by Pati Nagle
Len and I spent the rest of that day practicing ælven, with Caeran coaching us. He said I was doing well. I figured he was just being nice.
The six of us had dinner in the kitchen, and I missed the hunting party even more. There were too few of us. Dinner conversation was a bit strained, because we avoided talking about the one thing all of us were thinking about. We went our separate ways for the evening.
The next day was Monday, and Madóran had patients coming in. Len helped him, which left me to entertain myself. I left another message for Savhoran. I was tired of reading so I opened the door of my room, sat on my bed, and stared out at the plazuela.
Caeran walked by and noticed me sitting there. “Do you want to go outside?”
“Madóran said not to alone, even in daytime.”
“I will go with you if you wish.”
He didn’t have to ask me twice. I went around smelling and touching every plant in the garden, I was so glad to be out there. Walked through the orchards and the vineyard. Finally I settled in a chair in the shade near the fountain, and Caeran sat next to me.
“Do you wish you were hunting too?” I asked.
He shook his head. “I wish there were no need to hunt.”
“Yeah.” I watched a hummingbird visit the honeysuckle vine on the south side of the plazuela. “What do you think that female would be like if she was cured?”
He thought for a moment. “She might be the same. She may have developed a taste for blood. Gehmanin was unimpressed at the possibility of a cure.”
Oh, great.
“Do you think any of the alben will be interested? I mean, why go to the trouble if they’re not?”
“For Savhoran.”
“Well, yeah. But will any of the others want the cure?”
“Most will, I think. Pirian may. I wish I had been here when Madóran talked with him.”
“Do you know him?”
“No.”
“He hasn’t been back, so I guess he kept his word.”
Caeran nodded.
I sat thinking about the future, when the cure had been found and Madóran’s patients were all alben coming to the hacienda to be treated. A parade of them coming in, with Len and Madóran working on them and me directing traffic. Caeran and Lomen standing watch in case one of the alben went rogue. When the patients came out of the treatment room their hair wasn’t white anymore, but brown like the clan’s or black like Madoran’s. Each of them left a pile of gold coins or a handful of gems on my desk.
“Manda?”
Gentle voice startled me awake. I blinked, realizing it was Caeran.
“Madóran has lunch ready.”
We went to the kitchen and found Madóran and Len already chowing down on chicken salad. There was a huge bowl of apricots on the table; one of Madóran’s patients had paid with fruit and eggs. The apricots were rosy and perfect. I ate about ten of them along with my lunch.
“Lomen called,” Len said. “They’re in Albuquerque.”
I looked up at her. “Lomen’s got a phone?”
“I gave him mine,” Caeran said.
“Have they seen Savhoran?”
Len shook her head. “They’re going to stop by his place after sunset.”
I took another bite of salad. I wanted to know about him now.
Madóran only had one more patient that afternoon, so Len and I worked on ælven some more, with Caeran’s help. I loved just listening to him speak the language. I knew I wasn’t pronouncing things right—there were nuances of inflection and stuff that were far more subtle than anything in English.
We worked until four, then sat in the plazuela until suppertime. Caeran chaperoned us, making me grateful yet again. Long ago—forever ago—I’d been jealous of him, but he had done me too many favors. I owed him.
We all gathered in the kitchen for supper, Mirali and Nathrin too. Mirali was moving a little slowly and she looked pale. She said something to Madóran in ælven and he answered. They spoke too fast for me, with my two lessons, to have a snowball’s chance in hell of understanding. I looked at Caeran and saw a slight frown on his brow.
Mirali picked at her meal. I wondered if ælven pregnancies were like human pregnancies. They might have a whole different set of problems. It didn’t surprise me when Madóran, Nathrin, and Mirali all left right after we finished eating.
Len, Caeran, and I cleaned up and put away the leftovers. While we were washing dishes Len’s phone rang. She stepped aside to answer it and Caeran took her place at the sink.
I tried to listen, but Len’s side of the conversation was mostly “Uh-huh” and “OK.” When she hung up, she came back to the counter. Caeran looked at her and they had one of those long staring moments.
Len took the dish towel away from me. “Savhoran’s not at home. They found his cell phone in his apartment.”
Shit.
“They’re going to look in the bosque, but they think he’s been gone a while. There’s no fresh khi in his place.”
I frowned. “Fresh what?”
“Khi is the energy of a living being,” Caeran said. “We leave traces of it wherever we go.”
“Like chi,” Len said. She turned to Caeran. “But there’s also prime khi, right? That’s different.”
“Not really,” he said. “The earth is a living being.”
That didn’t make a lot of sense to me, but I didn’t really care. Savhoran was missing. That was what I cared about.
Len pushed a glass of ice water into my hand and nudged me toward the table. I sat down and stared out the window. Most of the plazuela was in shadow but a strip of flagstones at the east side were glowing golden in the setting sun.
Had he left New Mexico? He knew how his presence bothered the others. He might have decided to leave for their sake. But without even saying goodbye?
Len and Caeran were talking quietly and finishing up the dishes. I rubbed my eyes and drank some water, and tried to understand how Savhoran could just leave. He didn’t know me that well; we’d only met a couple of months ago, and for an ælven that wasn’t very long. And he didn’t like the fact that he had to drink blood to survive.
