by Blair Drake
Once again, they climbed and though the terrain wasn’t rocky, it was uneven and rough. The horses picked their way with care through the thick undergrowth. Jasper was grateful because their presence meant all three of them could rest. In particular, Rylan needed time to recover, not only from his shift to and from the silverback, but the man suffered a heart attack only two days earlier. It was ludicrous to think he could have continued to travel at the same speed they’d maintained for almost two weeks. However, they must maintain that speed to have any hope of making it to the cave in time.
They traveled in silence for more than three hours before the fading light forced them to stop. They made camp in a thick stand of trees and used flattened, fallen foliage for their beds. After a sparse dinner of berries and the last of the barbequed hare, they settled down to sleep.
Willow curled up beside Jasper; he was comforted by her presence, but it also troubled him. The questions fired at him by Rylan earlier that day continued to echo in his mind, and he was no closer to finding answers. He couldn’t deny the issues raised by Willow’s father worried him. It was true. He didn’t know if he had the power to take her back with him. And if he did, what was he going to do with her when he arrived home? He couldn’t hide her in his room at the Academy. Neither could he take her to his parents’ house in Seattle. What would he tell them? How would he explain who she was and how she’d gotten there?
If he came clean about the magic and the places he’d been, perhaps there was some chance his father might believe him, but what if Roger Walker didn’t know about his past history, about the long line of Walkers descended from witches and wizards? Jasper ran the risk his parents might not believe him and where would that leave him? Where would that leave Willow?
She’d be living in a world that was totally foreign. She wouldn’t even know how to buy a hotdog, ride the subway, take an algebra test. She’d be totally bamboozled, more than likely scared out of her wits, and he’d be the one responsible for that fear and bewilderment.
Could he take the risk? Would she still love him if he put her through what could be a terribly traumatic experience? What was the alternative? Leave her behind with her father? A father who loved her and would take care of her in the world that was her own. That thought led him to ask the inevitable: Did he love her enough to let her go?
He tossed and turned, slept fitfully, chased by nightmares of snakes and rhinos and panthers. He also saw a vision of Willow, this time alone and crying. He realized it was like the image he saw before, on the first night he spent at Rylan’s. That time she was singing. Was she crying because he left her behind, or because he hadn’t? He wished he knew.
They started out at first light the next morning. Once again, the horses provided relief from the endless walking. Jasper’s stomach somersaulted at the thought that if things went well, this was the day he would find the cave. If he failed, it would be too late—for this night was the full moon. The whole journey would be for naught. The quest would go unfulfilled.
He glanced across at Rylan riding beside him and was startled to see how old and frail the healer looked. He was bent low over his horse, as if unable to hold up his weight. It was obvious time was running out for him. Jasper sent a silent prayer heavenward he would break the spell in time. He had to remain focused on that outcome and totally committed to making it happen. It was the only way to proceed.
His gaze drifted to Willow, who had taken the lead. She sat tall and proud on her horse. A natural rider, she moved with casual grace, along with the gentle rhythm of the majestic animal beneath her. Jasper’s eyes followed the sway of her body, entranced. He never tired of watching her.
Unfortunately, their time was quickly coming to an end, and there was nothing he could do about it. In the early hours of the morning, he’d come to a decision. He loved her too much to put her through the trauma of adapting and living in a foreign world. She’d be totally lost, and there would be little he could do to help her.
He was still at school, albeit in his final year, but he was nowhere near ready to take on the responsibilities of a live-in girlfriend. How would he support her? As hard as it was to make, he came to the only conclusion he could. His heart ached at the knowledge he had to leave her behind.
Even now, the thought pained him, and tears burned behind his eyes. The decision to let her go tore his heart to shreds, but it was the right thing to do—for both of them. He only hoped when the time came he was strong enough to go through with it.
Then he thought of Rylan and how happy the man would be to have his daughter remain with him, by his side. It would go some way to making up for all those lost years. Jasper had to feel good about that. And he did. Somehow, knowing how much joy he was going to give the old healer by leaving Willow behind helped him accept his decision.
The knowledge settled in his heart, and with it came a certain level of peace. He was sure he’d never love anyone like he loved Willow, but he would return to his world and put the memories of his time in this amazing land behind him. Every now and then, he’d take those memories out and remember the way it felt to be head-over-heels in love. He’d never forget her, but he’d find other things to distract him. At least, that’s what he hoped would happen.
And then Rylan toppled forward, landing on his horse’s neck, and all thoughts of Willow vanished.
“Rylan!” he shouted, leaning over to catch the horse’s reins. “Are you all right?”
The old man didn’t reply. His face was ashen. Jasper could see the movement of the healer’s lips as he tried to breathe. Jumping off his horse, Jasper tied both sets of reins to a nearby tree and raced to Rylan’s side. The healer’s breaths came quick and fast.
“Hey, Rylan, slow down, buddy. You need to slow down your breathing.”
“What is it?” Willow ran up beside him, her eyes wide with concern.
“I’m not sure. He might be having another heart attack. Quick! We need to get him off the horse.”
Together they manhandled him and laid him on the ground. Jasper checked for a pulse. It was strong and steady. He sighed quietly in relief and turned to Willow.
