by Diane Rapp
Beltram whispered, “Do you have a message?”
“Yes, sire. Jarrack’s men gave it to me.” Garth reached into a pocket and slipped a crumpled paper into Beltram’s pudgy fist.
Beltram read it and grinned. “We leave shortly. Help me change into my riding clothes.”
“But what do we do about the guards?” Garth’s voice trembled.
“Do as you’re told!” Beltram snarled as he squirmed into his pants and jacket. “Jarrack protects men who provide good service. If we act quickly we can still capture the prize.”
Sounds of fighting echoed down the corridor, and the guards ran toward the fight.
“Our friends have arrived, so we’ll be leaving.”
A mercenary dressed in black entered the room, wiping his blade with a bloody scarf. “Good to see you’re still alive. We heard you had a bit of trouble from the girl.” Beltram winced at the sarcastic tone of the soldier.
“She’ll know trouble when we’ve finished with her,” Beltram bellowed. “Get moving! We don’t want to lose that wench, or Jarrack won’t reward any of us.”
The soldier arched an eyebrow and gestured at the door.
Beltram maneuvered his rotund body through the narrow passage while Garth struggled with the bags. Garth’s heart pounded, and he lamented the day he agreed to serve Beltram. Outside, desert riders stared down from their horses; their faces looked like death masks in the red moonlight. Their horses snorted puffs of white steam and pawed the turf as Garth skirted past.
“Gateway Pass is their obvious route, as the mountains are still heavy with snow,” Beltram said. The lead soldier signaled his men to move. “Keep a sharp eye out for the girl’s flaming red hair. Jarrack will pay a high price for that vixen, I guarantee it,” Beltram boasted.
Garth’s heart nearly stopped when he realized Beltram intended to deliver the high priestess to Jarrack. That’s blasphemy! How could he be a part of such a vile scheme? He mounted his horse, feeling sick and dizzy, as the jostling animal clomped over the thick cobblestones of the roadway. He fingered the good luck piece in his pocket. What could he do to redeem himself?
15 ~ JORDAN MEETS THE PANTHER
By habit Jordan rode at the rear of the troops, hoping to avoid his brother Jerrod’s frequent fits of anger. Therefore, he was in a perfect position to watch the black panther attack with slashing claws and gleaming fangs.
He marveled at Jerrod’s arrogance, scornfully facing the predator as if the creature should yield to his mental powers and hypnotic stare. The deadly cat swiftly slaughtered an inferior opponent and disappeared into the shadows along the river.
He felt no sorrow or grief at Jerrod’s death. He felt grateful. The cat freed him from one tyrant that he had hated and feared for most of his life. Unbelievably happy, Jordan prepared to portray a solemn face before the other men, but the deception was unnecessary.
Unable to control their terrified mounts, Jerrod’s men fled the scene, retracing their trail out of the gorge to the twisting canyon. They left Jordan behind. Hopefully, they’d report to Jarrack that both of his sons died in the attack. How could they admit abandoning Jordan in a haunted gorge? Would anyone else dare face the demons of the Bloody Canyon to search for their bodies?
Jordan watched the blue aura fade from his brother’s corpse, but a prickling sensation crept up his neck. His brother’s death-scream summoned the blue haze, an evil aura Jordan avoided. As the blue haze hovered over the body, Jordan forced his own aura to shrink. He hid behind a boulder, afraid the blue haze might take control of his mind.
The blue haze pulsed over Jerrod’s body without noticing the insignificant twin. Jordan saw the haze focus its attention on the black cat running along the riverbank. The cat’s golden aura vibrated with wild energy as the blue haze hurled an orb of blue energy at the creature.
Jordan gasped, remembering painful contact with that ball of power.
Blue light crackled around the animal like lightning. The cat snarled. Golden flames erupted from the cat’s claws as it raked across the blue haze. Writhing and sizzling, the blue haze vanished. The cat cocked its head and sniffed the air, ready to fight again.
Hope burned in Jordan’s heart. The great cat fought the blue haze! No one had ever successfully repelled the power of the haze, but he’d witnessed the event himself. If only he could learn to do the same thing.
