by K. J. Nessly
Even though she was barefoot there should have been some sound from her feet hitting the stone floor, but everything was silent, even the opening and closing of the doors was soundless.
The door led to another stairway that rose still higher. Kathryn followed and came to a set of doors with the same etchings as the main entrance. Again the doors opened noiselessly and of their own violation. Inside was a sunken sitting room with lounging couches and low tables. The floor was overlain with green stone that was veined with crème-colored striations. It reminded Kathryn of her room back at Jasmine’s palace.
However it was what was in the sitting room that surprised her, or rather who. Eight people were occupying the couches when she entered. They stood as one as she stepped down into the sitting room.
There were five men and three women. They all had pale skin and black hair, and they were all dressed in exotic clothing as she was.
One of the women, wearing a circlet, stood and held out her arms to Kathryn. “Here she is,” her voice was low and comforting with a hint of an accent Kathryn couldn’t place. “Come to me child.”
Kathryn moved forward slowly.
“We have been waiting for this day for a long time,” the woman said as she embraced Kathryn.
“What have you been waiting for?” Kathryn asked, her own voice matching the strange woman’s.
A younger looking woman stepped forward, placing her own arms around Kathryn. “You were once chosen, but now you have come back to us.”
“Chosen for what? Come back where?” Kathryn’s confusion was rising.
This time of the men, a boy about her age, spoke. “You have come back to us, Estelwen, your family.”
Kathryn stepped back, “Wh… what are you talking about? I don’t have a family.”
The younger woman stepped forward, “We are your family, you were chosen at birth to be the one.”
“The one to do what?”
“To lead us to victory against those who would seek to destroy us,” the eldest man stepped forward, his gaze piercing. “You were chosen to deliver us.”
“Deliver you from who?” Kathryn asked looking around for an escape.
“Those who fear us and seek to eliminate us from existence.”
The younger boy spoke again, “You will help us return to power so that we do not need to wander again.”
Kathryn’s heart sank faster than a stone in water. “Wander?”
The last woman spoke. “We must constantly wander to keep our enemies from finding us, Our cities used to be great, you stand in what was once our great palace, but now we are nomads.”
“No!” Kathryn cried desperately. “I won’t help you.”
“You have no choice my child. It is your destiny to help us.”
“No! I will not be a slave to anyone else again,” Kathryn fought the panic that was rising rapidly within her. Those claiming to be her family were closing in on her, blocking off every escape route, all talking at once:
“You were chosen.”
“You cannot escape your destiny.”
“You will deliver us.”
“We have waited for thousands of years, do not fail us.”
Kathryn woke with a start, trembling so badly that at first she thought the ground was shaking. She was so cold it felt like someone was sticking Natalie’s needles into her skin. Horror spread through her as she realized that she’d fallen asleep.
Fool! Stupid! Carless! Of all the stupid things she could have done, she had to pick the most dangerous one. Falling asleep! In this weather! She was lucky she had even woken up. Experimentally she tried moving her feet. She couldn’t feel them, or her hands. She needed to get warm. Immediately. It was only after she recognized her need that she realized a fire was burning off to her right. A man sat on the other side, his cloak pulled low over his face, obscuring his features. She jerked violently, but her body refused to obey any commands to move to safety.
“Easy now, child,” the stranger spoke softly. “The numbness will pass in time. Pull those blankets back around you and move closer to the fire if you can.” His voice was calm and gentle, but behind it there was an air of authority of one who was used to being obeyed when an order was given.
Kathryn stared at him, her sluggish mind struggling to process what he had just told her.Blankets? Glancing down she saw for the first time that she was lying on fur pelts, with several more covering her. Lerina had provided heat on one side, the fire on the other. Her own cloak was hanging on a tree branch near the fire, water dripping from its hem. Destiny was sitting on her feet, a curious look on her face.
“You are lucky, child,” the stranger continued. “You were almost dead when I found you. Tell me,” he said, leaning forward. “Was there a reason you wandered into the forest alone, without a fire or other means to keep warm?”
Kathryn struggled to a sitting position. “Wh—who are you?”
“Most people,” the stranger continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “might have come to the wrong conclusion seeing a young girl sleeping in the snow with only a woolen cloak to keep her warm, and a water soaked cloak at that I might add, with darkness only a few radians away.” He lowered his cowl and stared across the fire at her. His face was not what she had expected. Dark skinned with shoulder length black hair he looked like a farmer who spent all of his time working under the hot sun, it was a face that his voice didn’t match. It was far too cultured for a simple farmer’s.
Realizing that he was waiting for an answer she replied, “I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”
“And yet, if I hadn’t found you, you never would have woken,” the stranger replied calmly.
It was the confidence with which he uttered the simple phrase, combined with her own knowledge of deadly temperatures that sent shivers up Kathryn’s spine. “Thank you,” she said finally, thinking that that was what he was waiting for.
He chuckled. “Anyone who could not be bothered to stop and help another from freezing to death in this weather doesn’t deserve to be called a human being,” he replied.