“It’s not a heart attack. His pulse is fine. Maybe he’s feeling the heat?”
The morning had been warm, with the sun beating down on their heads. The close confines of the forest made it worse. Jasper swiped the back of his hand across his forehead to wipe away the sweat and then did the same to Rylan.
Jasper frowned. The old man was burning up. “He has a fever. Here, feel his forehead.”
Willow looked at him in confusion, but did as he said. She laid her hand across her father’s forehead and then jerked it away. She stared at Jasper and whispered. “He’s on fire.”
Jasper gazed at Rylan, feeling grim. The man was still conscious but only just. “I didn’t say he was all right, just that it wasn’t another heart attack. Quick, let’s look to see what’s causing the fever. It’s the body’s natural reaction to fight off nasty intruders, like poison from animal or insect bites.”
“Do ye think he’ll be okay?”
“It’s too early to say. We need to find out what’s causing the fever and treat it. Let’s hope he’s strong enough to keep going. If I manage to break the curse, he’ll be restored to his true age. He won’t be the ailing old man we see now.”
“We need to hurry, Jasper! He’s my father! I can’t lose him again—not now!”
Jasper regarded her steadily for a moment and then gave a brief nod of his head. “I know. You’ve only just found each other.” Determination to see this thing over with once and for all surged through him. “I’m not going to let King Defyron have the final say. He won’t beat me, I promise. Not on my watch.”
Willow touched his arm. The softness of her skin sent a frisson of awareness running through him. He savored the feel of her for just a moment and then gently moved her hand away. He’d made up his mind he was leaving without her. He needed to keep his distance and stay strong. It wouldn
’t be good for anyone if he went back on his decision. He moved closer to Rylan.
“I need to strip your father of his clothes and try and find the source of the fever. It’s my guess he was bitten by something during the night.”
She nodded. “I’ll help ye.”
Together, they loosened the ties in the front of the homespun burlap shirt covering Rylan to his knees. Jasper checked the man’s face, neck, and chest for anything that might have caused the spike in temperature. He gently ran his fingers through the long white beard while Willow tugged at her father’s square-toed leather boots.
“I don’t see anything,” she muttered, checking his feet and ankles.
“I don’t either.” Jasper lifted the shirt higher, and Rylan’s arms raised with the movement. The old man groaned, half-conscious.
“I’m sorry, Rylan, but you have to let me help you. You’re burning up with fever. I need to find out what’s causing it.”
“Arm…my arm,” Rylan muttered, his voice croaky and dry.
“What about your arm?” Jasper demanded, already going over each limb.
“Spider. Buibole spider. Tiny. Didn’t see it until it was too late. Bit me under my arm. Poisonous. Been bitten once before. I thought I’d be okay. But…I’m not.”
Jasper at once went to work and lifted both of Rylan’s arms. Under the left one, amongst the thicket of white hair, was a large angry red lump. It was as big as a goose egg and already it oozed a dark and sticky fluid. It was like nothing Jasper had ever seen before, and he wondered helplessly what to do. He searched around in his mind for answers, becoming increasingly panicked.
What if I can’t save him? What if Rylan dies? They’d come so far and faced so much, and now they might be floored by a spider so tiny it couldn’t be detected until it left behind its venomous bite.
“Let me check in Papa’s bag. He might have something that can help,” Willow said. Though her face was pale and frightened, there was a determined look in her eyes.
Jasper blew out his breath on a sigh of relief and nodded. “Good idea.”
Working quickly, Willow brought out the tins and containers in Rylan’s bag. Her fingers trembled as she picked up one after the other, mumbling to herself as she discarded each one just as fast. Finally, her fingers closed around a tiny pot of something Jasper could hardly describe. It was a paste as thick and dark as molasses, but the odor emanating from it as Willow twisted off the lid was anything but pleasant.
“What is that?” he asked, pointing to the jar.
She shot him a wry smile. “Ye don’t want to know.”
“It smells like the guts of a dead animal,” he murmured, covering the lower part of his face with his hand.
She gave a nonchalant shrug. “Who cares what it smells like?”
With that, she turned to her father and began slathering the huge lump with a thick covering of the goo. Despite the hand Jasper held over his nose and mouth, the scent of it reached his nostrils, and it was all he could do not to retch. And then he couldn’t stop his reaction and dashed behind a tree. He promptly lost what he had for breakfast and a little more besides.
His face flamed at the thought of facing Willow, but to his relief it was like she hadn’t noticed. He returned to find her easing droplets of water through her father’s parched lips.
“Ye need to drink, Papa. This fever’s drying ye out. I’ve treated yer bite, and I’m hoping it will be enough. Please, Papa, ye need to pull through, for both of us.”
Tears rolled down her cheeks and slowly fell onto her lap. Jasper watched, feeling more helpless than ever. He wanted to go to her and comfort her, to reassure her everything would be all right, but the truth was, he didn’t know if Rylan would pull through.
The old healer had lost consciousness, his color now a deathly gray. Jasper had never seen a dead person before, but he was sure they looked the way Rylan looked in that moment.
