Across the room, Arlyn’s head shot up.
“Me?” she called. Then she spotted the bag and shot to her feet. “Oh, gods, I think you’re my favorite person right now, Delbin.”
“Don’t give her that yet,” another voice said from the doorway. Lial. Lynia frowned at his annoyed tone and harsh expression as he strode across the room, a couple of books tucked under one arm. “I don’t suppose you checked that for harmful bacteria or potential contaminants?”
Lynia blinked in confusion. What—
“I can’t scan for bacteria, but I was careful not to include anything with seeds. Hope you don’t have to have tomatoes or pickles on your burger, Arlyn. I didn’t want to risk bringing an invasive species of plant. There’s not even a sesame seed bun.”
Earth food. Lynia and Selia shared a shuddering glance. A few weeks ago, their cook had attempted to replicate something called a hamburger, and the result had been…not the best. But unlike Lial, Lynia refused to spoil the excitement Arlyn clearly felt over the treat. After all, she’d had her own share of cravings when she’d carried Lyr. Telien had once taken the gate to her parents’ home in the northern mountains to fetch pastries made with a fruit that only grew there.
Maybe one day she would experience such a thing again. If she and Lial… Lynia’s face grew heated, and she forced that thought aside before it showed on her face. No matter what Lial said, another pregnancy was unlikely whether she decided to pursue a relationship with him or anyone else. She refused to get her hopes up for such a thing. Better to enjoy Arlyn’s experience without fretting over her own life.
Lynia’s focus returned to the room in time to see Lial’s magic surrounding the bag, and she smiled again at the care he showed. Though Arlyn didn’t exactly seem appreciative—truthfully, she appeared ready to throttle him first and ask for the results later. Not that Lial let her annoyance bother him. He’d surely grown far too used to impatience at this estate.
The light disappeared from the bag, and Lial lowered his arm. “It’s clear.”
“I didn’t realize this was such a big deal,” Delbin grumbled as Arlyn snatched the sack from his hand.
Lynia sucked her lips together to hold back her smile, and even Lial’s expression had shifted to reluctant amusement. Arlyn pulled out a bundle of colorful paper and unwrapped it to reveal something very different from what their cook had devised. Two pieces of bread surrounded a slab of meat—at least, Lynia thought it was meat. Some kind of red sauce dribbled from one side, and a pale green leaf stuck out around the edges.
Arlyn took a huge bite of the burger and let out a moan that had Lynia giving up on holding in amusement. Her laugh rang out, but Arlyn didn’t even glance her way. She didn’t offer to let anyone try the burger, either. Lynia hardly blamed her—she would have stabbed anyone who’d tried to take one of those tarts.
“If we weren’t both taken, I’d have to marry you, Delbin,” Arlyn said on a sigh. “Bless you. And your whole family. Your descendants, too.”
Delbin chuckled. “If I’d known I’d be helping my whole bloodline, I would’ve brought more than one.”
Arlyn reached into the bag again and lifted out something that looked like a long piece of toasted nesel. “Fries, too? Probably a good thing I’m not in charge of the treasury. Though I could likely dig out a jewel or some gold or something to reward you.”
“Nah, I’m good tormenting Ralan’s credit card at the moment.”
Though Lynia wasn’t sure what Delbin was talking about, the comment made Arlyn laugh, a wicked sound that didn’t bode well for Ralan. “That’s fraud,” Arlyn said.
“He gave me permission,” Delbin argued. “But maybe I should insist he get me a card with my name on it. He could pretend to adopt me.”
As he and Arlyn continued to argue about the merits of credit cards—whatever those were—Lynia stepped over to the trunk and opened the lid. An involuntary but happy sigh slipped from her lips at the massive stack of books almost overflowing from the top, though another bag took up a portion of the space. But this one was cloth, not paper. Surely not food. If Delbin had put something as potentially messy as food on top of her precious new—
“That’s for Ralan,” Inona said, lifting the bag from the pile and shrugging the strap over her shoulder. “There were books he wanted, too.”