My heart lurched as I thought that maybe he hadn’t left at all, at least not that way. I closed my eyes, refusing to even think about that. Listened to Len and Caeran putting things away. Outside a bird gave a falling cry.
I heard someone sit across from me. I opened my eyes and saw Len looking at me, worried.
“We’re done,” she said. “Want us to walk you to your room?”
I nodded and stood, taking my water glass along. We went out to the portal and walked around to my room. I went in and said good night, then watched them walk around to the west side where their room was.
I sat on my bed and watched the garden slowly darken. Fought against the sadness.
Maybe Savhoran was just out hunting. Maybe he’d found a hot lead on the alben female. Maybe he’d found her hiding place and was staking it out.
The garden was getting hard to see. The bushes were just dark blobs now. I could just make out the patio furniture, and now and then I got a glint off the fountain’s water. Was the moon up? I stood up to go look, and was halfway to my door when I saw someone jump into the plazuela and land silently, knees bent like it had just been a small jump.
A chill of fear shot through me. It was the alben female.
= 10 =
I could just make out her silhouette. She was looking around, peering through the glass walls. I dropped to a crouch behind my dresser. Stupid; she could probably tell I was there anyway, but it made me feel better.
She hadn’t spotted me yet. I was debating whether she’d hear me if I did a mental shout out to Madóran when another person jumped down into the garden from the roof. Male, long hair, dark. He grabbed the female and they scuffled.
“Shit!”
I ran out into the portal, not caring anymore if I was seen. Looked around for something I could use as a weapon. Yeah, not bright
, but I wanted to help.
The female tried to break away but he had her around the waist. Her struggles threw them off balance and they crashed into some of the patio furniture, making a racket. That ought to bring the others.
There was a bright flash of light, then a thump. I looked up.
The guy was on the ground. The female bent her knees and did a superman jump right out of the courtyard. I heard her land on the roof and run a few steps, then silence. She must have jumped down outside.
I ran to the nearest glass door and fumbled with the latch. Heard another door opening, voices. Didn’t care. I got the latch open and went out.
The guy on the ground was struggling to get up. I hurried over to him, which was stupid if it was someone else, but I thought—hoped—
He looked up at me. I let out a gasp and dropped down beside him.
“Savhoran!”
I put my arms around him. He struggled against me, still trying to get up. I got it; I let go and he managed to stand, but when he tried to put his weight on both feet he cried out and started to fall. I caught him and helped him to a chair.
“She’s gone,” I said.
Caeran came running up to us. Savhoran still had his eyes squeezed shut and both hands wrapped around his shin. I looked up at Caeran, and he nodded.
“I’ll get Madóran.”
He spun and dashed back to the portal. I dragged another chair over, sat in it, put my arm around Savhoran’s shoulders and laid my head against his back.
“I’m glad you’re here. I was starting to wonder.”
He didn’t say anything. That was all right. I was just happy to be near him, relieved he was alive.
Gradually his breathing slowed. Len came out and put her hands over his, doing the healing thing I guess. Madóran must have taught her. I ignored a twinge of jealousy.
After a couple of minutes, Caeran came back with Madóran. I glanced up and saw Nathrin and Mirali on the portal, going back to their room.
Len stood up and Madóran took her place. He gently pulled Savhoran’s hands away from his leg and put his own there. Savhoran leaned back and sighed. I felt a tingle in the air, and saw a faint glow around Madóran’s hands.
“It is badly bruised, but not broken,” he said. “Caeran, please get Savhoran a glass of water.”
Caeran took off for the kitchen. Len pulled up another chair.
“What happened?” she asked.
I glanced at Savhoran, but his eyes were still closed.
“It was the alben, the female,” I said. “She jumped into the plazuela from the roof and Savhoran came after her.”
Len glanced at Savhoran. “How did they get here?”
“She followed Caeran and the others from the house in Albuquerque,” Savhoran said, his voice tight. He was still frowning in pain, but he had opened his eyes. “She was tracking them, and I in turn tracked her.”
“Why didn’t you take your phone?” I asked.
“I could not go back for it. I would have lost her.”
I smoothed his hair back from his face. He looked like hell, exhausted and in pain.
Caeran came with the water and Savhoran chugged it. Without a word, Caeran took the glass and went for more.
Savhoran took a couple of deep breaths. “I have failed. I am sorry.”
I took his hand and he squeezed mine so hard I had to bite my lip to keep from complaining. It was good, though. It meant he wanted me to stay.
“It is not a failure,” Madóran said. “Now we are aware of her presence.”
“I had hoped to rid you of her presence.”
“In time.” Madóran held a hand over Savhoran’s head. “How long is it since you last fed?”
Savhoran stared at the ground. My heart sank.
“Caeran and the guys left Albuquerque Friday night,” Len said.
I nodded, remembering. The other alben—Pirian—had shown up that night and set everything off. It occurred to me that Savhoran didn’t know about Pirian, but now was not the time to tell him.
