Pieces

by Shannon Pemrick

  “You’re a soldier, aren’t you?”

  I looked up at a young boy with sandy blonde hair and light-green eyes. “I was.”

  “How long have you been a shaman?” he asked.

  “A while.”

  “Is your friend a soldier?”

  I shook my head. “No.”

  “Why is he wearing Guard clothes?”

  “Because he’s my Guard.”

  “But he’s not trained as one,” the boy commented.

  The kid was bright; I gave him that. Even at his age, he could tell a real Guard from a fake one. “No, he isn’t trained as one.”

  “Then how can he be your Guard?” the boy asked.

  I glanced up at Raikidan before speaking. “He may not have the right training, but he does as well as any Guard, if not better. I wouldn’t trade him for even the best-trained Guard.”

  “Okay,” the boy ran off.

  “Don’t mind him,” Nela told me. “He likes to ask questions all the time.

  I smiled. “Children will be children.”

  “Laz’shika, the psychic who spoke to me earlier told me you were coming here for another reason but couldn’t say what it was except that it was urgent,” Fe’teline said. “What was she talking about?”

  I bolted upright. In my dying state, I had completely forgotten about Arnia and Jaybird. “We need your help.”

  “Well, I’ve already gathered that,” Fe’teline remarked.

  I sighed in aggravation. This wasn’t the time for jokes. “What I mean is, we need help from the shamans as a whole. We need your help to get two people out of the city and someplace safe from Zarda.”

  Fe’teline beamed with enthusiasm. “Does this mean you’ve reconsidered the offer, and will allow us to help in this rebellion?”

  “To be honest… I haven’t really thought about it,” I admitted.

  “Then why come to us and ask us for our help?” Fe’teline spat. “If you won’t accept us as allies, then don’t expect us to help you when it’s convenient for you!”

  “Fe’teline!” Nela shrieked.

  “You should learn to control your anger, Fe’teline.” I looked over my shoulder at the sound of the new masculine voice I recognized. A man with a muscular build and tawny-beige skin, common from the west desert reason of Lumaraeon, walked toward the couch. The man still had his hood over his face, but I’d recognize him even if he wore a paper bag.

  I smiled as I sat up. “Hey, Keni’chi.”

  Ken’ichi pulled his hood down and smiled back, his blue eyes sparkling. “It’s good to see you, Eira.” He looked at my state. “Though I wish it were under better circumstances.”

  I chuckled and then accepted a hug when he held out his arms. “What are you doing here? I know how you prefer to protect the town rather than go out on jobs.”

  He pulled away and frowned. “I couldn’t stand being near Maka’shi anymore. Not after what she did.”

  My eyes softened. “It’s really not that big of a—”

  “She’s losing support,” he said. I could tell he didn’t want me to be so negative about myself. “Valene refuses to have anything to do with her, going as far as not allowing Maka’shi anywhere near her home. Neither Shva’sika nor Del’karo will speak with her. Alena won’t heal her wounds or ailments. Not even Daren wants to deal with her.”

  My brow knitted. That was a huge loss of support.

  “But enough about that. We have more important matters to deal with. Your reasons for not thinking over our offer are your own, and are of little concern right now.” He shot a look at Fe’teline when saying that. “What does matter is there are real lives at stake, and it’s our job to protect them. So, Eira, are you going to tell me where to find this people are, or am I going to have to go on a wild search myself?”

  I chuckled. “Eager as always. You’re not going to be able to do it on your own. They’re both very weak. Arnia won’t even be able to walk on her own. When we left, she was resting after recovering from passing out and she’s feverish. Jaybird is in better shape, but still worse for wear.”

  An elven man who had hung back by the kitchen approached us. “There is a merchant caravan scheduled to leave tomorrow. We could get them on that if they’re fit enough to travel.”

  “Where will the caravan go?” I inquired.