A bloody lump in the sand, his brother appeared insignificant, hardly resembling the tormentor of his youth. Jordan remembered growing up in the castle. As a child he delighted in seeing glowing colors around people. One day his chubby hand touched his mother’s aura, and she kissed his fingertips. She warned him not to tell anyone that he could see those colors. On her deathbed she said that he should rejoice that she’d be freed from his father’s evil.
The twin brothers shared appearances, but their personalities were nothing alike. Jerrod’s arrogant confidence and flashy attitude pleased Jarrack, while he scorned Jordan’s quiet habits and meek persona. Jarrack’s malevolent energy roamed the castle in the form of the blue haze, piercing the thickest stone walls to enter any room. If the haze entered Jordan’s mind, it pushed his personality into a dark hole and made his body perform like a puppet. He felt violated and ashamed. Eventually he learned to shield his thoughts and hide from the blue haze in the darkest parts of the noisy castle.
It seemed to work.
The haze regularly visited Jerrod. Soon his brother’s green aura turned into a sickly blue and Jordan knew his brother’s soul was tainted with their father’s evil. Now that his brother was dead, would the blue haze search him out again?
Jolted from his memories by the keen of the hawk, he watched it land on the deadly cat’s shoulder. The feline accepted the bird. He knew the hawk was linked to the girl and hoped the panther possessed a similar bond. He’d follow them and find the girl. He hoped she could tell him how the panther repelled the blue haze.
The cat ran along the river, and Jordan gathered his courage to follow the dangerous creature. He stayed at a safe distance, riding his perky brown mare in the shadows of the steep canyon walls. The mare ignored the predator’s scent because she trusted Jordan. His lanky frame drooped over the saddle like a bag of rags and an unruly shock of thick black hair shaded his deep-set black eyes. His tanned face looked narrow and gaunt, but his expression was alert and intelligent.
He remained cautious, barely keeping the cat in sight. The beat of wings disturbed the air overhead, and the hawk stretched sharp talons as she descended rapidly toward him. Jordan flinched as the bird landed on his saddle horn, eyeing him with a fierce expression. He pulled out a morsel of meat from his pocket and said, “Remember me? I was the one who gave you food and water.”
She cocked her head, eyeing the offered tidbit. He held the meat steady, wary of her sharp beak. She gently removed the meat and gave him a friendly trill. He smiled. “That’s it, girl. I’m your friend.”
When his brother captured the hawk, Jordan understood the bird’s terror, and appointed himself as her caretaker. He enjoyed tending the elegant creature. If she ate from his bare hand, would she lead him to the girl and the cat?
He stroked the silky feathers on her chest and carefully removed the leather jesses tied to her leg. The bird chirped happily and Jordan gave her more food. She swallowed the treat and flew ahead of his horse. While feeding Arrow he’d lost track of the panther. He reasoned that it might be safer to follow Arrow than a predator. He urged his horse forward and the bird flew to a ledge above the gorge. Arrow stretched her neck and trilled at him, hopefully inviting him to follow her.
He released the mare. She grazed on the tender grass while he climbed onto the ledge. A cool breeze drifted from a hole behind a bush. Arrow flew into the hole and Jordan followed—after all, he’d been invited.
The cave felt cool after his long hot ride.
“This is a perfect hideout.” His voice echoed inside the hollow and triggered a wild chattering. A mongoose stood
on its hind legs, scolding him from its rocky perch. Arrow sat above the chattering animal, staring at an inert shape on the cave floor.
“Is this why you invited me here? Do you want me to help the girl? I can’t help if this wild creature tries to bite me.”
Arrow flapped her wings and landed on his shoulder. The mongoose stopped chattering and wrapped his tail around his body.
“That’s better. I’d bet she’s the girl Jerrod tracked into the canyon.” Arrow bristled at the sound of his brother’s name. “That’s okay. I didn’t like him either.”
The girl lay motionless. In the dim light of the cave, Jordan admired her delicately chiseled features and tanned skin under short leather garments. Her chest rose slightly as she breathed, but her golden aura looked weak. Deep scratches and bruises marred the skin on her bare arms and puss oozed from two punctures on her swollen leg.