Lynia’s fingers itched with the urge to open that bag and see what books a seer might order from Earth, but good sense overcame that desire. If Ralan needed information about another disaster, she didn’t want to know about it. At least not before solving the first one.
Instead, she lifted a book from the top of the stack. Principles of Virology. Beneath that was a satisfyingly large tome on Earth’s history. Well, the first volume of that history. Her heart picked up its pace with excitement as she started arranging books on an empty table. She caught a muttered curse from Lial about her back before he began to help her, but she was too happy to pay attention to his annoyance. Besides, she would be able to arrange and enjoy her new books faster with his aid whether he was helping out of worry or not.
By the time the trunk sat empty, Lynia had several piles, sorted by subject. From basic Earth information like history, fashion, and modern technologies all the way to detailed texts on diseases and their treatments, the array filled her with satisfaction. Some might not be useful to this particular crisis, but knowledge was never wasted. If nothing else, they could better train scouts about life on modern Earth before they journeyed there.
“What is this?” Lial asked, lifting a thin, shiny book from one of the piles on fashion.
Behind her, she heard stifled laughter, and skimming the words boldly printed across the cover revealed why.
10 Best Ways to Please Your Man.
What’s Hot, What’s Not.
Best Looks to Heat Him Up This Winter.
Well. The reader certainly wouldn’t need an index with the contents splashed on the front for everyone to see. “I presume it is one of the books on human fashion.”
“It’s a magazine,” Arlyn said around a chuckle. “They like to pick headlines that…catch the eye. The clothes are usually an okay representation, but the average person can’t really afford most of the brands.”
“Probably why the latest collection from Ralan’s clothing line is in there.” Delbin grinned. “That’s why I picked that one. Magazines are mostly opinion except for the odd serious article. Unless it’s an academic journal, but I didn’t bring any of those. This is the kind of thing a human might pick up while buying food or household goods.”
Lynia snatched the magazine from Lial’s hand and flipped through the smooth, glossy pages. Fascinating. A great many pictures were printed in full, vibrant color interspersed with segments of text arranged in narrow columns. Here and there, images describing certain goods for sale filled an entire page. One even emanated a sharp, floral scent.
Perfume sample, she read.
Fascinating indeed.
“This will be a trick to copy,” Lynia said, already considering the possibilities. “Paintings and engravings are the most difficult, and these pictures use a different technique from any here. I’ll have to experiment when I have the time.”
“Are you certain the library needs these?” Lial grumbled, his focus on the next magazine in the stack.
How to Tell a Guy to Get Lost.
Lynia laughed as that title leaped out at her, no doubt the cause of Lial’s consternation. “Oh, absolutely.”
Let him wonder what she found so amusing.
Lial couldn’t exactly say why he was in a bad mood, but after helping Lynia unload her new books and dropping off the last bit of research she’d given him, he found his disposition had gone decidedly sour. So he checked the status of the potion he’d started distilling and set Maddy to her current task—scanning Caeleth to better understand his wounds—before climbing the steps to his room. He’d promised Aris he would contact Tynan, and there was no time like the present. His
general annoyance with the mind healer would have ruined a better mood, anyway.
It wasn’t that Tynan did a poor job at mind-healing. Aris had been tortured terribly, so the fact that he currently lived a relatively normal life spoke to Tynan’s skill at repairing mental channels. But the man was too easily distracted. He’d let his attraction to Kezari occupy his thoughts so thoroughly that he’d forgotten the basic courtesy of checking for Lial’s healing links before starting therapy. It would take a few decades before Lial forgot the blast of horrific memories he’d experienced because of that lapse.
Unfortunately, Aris was comfortable with Tynan, and if it would benefit the life mage’s recovery, Lial would have to put up with the inept youngling. Unless Tynan wasn’t permitted to come after his supervisor had reviewed the full report of the minder healer’s previous work here.