  “To the North Tribe. It’s colder up there, so the military doesn’t bother us as often. With summer approaching, it will be warmer, so your friends won’t risk catching any sickness in their weakened states.”

  I nodded. “Thank you. Now we just need to get them there.”

  Ken’ichi reached into a small pouch he had tied to his pants and pulled out a portal orb. “I don’t think that will be a problem.”

  “I’ll be coming with you,” Ven’lar announced. “I want to take a look at both of them before we move them anywhere.”

  I smiled my thanks. Fe’teline roared with anger and stormed out. I sighed.

  “Don’t mind her,” Nela said. “Fe’teline is stubborn. She had it stuck in her head the next time the two of you met, you’d give her the answer she wanted.”

  “She has a lot to learn,” I said. Nela tilted her head as if to urge me to explain. “Shamans are to make selfless decisions when others need their help. A shaman’s needs come second. Fe’teline is putting her needs first. I told her and Tla’lli I was going to think about it when I had the time. I just don’t have time right now, and with others needing my help, that decision is a long ways away.”

  “The spirits were wise to choose you.”

  I swung my legs over the couch and hopped off. “I hope you’re right.”

  Ken’ichi handed me the portal and I pictured the house before tossing it on the ground. The portal opened and Ken’ichi took the lead. I followed behind him with Raikidan close behind me, and Ven’lar and the elf who had offered to use the caravan as an escape picked up the rear. None of the shamans bothered to lift their hoods over their eyes as we approached our exit, leaving Raikidan the odd one out. I shielded my eyes as we walked through the bright threshold of the exit of the portal. The five of us were greeted by several bewildered faces.

  “Welcome back,” Seda greeted. “It looks like your plea was heard.”

  I nodded and moved to take a look at Arnia. “How is she doing?”

  “About the same as she was when you left,” Azriel informed me. “I was hoping she’d get better with some sleep.”

  “It’s better than worse,” I said as I looked over at Jaybird as he slept soundly, completely sprawled out, on the other side of the couch. “He looks comfortable.”

  Azriel chuckled. “I hope so. It was a fight to get him to move that far from Arnia to just sit down. It didn’t take him long to pass out after that, though.”

  “Well, we’re going to have to disturb his beauty sleep if we’re to get them both out of here.”

  “Before we move them, I’d like to take a look at her condition if you don’t mind,” Ven’lar offered, looking at Arnia.

  I nodded, and Azriel moved aside to allow Ven’lar to take a closer look. Ven’lar lightly touched Arnia all along her body. I noticed he kept going back to her head.

  “I’m feeling something is wrong around here,” he informed us as he made a small circle with his hand around Arnia’s head. “It’s some sort of recent injury.”

  “A hard blow to the head would cause her body to shut down like this,” Azriel said.

  “And it could explain why Jaybird was so restless,” I remarked.

  Azriel nodded. “You’re right. He could sense the issue but not see it directly, so it was making him agitated.”

  “His body was probably also trying to transfer energy to her in an attempt to help her heal, which would have explained his d
efensiveness,” Rylan commented.

  “I’m not sure what’s so special about these two, but I do know this injury is bad,” Ven’lar stated. “It feels like there’s bruising. I’m getting the feeling there was hemorrhaging at one point as well, but it’s no longer there, which baffles me.”

  “Probably a positive result from the healing done by the bond,” I said. “Can you heal the bruising?”

  Ven’lar nodded. “It’s easy. I’ll need everyone to be quiet while I do it. I don’t want to damage another part of her brain.”

  “You do and I’ll kill you.”

  I looked over at Jaybird, who was now wide awake. “He’s not going to hurt her.”

  He snorted and continued to glare at Ven’lar. He wasn’t going to trust the shaman until Ven’lar proved he knew what he was doing. Ven’lar, ignoring Jaybird’s threat, took a slow, deep breath and began the healing process on Arnia. Arnia’s eyes fluttered open as Ven’lar pulled his hands away and then began to freak out when she noticed Ven’lar’s close proximity.