He wondered what it would be like to stroke her smooth skin, to experience the pleasure of courtship and the sweet joy of winning her love. If he could learn to repel the haze, he could build a new life for himself.
He said, “You need a doctor, but I guess it’s up to me to help.” Somehow he felt obliged to explain his intentions as he gently touched the girl’s forehead. Heat and pain flared through his fingertips and he jerked away. During the brief contact he realized he couldn’t feel her mind.
“How can your mind be empty? Even in sleep or delirium, I should be able to sense your thoughts.” He frowned. “You need water and nourishment to fight the fever.”
The mongoose scampered over to the water bag lying a few inches from the girl’s outstretched hand. “Your water’s within reach. How long have you been unconscious?” He stroked her hot brow. “I wish you’d open your eyes and look at me.” Her eyelids fluttered open, and she stared at him with an empty expression.
He felt shocked at her reaction to his words. “If you respond to verbal commands, I might get you to swallow.” Lifting her head, he held the water bag to her lips and said, “Drink.” The girl swallowed the water.
“This is amazing! Smile.”
Her lips curved into a beguiling smile, and he jerked his hand away, feeling guilty. The girl immediately closed her eyes. “I wonder…” Without touching Felesia he said, “Open your eyes.” Nothing happened. He touched her hand and said, “Open your eyes.” She responded.
Gazing into her soft hazel eyes, beautiful and compelling, he saw no spark of life. “You’d be the perfect woman for my brother, a mindless puppet that responded vacantly to his every wish.” He removed his fingers from her hand. “I prefer a woman who can carry on a lively conversation. What happened to your mind?”
It didn’t matter. He’d help her stay alive. If she recovered, her mind might return. He searched the cave and gathered material to fashion a torch. He climbed down to fetch his pack and unsaddle the mare.
“Stretch your legs. We’re liable to be here for awhile.” She nickered and flicked her tail. “Just don’t get eaten by that panther. I’ll need you later.” She shook her mane and trotted to drink at the river.
When Jordan returned to the cave, he heard a low growl. He stood still and said, “The hawk invited me inside. I’m here because the girl needs my help.” He stared into the cat’s fierce eyes, hoping to gain acceptance.
Marra hissed.
Killer dashed forward and harangued the giant feline with a torrent of abuse as Jordan stood ready to flee. The cat listened to the small animal, grunted, and then padded to the back of the cave to lie down.
Jordan released his pent up breath with a loud sigh. “Thanks fella!” He glanced at the sleeping girl, “You have some very unusual friends.”
Throughout the night, Jordan kept vigil. The girl’s body burned with fever, and he tried to quell his fear. People died from fever. He used a damp cloth to wipe her brow and made her swallow sips of water. He longed to hear her voice and see her smile.
“You’re a very strange fellow, Jordan, falling in love with a mindless girl who makes her home in a damp cave with wild animals.” He trickled water into the girl’s mouth. “What’s your name? Who are you?”
He knew the animals were linked to the girl. When Jerrod captured the hawk, he bragged that he’d capture the girl by using her pet. Yet she eluded his control and the cat repelled the blue haze.
He stared at the panther. It looked like a lump of black fur curled at the back of the cave, but its golden aura glowed with power. He’d never seen an animal with a strong aura. It was the same color as the girl’s faint aura. Could her mind be submerged inside the cat? He inched close to the sleeping feline and a tendril of his mind probed the wild mind.
The cat woke with a growl.
“Don’t be afraid. I’m here to help,” Jordan said. He gazed into the predator’s eyes and projected thoughts of the injured girl. “She needs your help. Let me touch you, and I might help you both.”
The cat’s aura vibrated and her long tail twitched. She hissed and dug her claws into the floor of the cave.
“Okay, take it easy.” He backed away. “I’ll give you time to get used to me, while I help her get better.” The cat glared at him and drew her feet under her body, looking ready to pounce. “She might die if her mind doesn’t return to her body.”
