Aerenden: The Zeiihbu Master (Ærenden)

by Kristen Taber

  “Will he be okay?” she asked.

  Cal set Talis down on a blanket and turned to answer Meaghan. Before he could speak, Talis groaned. Meaghan's head snapped up. She activated her power, casting it toward Talis in search of discomfort. She found none within him, but pain shot through her and she dropped the kettle in reaction. She had overfilled the mug. Hot liquid had burned her fingers and her hand, leaving red rivers behind it. Biting her lip to control her urge to cry, she switched the mug to her uninjured hand and brought it to Cal.

  He placed the mug on the ground next to him, then propped Talis in the crook of his arm. Meaghan dropped to her knees beside him.

  “Cal, please answer me. Will he be okay?”

  “He'll be fine,” Cal said. He laid his palm on Talis's forehead and moved his lips. Although Meaghan strained to hear what he said, she could not seem to make out any words. She frowned at him.

  “What are you doing?”

  Cal stopped muttering. “Talis can't drink the tea while he's unconscious,” he told her. “So I'm reciting a spell to wake him. It works best if you don't interrupt.”

  “Sorry,” Meaghan said. She rubbed the back of her neck and waited for Cal to continue, but he only sighed.

  “The purpose of contacting Nick was to alleviate your anxiety, not to increase it.”

  “I know.” She dropped her hand into her lap. “I wish you hadn't insisted on bothering him. I'm fine.”

  “You're not sleeping. Nick said you do that when you're worried.”

  “Did he?” she asked, curling her fingers into a fist. “That was nice of him.”

  Cal chuckled. “Don't worry. He wasn't tattling on you. He's also having trouble sleeping.”

  “Which we didn't help by contacting him in the middle of the night,” she said, then looked toward the mountains. Her worry moved to frustration when she found nothing but blackness. By daylight, the three peaks taunted her, reminding her she was no more than a day's travel away from her goal, once Cal allowed the search party to move again. But at night, the mountains hid, making her feel as if they would always be out of her reach.

  “He's already angry I'm on this mission,” she continued, turning her attention back to Cal. “I didn't want to add to that by telling him about our journey through this part of Ærenden.”

  “He should've known already,” Cal said. “You should have told him before you left the caves.”

  “Maybe, but that's beside the point. He knows it all now.”

  “Not everything,” Cal corrected. “But at least he knows enough to help us. He said the plants in this area are different than we're used to, but he knew of one that could help us in an emergency.”

  “Good,” she said and drew her unburned hand to her temple. Her head hurt. So did her eyes. She closed them, yanking them back open a second later when she felt the call of sleep. She could not risk the luxury. She had already counted three sets of red eyes peering at her from the forest.

  “More importantly, I found out how to make the tea you need. You'll sleep from now on.”

  Her hand slid down her face and found her lap. She nodded, but could not manage happiness for Cal's decree. She did not want to take the tea. It made her feel vulnerable to attack. Yet she did not argue. She had promised Cal she would obey him and she intended to honor that promise—for the most part.

  “Starting tomorrow night,” she said. “It will be day soon enough.”

  “We'll see,” Cal responded. “If it's raining come morning, you'll take it then. A full day's sleep won't hurt you.”

  Looking down at Talis again, he resumed his spell. Within a handful of seconds, Talis opened his eyes and moaned.

  “What happened?” he asked.

  “You held on too long,” Cal answered. “I thought we agreed you'd stop when your power made you weak.”

  Talis managed a smile. “We did. But we didn't agree on what point after I got weak I would stop.”

  “You haven't changed a bit,” Cal grumbled. “You're the same as you were when you first starting playing with Nick as a child—stubborn and foolish.”

  “Which is why you always liked me,” Talis responded. “We're a lot alike.”

  Cal narrowed his eyes. “Something like that.”

  Talis chuckled, and then winced. Meaghan picked up the mug and handed it to him.

  “This will help,” she said.

  “What is it?”

  “Jicab. I've never understood why something so good for us has to taste like rotten fruit and old gym socks.”

  Talis raised an eyebrow. “Gym socks?”

  Meaghan shrugged. “Something else vile, though some days I think they would be more palatable. I got sick of jicab in short order.”

  “The curse of not listening to your Guardian,” Cal muttered, though his playful grin told her he was teasing.

  “Ah, yes, well,” she rubbed the back of her neck. “I'm sure Nick didn't think I'd be so much trouble when he was assigned to guard me.”