  I placed my hands on her shoulders and hushed her. “It’s all right, Arnia. Ven’lar was only helping you.” Arnia looked up at me and then back at Ven’lar warily. “He’s not going to hurt you.”

  Slowly, Arnia lay back down and watched Ven’lar.

  “How are you feeling?” Ven’lar asked her.

  “Fine,” she replied elusively.

  “Arnia, tell him how you’re feeling,” Jaybird ordered her.

  She looked away and wrung her hands. “Still crappy, but better than before.”

  Ven’lar smiled. “Good. It looks like the healing has begun, which I’m happy for. Once we get them to the house, I’ll do another session and continue to do so during the trip to the village. Even a little progress is good progress.”

  Arnia looked up at me. “Wait, we’re going somewhere?”

  I nodded. “I’ve asked the shamans to help get the two of you out of the city. They’re going to bring you to the North Tribe village, where you’ll be safe.”

  “But I don’t want to leave!” she protested. “I want to stay here and help everyone. Why can’t we stay with you guys?”

  “It’s not safe,” I insisted.

  “I don’t care!” Arnia shouted, only to immediately hold her head and moaned in pain.

  “Easy,” Ven’lar cooed. “You’re not completely healed. Too much stress is going to prevent you from healing properly. Come with us. You’ll get the treatment you need, and then you can come back here.”

  Arnia crossed her arms. “Eira won’t allow us to come back.”

  I held out my hand. “You can once you’re better.”

  She blinked slowly as she processed my offer. Normally, I would have agreed with her, but I knew they wouldn’t want to come back. Once free, they wouldn’t want to feel confined again.

  “You mean it?”

  I smiled. “Yeah.”

  Arnia nodded. “All right, I’ll go. But only long enough to heal up and be a distant memory to Zarda and his military goons.”

  I chuckled and looked over at Jaybird. “You okay with this?”

  “Do I have much of a choice?” he asked.

  I knew he wasn’t happy, but it was the only way. “No, not really.”

  He sighed and pushed himself off the couch. “Then let’s get going before I find the right words to argue.”

  Jaybird stumbled his way around the couch, refusing any help. Ven’lar, ignoring Jaybird, offered Arnia his hand to help her. Arnia accepted his gesture after hesitating for a moment and allowed him to help her up. She tripped but Ven’lar didn’t allow her to fall, and together they made their way over to the portal where the others were waiting for them.

  Ken’ichi looked over at me as Ven’lar and the other shaman escorted Arnia and Jaybird through the portal. “They’ll be safe with us.”

  “I know,” I replied. “Thank you for doing this.”

  He smirked. “You know I can’t refuse you. When we’re about to head out tomorrow, I’ll send a messenger hawk. You can keep her once she’s here. It’ll allow you to speak with us freely without the military getting in the way.”

  I nodded and watched him enter the portal and disappear as it closed behind him.

  “Good luck,” Ryoko whispered.

  With the weight of emergency now over, I could relax, and I needed to. I felt as though I could sleep for days. Wordlessly I made my way to my bedroom. There was nothing to talk about with the others. Arnia and Jaybird would be safe with the shamans. They wouldn’t have to worry about their bond being the death of them in the shamans’ care.

  I threw myself onto my bed and grunted as my body bounced a few times. My clothes changed without me needing to tell them to. It was as if they knew it was time for me to sleep. It wasn’t long before I was pulling a pillow into my body and cuddling up to the rest of them. I liked how soft my bed and pillows were. It was like sleeping on clouds.

  “They’ll be back, you know,” Raikidan said.

  I turned to glance at him over my shoulder. “What?”

  “Your friends,” he clarified. “You don’t think they’ll be back, but they will. They’re loyal to you.”

  “I hope they don’t come back,” I muttered into my pillow. “It’s safer for them to stay away.”