It took an obnoxious amount of time, naturally, for Tynan to answer his mirror. Lial was about to give up and try again later when the man’s image solidified in the glass. His pale hair stuck up at odd angles as though he’d been tugging at it, and his robes had wrinkled so deeply the embroidered flowers looked trampled. Had something terrible happened at the temple where the healer priest lived?
“Lial,” Tynan said, a hint of breathlessness in his voice. “Please forgive my untidy appearance and poor manners. I’ve just finished with my second difficult case in as many days, but I didn’t want to let your contact go unanswered.”
For privacy’s sake, Lial didn’t ask for more information, though he couldn’t help but wonder what kind of patients had the man looking worse than he had after helping poor Aris. “I’ve long felt healers shouldn’t waste time on needless pleasantries.”
“Then you won’t mind my asking rather abruptly about the reason for your communication?”
“I do not,” Lial said with a wave of his hand. “Aris would like to request another session. He has been struggling of late and is uncertain of his control.”
Tynan’s eyebrows rose. “I’m surprised you’re asking me after my error.”
Though Lial wasn’t particularly fond of the healer, he admired his blunt honesty. “Aris requested you, and my patient’s comfort is more important than my own.”
“That I understand,” Tynan said. “I am more than willing to lend my aid.”
“Will the head priest give you permission?”
From the twist of Tynan’s lips, it was clear he’d correctly interpreted Lial’s question: Did you screw up too badly to be allowed? But the priest merely nodded. “She understood the cause and has not forbidden me from travel.”
“Do understand that I will not be lenient if you show such inattention around Kezari again.”
“I believe Kezari is my potential soulbonded,” Tynan said, his eyes level on Lial’s through the mirror. “That was a shock considering our obvious differences, but I’ve had time to process that revelation. Regardless, I will be certain to consult with you before beginning a healing session. That lapse will not be repeated.”
Lial didn’t want to feel sympathy—when it came to healing, he’d long learned to be exacting in his expectations. But after dredging up his own past the night before, he couldn’t seem to help himself. Soulbonds could be…difficult. He’d lost quite a few years of his life to the pain of a broken one. Perhaps he could give Tynan a bit of leeway.
“Consulting me will hopefully be sufficient.” Lial paused, a new thought occurring to him. “Do you only possess the mind healing gift?”
Tynan’s eyebrows rose. “No, but it is my strongest. I wouldn’t have been able to repair Aris’s bones the way you did, but I can knit minor to moderate wounds and speed the healing of set bones to some extent. Is there some other problem I need to know about?”
“We’ve had trouble here. A traitor the Myern is hunting down,” Lial explained. Among other things, but he didn’t want to mention the possible plague yet. “A week or two’s aid with daily healing tasks would be much welcome while I deal with serious injuries.”
“I will inquire with the high priest about the length of time I am permitted,” Tynan answered, a healthy dose of surprise in his voice.
Lial nodded. “Thank you. Please let me know as soon as you can.”
He’d dreaded the conversation, but as he disconnected the link, Lial felt…lighter. In truth, he should have recruited help much, much sooner instead of burying himself in work. Although he didn’t think Tynan would be a suitable replacement after he relocated, the relief from this conversation prompted him to consider beginning that search soon.
But not now. He had a fertility potion to see enchanted.
Chapter 22
Though the others left to take care of their own tasks, Lynia stayed at her table, re-reading the same books she’d already memorized in the vain hope that new information would leap out. Well, easy information, in any case. A couple of the history books gave more details about the downfall of Abuiarn, but none of them mentioned the method Bleyiak had used to cause it.
One book had discussed the outbreak of disease and the arrival of Emereh, but either none of the historians knew how Emereh had cured the illness or they weren’t saying. The latter made less sense considering the horrible details they’d had no trouble listing. Madness from tainted energy—akin to what Kien’s poison had caused—followed by chills, fever, and an increasingly wretched cough their bodies couldn’t seem to heal. Then abrupt death.
