and then the grin broke through his defenses.

  “Uh-huh,” Kian said. He and Swela snickered quietly.

  “What is going on?” Ticca asked and looked at her brother. “What did you do?”

  Ticari went red to the ear tips.

  The look on his face, the fact he did not sleep in his own bed, and the smiles of her grove mates must have clued her in on what took place last night.

  “Ticari!” she exclaimed loud enough for all to hear. Pie Thief barked.

  Quinlan saw Ronni bring her hand up to her face and look the other way. Most of the other patrons of The Broken Belt seemed not to notice much beyond their own conversations.

  The breakfast continued until it was nearly time for Renalth’s meeting.

  “Swela, Wylla, and I have been requested to attend the meeting,” Quinlan said. “All others are welcome if you so choose. Chyne is visiting with Grymni, so someone will have to tend the horses and Blossom this morning.”

  Therin raised his hand. “I’ll do it.”

  “And I’ll be helping,” Sovia sa
id.

  “And me,” Ticca said and looked at Ticari.

  He cleared his throat. “I thought I might, ah, attend the meeting.” He focused on finishing his meal. “You know, keep up with what’s being planned and all.”

  No one bought what he was trying to sell. The grove split to go about their respective days.

  Joseah met them outside the meeting room on the bottom level of the lodge.

  Lah ahm, Primerey,” Quinlan said. “We missed you at breakfast.”

  “Lah ahm all,” she said. “That was the first solid night’s sleep I’ve had in weeks. I was not about to ruin it for anything.”

  They entered the meeting room and Kenri was near the door. He saw Joseah and walked over.

  “Lah ahm, Joseah, you are as lovely as ever. My heart is glad to see you.”

  “Lah ahm, Kenri,” she replied. “I seem to remember calling you vilely conceited the last time we saw each other. It has been a constant regret, my apologies.”

  “Hmm, yes, well you were right,” he said, “and my self-centeredness cost me the life of my most beloved and now there is nothing left within. I am old and fearful the deeds of my life will drag my spirit into eternal shadow with no time left for redemption.”

  “And I the same, but for deeds left undone. Kenri, let us help each other atone for our deeds, both done and undone.”

  “Yes—yes.” He took her hands. “Yes!”

  “We will rebuild the Order together!” she said happily.

  “Rebuild the Order?” He took his hands back. “Jo, the close-mindedness of the Order is the root of the problem.”

  “Not even close, Ken. It is druids with talent who run amuck playing god who are the problem.” She scowled.

  Quinlan cleared his throat.

  They both stopped arguing and smiled.

  “Old habits,” Kenri said.

  “Indeed,” she added.

  “Perhaps it is time you two put your combined and considerable energies to better use,” Quinlan said.

  “Apologies, Quin.”

  “Mine as well,” Kenri said.