  Raikidan sat down on the side of my bed. “That may be, but you’re all stubborn and do stupid things.”

  I chuckled. “That’s an understatement.”

  “Eira, did you really mean what you said about me when you were talking to that boy?”

  I turned around and leaned on my arms to look at him in confusion. “I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t mean it. I wouldn’t trade you for any other Guard.”

  He pushed his hood down with one hand and grinned at me. “Thanks.” I smiled in response. “And thanks for carrying us all the way back here. It was really hard to keep both of us in that shape.”

  I shrugged. “Don’t worry about it.”

  “Just don’t try to make me leave you behind again, all right?”

  I laughed. “I won’t promise anything.”

  He looked me dead in the eye. “You have to. I won’t leave you behind. You don’t do it to others, so why should I do it to you?”

  I blinked. I had never thought of it that way. Grunting while smiling, I lay back down. “Go to bed, Raikidan.”

  He stood up and took me by surprise when he placed his hand on my head. “Dream well, Eira.”

  I snuggled into my pillows some more and sighed with content. “You too, Raikidan.”

  Chapter 20

  Igrabbed the side of the car trailer and climbed up. We had arrived at the drop-off location, and all the time and work we had put into getting the vehicles up here was now thrown out the window as we removed the securing ties to get them down. It was the one thing I hated about transporting cars to the dealers in the city.

  Raikidan climbed up next to me and gave me a hand with the chains. As we worked, a group of three women strolled by. Their giggling and quiet whispers caught Raikidan’s attention. He looked down at them and smirked. The three women looked at each other and giggled more. I rolled my eyes and sighed. Men. It didn’t matter that he was a dragon, he still reacted the same way.

  Raikidan looked at me. “What?”

  “Nothing,” I muttered.

  “Eira, what did I do?” he whispered.

  “Don’t give me that. You know what you did.”

  “No, seriously, what did I do wrong? All I did was smile at them.”

  “Seriously, cut it out, Raikidan. I don’t need another Blaze in the house.”

  “I was trying to be friendly,” he defended. “I’m trying to be as normal as possible, like you asked. Obviously, I did something
wrong by the way you’re acting compared with how those females were acting.”

  I sighed. “Raikidan, that wasn’t a smile. That was a smirk.”

  “All right, how was it wrong, then?”

  “Your smirk said you were interested in them and got them a bit excited. It made them feel a little lucky to even grab your attention for a split second. It’s a woman thing.”

  Raikidan snorted. “Well, that’s not what I meant to do.”

  “Then smile at people. Don’t smirk.”

  Raikidan blinked. “That’s the only way I know how to smile.” I gave him a look of disbelief. “I’m telling you the truth! My father smiled the exact same way.”

  “A family trait, then?” I mused.

  “Black dragons are the most persuasive of the three dragon colors, so I don’t see why it wouldn’t be,” he said.

  I thought this over. That might explain why he had been able to get more information out of me than I would have liked the first few days after we had met. I wasn’t on top of my game, which could have made it easier to persuade me. It might also have to do with my strange behavior lately. I made a mental note to be careful of that from now on. “I suppose that could explain it.”

  “Hey, lovebirds,” Blaze called up to us. “Quit your yakking and get working. We have cars to unload.”

  Raikidan tossed a handful of chains at him. “We’re already done, smart one.”

  Raikidan’s choice of vocabulary impressed me. He was really getting the hang of blending in. I wondered if he was reading at night while I was asleep. He had to be. It would be the only explanation for his use of names and other lingo the rest of us rarely used.

  “Excuse me? Who is this we you’re talking about?” Ryoko chimed in. “I’m the one who did all the work. But, Laz, hon, I don’t blame you for being jealous. They were hot. Especially the blonde.”

  “I’m not jealous,” I muttered.

  Ryoko grinned. “Sure you’re not.”

  I snorted. “If you like her so much, why don’t you go after her? I doubt she’s made it that far with how slow she was walking.”