After a couple of brutal weeks where most of the population was decimated, the healer had finally arrived to save those still alive. And that was the extent of the details—arrival, victory, abandonment of the colony. Surely, the person or people who’d given this account had known whether Emereh had used magic, potions, or some other method. Why wouldn’t they have written this down in case the illness wasn’t unique to Abuiarn? Had they even discovered the source of it?
No, there absolutely wasn’t going to be an easy answer here.
There was only one thing of note that she kept returning to—Bleyiak hadn’t caught the illness. In fact, none of the sources agreed on what had happened to the man. One said he’d been cut down by the guards after he’d released his spell, one claimed he’d taken over the throne, and the other said he’d escaped. None mentioned him dying a painful death due to the sickness he’d unleashed, and they probably would have if it had happened. That kind of cosmic justice wouldn’t go unremarked.
So either he’d been cut down too soon to suffer the fate of the others, or he’d remained unaffected. But how? A spell or magical shield? A tincture? She knew little about the man beyond the facts given in the history books and the list of goods he’d authorized for the colony. She’d examined the list of herbs on his order, and while some of them might have been useful for thwarting an infection, it was impossible to know how they’d helped without a recipe.
With a groan, Lynia leaned her forehead against her palm.
And that was how Lyr found her a few moments later. “Laiala?”
Lynia straightened, lowering her arm to the table. “I’m fine. Just not making as much progress as I would like.”
“I know the feeling.” Lyr sat in the chair Selia had occupied earlier. “At the risk of bringing up bad memories…how well do you know Koranel?”
Her eyebrows drew together. “Not well enough to elicit any important memories, good or bad.”
“But others around him…” Worry creased Lyr’s eyes. “I have reason to suspect that Koranel was involved in past unpleasantness.”
“I assume you’re attempting to mention Telien’s death without actually doing so?”
A smile ghosted across Lyr’s face. “You know me too well. Yes, in a way. I have to determine whether Koranel was involved in the recent attack and in Norin’s treachery. I don’t yet know if it goes far enough back that Koranel was part of Laial’s death, but he refused to take a blood oath to prove his allegiance. I’d say it’s possible he at least knew.”
Naturally, the subject didn’t imp
rove her mood, but except for a twinge of pain, the deep grief that had haunted her so long wasn’t evident today. Resolve filled her instead. If she could help bring someone to justice for her bonded’s death, it would be a good thing, indeed. She didn’t know a great deal about Koranel, but she would happily make the time to find out.
“I’ll check the records from his recruitment as well as any commentary on his service,” Lynia said.
“Are you sure?” Lyr frowned. “Laial surely wrote some of those, and I wouldn’t—”
“Thank you, but I do not need to be shielded.” She held her son’s gaze until he nodded. “Would you avoid any work I had done, or would you celebrate it?”
Lyr had the grace to wince. “Good point.”
“Personally, I hope there’s something relevant in your father’s notes,” she said, her lips curling up. “That would be a perfect justice, don’t you think? Especially if I’m the one to find it.”
“It would.” Though he returned her smile, Lyr rested his hand on hers and squeezed. “But I didn’t come here to give you more work. Preventing this plague is the most pressing concern, and I’ll be questioning Koranel regardless. I sought only your impressions of the man.”
Lynia let out a soft laugh. “You truly can’t resist trying to protect me, can you? You’ve always been my guardian, even when you were little. Remember when you used to insist on carrying your wooden sword when we walked to the village or through the woods? It’s one of the things that makes you such a good Myern.”
A hint of red tinged his cheeks. “I barely remember the wooden sword. Nor do I know what I would have done with it if we had been attacked.”
“I’m certain you would have figured it out.” She turned her palm up so she could grip her son’s hand for a moment. Then she released him and pulled away. “Now go. It will take moments to find the records you need and skim them. I’ll contact you telepathically when I’m finished so it takes less time.”
Solace Page 22