Now Kathryn was confused. What was he trying to say? “I’m sorry?” she ventured finally.
He smiled at her. “Thanks are not necessary, child. You would have done the same for another.”
As he rummaged in his pack Kathryn studied him some more, trying to make sense of him. Her experience with others was that they would have continued past someone freezing to death without so much as a second glance. His words seemed to suggest otherwise. Her rescuer pulled a small pot and metal stand from his pack. He noticed her scrutiny and grinned.
“You do not agree?” he asked as he anchored the metal stand in the ground.
“My experience says otherwise,” she replied as he filled the pot with snow and hung it from the stand over the fire.
He regarded her with a twinkle in his eye. “You are so young to rely solely on your experiences.”
Kathryn felt her jaw clench. “I’ve lived through events most adults can’t even dream of,” she returned sharply.
“Indeed?” he returned mildly. “Such as?”
She gaped at him. Did he actually expect her to share? “They aren’t experiences I care to disclose.”
He stared at her for a long moment before shrugging. “That is your decision,” he replied softly, turning his attention to the fire.
“You don’t approve.”
His eyes met hers. “In my experience, when a person refuses to discuss events that have caused them significant pain, their wounds fester and spread like a fever through the body until that person is consumed.”
Kathryn felt her gut clench as his words brought back a memory of the sickness that ravaged the village where she had lived as a child. The nauseating images threatened her control over her own body and it took an extreme effort not to lose what little she had left in her stomach in the snow. Exhausted, she lay back down on the pelts.
Her companion wisely did not comment, but busied himself adding
herbs and various spices to the pot. After a few minutes a mouthwatering aroma consumed the glen. The stranger brought out two animal hide flasks and filled them with the tea from the pot. He passed one to Kathryn saying, “Drink. It will make you feel better.”
Wary, Kathryn accepted the offering, but waited until he had taken several large sips before bringing the flask to her face and sniffing it. It smelled like one of the teas Jenna had given David when he had been injured, but gave off more of a tangy scent. She took a sip. The warmth spread from her mouth all the way down to her core where it began to melt the ice that had taken over her body. Tilting her head back, she took a long gulp. The heat felt marvelous.
Glancing across the fire, she noticed that the stranger was watching her, an approving look on his face.
“I have to say that I’m surprised,” he said after a moment. “You are cautious, but not to the point where it would kill you,” he nodded toward the flask in her hand. “And yet you were careless enough to fall asleep in the snow.”
“I told you,” she reiterated. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep. It was an accident.”
“Kathryn, you control everything in your life. You don’t let accidents happen.”
She jerked upright and stared at him in open mouthed astonishment. “Who are you!?” She demanded. “How do you know who I am?”
The stranger spread his hands. “I am Elyon and I am an…advisor of sorts to your King Darin.”
“An advisor of sorts,” she repeated coolly. “What does that mean?”
Elyon cocked his head to the side, considering his words. “I advise your king on certain matters,” he said finally.
She stared at him in incredulous disbelief. Had he truly answered her question in such an insipid manner? Finally, the rest of his words penetrated. “My king? Isn’t he your king as well?”
Elyon shook his head. “No, child. This kingdom is not my home. I am just passing through.”
“And you expect me to believe that someone justpassing throughhas the ear of my king above all his other advisors oncertain matters?”
“On foreign affairs, yes.”
Kathryn found that she couldn’t argue with him. To her knowledge, no one from the kingdom of Archaea had left in several hundred years. No one knew what truly lay beyond their own borders of the Khidamun Sea and the Airë Mountains. “So,” she ventured slowly. “Where do you come from?”
“A place of great distance from here.”
She scowled. “I am not a child, there is no need to speak to me as such.”
He regarded her carefully. “You are not ready for such knowledge,” he told her firmly. As she opened her mouth to protest, he held up a hand to forestall any other questions she may have had. “The radian grows late and night soon approaches. If you are to return to your glade safely you must leave now.”
Kathryn stopped breathing. “What?!”
He frowned at her. “Your home, where you live with the others, you must return soon, before they come looking for you.”
It took all of her self-control to maintain a dismissive manner. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Your identity is safe with me Kathryn,” he said standing. “Next time we see each other, I hope that you’ll trust me enough to tell me about your experiences.”
She stared at him in shock as he packed the tea pot and its stand away in his pack. Shouldering the bag he gave her a smile. “Keep the furs— Just in case you decide to venture out on your own again.”
And with that last word, he walked out of the glade and disappeared.
Kathryn stood staring at the spot where he had disappeared for several minutes. Shocked beyond words, she only came to her senses when Destiny let out a call. Quickly she packed away the furs and mounted Lerina.
David was whittling in the front room when he heard the faint sound of hooves. He looked up; it was too early for the rest of the family to be home so that must mean it was Kathryn. It was. She rode into the meadow and directly into the barn.
Stamping down his urge to follow her in, David stayed by the window and concentrated on his project. Half a radian later, when she still hadn’t exited the barn, David was seriously considering going in after her. He was still making up his mind when she appeared at the entrance.