Jordan spent a long night nursing the girl. She chewed a soft trail bar under his directions and color returned to her skin. It was progress. He didn’t mind taking care of the sick. In the castle nursery, he tended babies, sensing their needs before they cried. Grateful nurses encouraged his help, and he enjoyed touching innocent minds filled with love.
He longed to feel real love.
Relaxing his mental shields, he felt the girl’s heart beat stronger, and her breathing sounded regular. As Jordan commanded her body to move, the tight muscles loosened. By morning she sat up and sipped broth without support as he changed the bandage on her leg. The skin around the wound looked pink, a good sign.
Jordan allowed himself the luxury of sleep, sure that his sensitivity to her needs would wake him when she felt hungry. He lay on the cave floor next to the girl, snoring quietly.
*****
Marra watched the man with a twitching tail. When the man touched Felesia, she growled until she felt sure he meant no harm. When he slept, she relaxed and thought about the man. The evil that frightened Felesia did not vibrate inside this man’s mind. His eyes filled with fear when she challenged him, but he did not flee from the cave like a frightened rabbit. Killer and Arrow both felt comfortable in his presence, because he touched Felesia with gentleness.
She walked on silent pads and sniffed the man. His clothes smelled of horse, his body emitted the pungent odor of fear, but his hands smelled of Felesia. She gazed at the girl and felt uneasy. She couldn’t remember what she should do to help her friend. Circling the cave restlessly, she yielded to the compulsion to lie next to Felesia and wedged herself between the two human bodies.
Marra dreamed of walking in the warm sunshine with Jordan. She showed him her favorite places in the forest where she grew up. His long stride matched her easy gait. Leaves rustled, fluttering down in a golden shower to carpet the forest floor.
Marra rubbed against Jordan and purred.
Jordan shared the dream. When the cat rubbed against his body, a jolt of power rippled through him with a mixture of pleasure and pain. His body turned over and his arm draped across the cat with his hand touching the girl.
The girl stretched and purred.
Jordan’s eyes opened as the girl moved. He sat up suddenly, breaking contact and the girl’s body slumped. He stared into the large brown eyes of the cat as he stroked the thick fur. He sank into deep rapport with the cat and searched for the girl’s mind. Now he felt sure the girl and the cat were linked.
My name is Felesia!
Merging with the golden glow of the cat-girl, Jordan saw a dense forest, heard birds twittering in the trees, and felt warm sunlight filter through golden boughs. Killer chattered and Arrow
trilled with pleasure. Felesia ran like a wild spirit.
Her mind was a blend of human and feline as she peered at him with liquid hazel eyes. Jordan stroked her soft cheek and she grinned. Suddenly her eyes widened and the cat in her mind snarled, hissed, and ran into the deep woods taking Felesia away.
The memory of Felesia’s mind lingered as Marra ran to the back of the cavern. Jordan felt dazed and alone. He longed to touch the glow of Felesia’s mind again, but Marra sat licking her paws with an angry stare. The girl’s body lay still and lifeless.
Jordan gazed at Felesia. He gained significant insight about Felesia during the contact with the cat-girl mind. He smiled. Felesia, the wild spirit who ran with him in the dream, was a woman he could love. He must find a way to separate the two identities. Stroking Felesia’s lifeless hand, he wondered if he could win her love by setting her mind free.
*****
Marra hissed and fled from the man. She hoped hunting would satisfy the gnawing ache inside her chest but felt discontent with chasing game. Slumped over a tree limb, she gnawed the flesh of her kill without enthusiasm and fought her desire to return to the man.
Miserable and confused, she leapt down from the branch and ran in the moonlight. The pounding sprint eased the tightness in her muscles. Breathing with loud huffs, she slowed her pace and walked. The sweaty pads of her paws left tracks across the cool sandstone, and she stared at the tracks with a lonely ache in her chest. Marra longed to feel Jordan stroke her fur again and slipped back into the dark cave.
*****
Jordan sensed morning before light filtered into the mouth of the cave. His belly growled, and he ate the remainder of his store of dried meat. He kept a trail bar to feed Felesia. Her leg healed. He knew she must exercise and eat more substantial meals.