Caeran came back, bringing the full glass and a pitcher of water. Savhoran drank two more glasses without stopping, then leaned back again and closed his eyes. He still gripped my hand.
“You cannot hunt in Guadalupita,” said Madóran gently.
“I have no intention of hunting here,” Savhoran answered.
“Where, then?”
“I do not know. Let me rest.”
Madóran’s brow creased with concern. He stood and summoned Caeran with a nod, and they both went into the portal. Len watched them go, frowning.
“Did you come all the way on foot?” I asked.
Savhoran nodded. I looked at his boots, which were just leather, like moccasins. I wondered if the soles were worn through.
“I’d better let Lomen know what’s going on,” Len said, getting up. She walked away and pulled her cell from her pocket.
Savhoran raised his head and looked at me. “Lomen is not here?”
“They decided to go back to Albuquerque to hunt the alben,” I told him. “They must have passed you on the way.”
“When did they leave?”
“Saturday. They took the bus from Las Vegas. They’ve been in Albuquerque a couple of days.”
He frowned, and I wondered if he knew what a bus was. I felt sorry for him, having to deal with our world on top of being sick and having to hide the fact that he wasn’t human.
He closed his eyes again. I put my hand on his forehead and was shocked at how cold it was. His hand was cold too; I just hadn’t noticed. It scared me.
I am all right.
I caught my breath at the contact. He was definitely in pain, not only from the bruise but just a general ache and weariness, and hunger. Serious hunger. I understood the agony it caused him, physical and emotional. He must have been too tired to hide it from me.
I kissed his cheek and he let out a small sigh. He still gripped my hand; I put my other hand over his, trying to warm it.
I heard footsteps and looked up, expecting Len, but it was Madóran and Caeran. Madóran carefully carried a wooden cup in his hand. He walked right up and stood in front of Savhoran, and Caeran stopped beside him.
I knew, because we were still in contact, that Savhoran smelled the blood. His hunger flared, becoming unbearable. At the same time despair sank his heart. I felt tears running down my face.
He swallowed, eyes clenched shut, and whispered, “No.”
“This is a gift,” Madóran said. “It is from both of us.”
Savhoran shook his head. “If I do this, I will truly be a monster.”
“No,” Madóran said. “You harm no one in accepting this.”
“We cannot take it back,” added Caeran.
Savhoran didn’t answer. I felt his turmoil. I wanted to help but there was nothing I could do—it was his decision.
“You can still hunt the alben,” Madóran said, “but only if you are strong.”
Savhoran took a couple of breaths, then looked at me. His eyes sought my approval, my forgiveness.
I want you to live, I told him. But I’ll respect your choice.
He gazed at me, still troubled but not as agitated. You would not be disgusted with me?
Of course not.
He lowered his gaze. Others would.
Well, that’s their problem.
He closed his eyes and I felt a flicker of amusement. I squeezed his hand, then let go. He took a deep breath and accepted the cup from Madóran.
I was so tied into him that I wanted that cup of blood. I felt his need for it, felt the physical urgency that drove him to compromise his ideals. He had no good choices.
He hesitated, then brought the cup to his lips. Instinct took over and he gulped greedily until he’d drained it, then gasped for breath.
The change was immediate. I felt it and was stunned by the difference that small amount of blood made. He was still hungry, but not unbearably so. The pain vanished, and strength flowed throug
h him. His face took on color, as much as I could see in the light from the portal.
Savhoran held the cup out to Madóran and bowed his head. “I thank you.”
“Keep the cup. It, too, is a gift. Such cups were used by Ebonwatch in their day.”
Savhoran looked at the cup, tipped it up to catch the last drop it held, then cradled it in his lap. He sat thinking for a minute, and I realized I didn’t know what about. Our contact had faded, or his renewed strength made it easier for him to shield his thoughts.
He looked up sharply. “I can still catch her.”
He stood, but his injured leg buckled. I grabbed his arm to keep him from falling.
“I think a night and day of rest would be better for you,” Madóran said. “Come. Your room is available.”
We walked to his room, Savhoran leaning on me with his arm around my shoulders and the cup clutched in his free hand. He couldn’t put much weight on the bad leg. Madóran had him sit on his bed and gave him another shot of healing, then went away, leaving the door open.
I’d been standing out of the way, watching. Now I sat next to Savhoran. I wanted to tell him I was proud of him, but I wasn’t sure he’d like hearing that. He was staring at the cup, frowning.
“Are you angry?” I asked.
“Only with myself.”
He put the cup on his nightstand. I leaned my head on his shoulder. He was tense; I didn’t need telepathy to know that. After a minute he turned and took my face in his hands. He looked like he was about to say something, then with an exasperated little gasp he kissed me.
We’d kissed before, but not like this. He was hungry in a different way, and my body said yes. My thoughts flicked to the condoms I had stashed in my bag.
He drew back. “I should not do this.”
“Why not?”
“I … have a task to complete.” He slid his hand behind my neck, gazing at me through long lashes. “You are very tempting, but I must focus.”
“You’re not going anywhere tonight, right?”
He leaned his forehead against mine. “Madóran was right. I need rest. And you will need to sleep.”