Relieved he leaned back in his chair, only to sit up straight again. Something was off. Kathryn appeared…edgy. Her normally unwavering walk was jerky, as if she was constantly being caught off guard. He opened the door and stepped outside to meet her.
“How was your day?” David asked as she stepped up onto the porch.
He expected a reaction from her, probably a cold, terse, “fine”. What he did not expect to see was the way she jumped and the fear that flickered across her face. He spoke quickly. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.” Now that he thought about it she looked frozen. Her face was deathly pale and her lips were tinged blue. Her hair was down and disheveled. He was seriously considering calling for Jenna when she finally answered him.
“It’s my fault. I should have been paying attention.”
Her quiet reply sent up warning flags. “Are you okay, Kathryn?”
She didn’t seem to hear him, instead she was gazing out over the clearing a faraway look in her eyes.
“Kathryn?”
“Hmm?” She turned back to face him a confused look on her face. “I’m sorry, did you say something?”
The hair on David’s neck went up, something had definitely happened today. He should have insisted that she go with them. “Are you okay?” he asked again.
“I’m fine.”
The amount of distractedness in her manner told him otherwise.
“Would you like something to eat? I think there’s some leftover soup from dinner in the kitchen.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Were you gone all day?”
She nodded, still looking across the clearing.
“Kathryn, are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m just tired. I guess I’ll turn in early.” She went inside and David followed. Natalie was in the foyer and immediately ‘welcomed’ Kathryn home with her numerous questions. But Kathryn didn’t seem to notice her. In fact she didn’t seem to notice anyone. She climbed the stairs and entered her room without saying another word to anyone.
“What’s with her?” Natalie huffed. “She couldn’t even say hello?”
David continued to stare at the door to her room. “I honestly have no idea, Nat. I’ve never seen her like this.”
“Rude?” Natalie asked sweetly
“No, not rude, just the opposite. When we were outside she apologized to me for not hearing a question I asked her.”
Natalie stared at him in disbelief. “Are you serious? I don’t think she’s said a kind word to anyone, let alone apologize.”
David shrugged. “Maybe it’s the start of a new Kathryn.”
Natalie let out an un-ladylike snort. “Don’t count on it. Tomorrow she’ll be back to her normal self,” she predicted as she flounced back toward the sitting room. David shook his head sadly. He was beginning to wonder if his new family would survive Natalie’s vendetta.
He was on his way to the kitchen when a scream erupted from the direction of the sitting room. As he entered the room, followed closely by Matt and Luke, David caught sight of Natalie standing on the couch, a pillow raised high above her head. Lacey stood at the foot of the couch, her head cocked at Natalie as if she was confused.
"STOP!" Matt shouted. Darting forward he ducked under the pillow as Natalie swung it downward and scooped up his pet. "She's harmless, Natalie!"
"SHE?" Natalie demanded. "You mean to tell me that this...thisthing is yours?"
"Her name is Lacey," Matt replied sourly.
"LACEY?"
"Natalie," David said calmly. "Could you please stop shouting?"
By now the rest of the family had joined them, even Kathryn and Destiny to David's surprise. A brief glance
at his lieutenant told him that she’d returned to her normal self even if she was still very pale. He also noticed Jenna studying her with what he had come to know as her Healer’s Look. Before the night was over he was positive that Jenna would have Kathryn drinking something hot and getting her into a warm bed. That matter settled, he returned his attention to the events at hand.
Gingerly, Natalie climbed down from the couch. She turned an appealing eye to David. "Can youpleasetell Matt that he can't keep thatthing here?"
As Matt opened his mouth to protest, no doubt angrily, David held up his hand to silence them both.
"If I do that, then I'd have to tell Kathryn that she isn't allowed to keep Destiny anymore," he replied calmly. "An action that I strongly suspect wouldnot be advantageous to my heath. And none of the other Dragons could ever decide to have a pet either," he added. He shook his head. "Matt has the right to choose any pet he wants so long as he takes care of it and sees to it that it doesn't wreak havoc on the family."
"Well,it's wreaking havoc onme!" Natalie returned hotly.
"She's not dangerous, Natalie," Matt said quietly.
"She's alizard!"
"So? What difference does her being a lizard make?"
Natalie wrinkled her nose. "She's ugly...and unclean...and purple!"
Jenna stepped forward, surprising everyone. "On the contrary, Natalie," she spoke gently, taking care not to anger the older girl. "Lacey is very beautiful. Just look at her coloring," she gestured toward Matt who slowly relaxed his grip on his pet. David gave the lizard a more in-depth study than he had in the kitchen a few radians earlier. Jenna was right. Lacey's bright green skin was contrasted with a royal purple that swirled over her back and sides in a way that reminded him of an ocean current. Her eyes were a dark blue, almost black, and her sleek head had a purple diamond on its crown.
He flicked his gaze to Natalie and saw that the older girl was starting to calm down.
Jenna continued to talk, "as to your charge that she's filthy...look at her, Natalie," she instructed. "She's far cleaner than any of our horses or even Destiny."