He moved closer, kneeled beside Rylan and took the old man’s hand. Rough and worn and wrinkled, he clasped it to his heart and murmured long-forgotten prayers.
“Please, God, don’t take him now. We’re so close! He doesn’t deserve to have this happen to him! He’s already been through so much! He’s a good and compassionate healer. He’s saved so many lives. Please, God. You have to save him! You have to show me this quest isn’t hopeless, that good can triumph over evil. That good will triumph over evil. If I can’t believe that, then what’s the point? Everything will be lost.”
Willow’s tears flowed faster, and it was all Jasper could do not to cry. Rylan was so good, so brave, so strong. He was both a friend and protector, and now he’d found his beloved daughter. They deserved to spend the rest of their lives together. It was the way it should be—the way it had to be.
“Please, Papa. Open yer eyes.” Willow poured a few more drops of water through Rylan’s half-open lips. Most of it dribbled down the side of his chin.
“How long is it supposed to take before your medicine begins to work?” Jasper asked quietly.
“If it’s going to work, it won’t take long. Either way…it won’t take long. The buibole spider is the most deadly venomous spider in the land. It’s so tiny, most people underestimate the damage it can do.”
Jasper thought back to the enormous spider he’d fought back in the rainforest. It seemed like a lifetime ago. He couldn’t believe something so huge could be less poisonous than the one Willow described. Then again, perhaps the larger species relied purely on terrifying their victims to death.
“Have you ever treated a bite like this before?” Jasper asked.
Willow nodded. “Yes, but the victim was brought to me straight away. I don’t know how long it’s been since Papa was bitten. It might have been hours ago.”
“He didn’t eat anything at breakfast,” Jasper mused. “I thought he just wasn’t hungry.”
“Yes, I noticed that, too. I should have realized there was something wrong.”
“Don’t blame yourself, Willow. This isn’t your fault. None of this is your fault.”
“Except, if I hadn’t been born looking so much like him, King Defyron would never have cast his evil spell upon my father or sent me away. And my mother wouldn’t have thrown herself from the turret of the castle. She might even be alive today.” She choked on a sob.
Despite his earlier determination to keep his distance, Jasper couldn’t ignore her pain. He moved to sit beside her and drew her close. She leaned her head against his shoulder and sniffed back a fresh round of tears.
“Shh,” he murmured, stroking her hair. “Don’t even think like that. You are what you are. You had no say in what you were going to look like and even if you did, this still wouldn’t be your fault. This is all at the feet of King Defyron and no one else. He could have used his power for good, like your father. Instead, he chose evil. Everything that happened was because of him. Okay?”
She lifted a tear-stained face to his, and his heart broke at the sadness in her gaze. “Ye are right,” she whispered.
“Hey, now! What’s all the whispering about?”
It took both of them a moment to realize Rylan had spoken. When they did, they stared at the old man in shock.
“Papa!”
“Rylan!”
They spoke simultaneously. Willow fell on her father, laughing and crying with joy. “I don’t believe it! Ye are awake! Ye will be all right!”
Rylan struggled to sit up. Jasper leaped forward to help him. It was only when Rylan was upright with his back resting against a fallen log that he looked down and noticed his clothes were in disarray.
“What the devil have ye done to me?” he asked with a mock growl.
“Saving your life,” Jasper replied, grinning widely.
“I see,” Rylan replied. “What happened? I don’t remember much after climbing on my horse.”
Jasper and Willow filled him in on all the details.
“I was terrified I wouldn’t know how to help ye, Papa.”
>
Rylan turned to Willow. His expression was filled with admiration and warmth. “But ye did. Ye saved my life. Ye are every bit as good a healer as I am.”
A gentle blush stained her cheeks. She stared at her hands in embarrassment, but Jasper could tell she was pleased by her father’s praise.
“I taught myself everything I know,” she admitted quietly. “I’m never totally sure what will work and what won’t. It’s all been by trial and error, I’m afraid.”
“Well, I’m very glad ye did try, and in this case ye guessed right! Child, ye managed to stem the flow of the poison. Look, the bite’s almost disappeared.”
Rylan held up his arm, and Jasper could see the healer was right. The huge, angry lump that was weeping black gunk only a few minutes earlier was now a small red dot. The paste Willow applied so liberally had also disappeared, absorbed to fight the venom. It was like magic. No, it was magic, Jasper corrected himself silently. They were living in a magic land.
With that thought in mind, he climbed to his feet and made his way over to the horses. They stood patiently in the shade of a tree. He checked all three animals were okay and then returned to where Rylan and Willow sat.
“We need to get moving. Full-moon night. Time is marching on.” He looked up and checked the position of the sun. It was almost directly above. They had to find the cave by nightfall or the quest would be doomed. He couldn’t let that happen.
Chapter 18
“Are we there yet?”
The plaintive question came from behind him. Jasper half-turned and shot Willow a grin. It was the third time she’d asked.
“According to Rylan’s map, the cave’s located behind a waterfall. We need to find that first. Do you hear anything?”
She pouted and shook her head. “No.”
“Then we must keep climbing,” Jasper replied and turned back to the trail.