  “He knew,” Talis said. “His mother warned him that it's typical for your family. She meant it in a loving way of course,” he added when Meaghan raised an eyebrow at him. “I just don't think Nick expected things to turn out like they did. It makes guarding someone a lot harder.” He drew the cup to his lips and grimaced. “I haven't met anyone that likes this stuff.”

  “What do you mean?” Meaghan asked.

  “It tastes terrible,” Talis answered. “You just said it yourself.”

  “No.” She frowned. “What did you mean when you said Nick didn't expect things to turn out the way they did?”

  “Oh.” Talis stared down at his tea. “Maybe I shouldn't have said that, especially when Nick and I haven't talked about it. I'm just guessing.”

  “But,” Meaghan prompted.

  “But falling in love with someone makes it a lot harder to protect them. Most Guardians don't have to worry about that. They fall in love with other Guardians and they're comforted knowing the person can protect themselves. It's what we're trained to do.”

  “They?” Cal asked. “You said they fall in love with other Guardians, not we. Why is it I get the feeling you understand Nick's situation more than you should?”

  “Because I do.” Talis sat up. He took a large gulp from his mug before setting it aside. “Although my love is reciprocated. I know Meaghan doesn't feel the same way about Nick.”

  Meaghan frowned. “What makes you think that?”

  “I overheard May telling Miles about it the night before we left the caves. But that doesn't change anything for Nick. He still loves you and it's hard not to worry. Only Guardians are equipped to fight. We try to protect the villagers as best we can. We even train them some, even though the Elders tell us not to. But when it comes down to it, we know many of them won't survive. It makes us want to hide the people we love until the war is over. We attempt to overprotect them. It's worse with you, I'm certain. You're in the most danger and you know the least about this world.”

  Meaghan crossed her arms. “I'm not naïve. I've learned quickly and I can defend myself.”

  “You can,” Cal agreed. “But that isn't what Talis meant. Nick trained for combat. You didn't. Not really,” he said, holding up his hand to keep her from protesting when she leaned forward. “I know he taught you to fight. He's a good instructor and you've learned well, but it's not the same. No matter how much you've learned in the months you've been in Ærenden, you can't match the training Guardians receive. We're taught to be soldiers from the moment our powers surface. For most of us, that's around age three.”

  Cal held Meaghan's gaze until she nodded and looked away.

  “What's her name?” Cal asked Talis.

  “I'd rather refrain from answering that. I know the repercussions for falling in love with a non-Guardian. I'll face those when the time comes, but I don't want anyone judging her for it.”

  “Why would anyone judge her?” Cal asked. “Has anything happened between you two?”


  “No,” Talis said. “And nothing will. We've discussed following through on how we feel, but I can't. I won't even touch her. I'm too afraid of what will happen if I lose my powers.”

  Cal placed a hand on Talis's shoulder. “That's a good thing to keep in mind, but you know me, lad. You've known me since before you had your windmaker power. I taught you how to form your first tornado. Do you remember that?”

  “That was a long time ago, Cal.”

  “Maybe,” Cal responded. “But I haven't changed much since then. Do you really think I could judge you for what you feel? Or her? Our hearts take their own courses sometimes. As much as we'd like them to obey us, they won't.”

  Talis nodded again and returned his eyes to his mug. Lifting it once more, he drained it and set it aside. “Talea doesn't know about my situation. I'd rather she didn't. She thinks I asked to join this mission because I'm protecting her.”

  “Didn't you?”

  “To some extent. Protecting her is a brotherly instinct, but in all honesty, she can protect me with her power a lot better than I can protect her with mine.”

  “True,” Cal said. “Then why did you volunteer? Mind you, I wasn't about to turn you down when you offered, but I only invited one of you because I figured your parents would be devastated if they lost you both.”

  “My parents no longer recognize us. They won't know we're gone and they won't realize it if we don't return.” He sighed and stood. “The Healer in my village is taking care of them.”

  “So why did you come?”

  “I needed to get away from Innelda. I was afraid I wouldn't be able to resist what I felt for her much longer.” Talis turned to study Meaghan. “I'm sorry,” he said. “I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I realize you had no choice in your wedding or Nick's feelings for you. And I'm sorry I haven't been all that welcoming, but to be honest, I'm not sure what to make of you yet.”

  “Neither am I,” Meaghan whispered. She stood and trailed her eyes to the invisible canopy protecting them from the rain. By the firelight, she could make out raindrops as they hit the shield and scattered, torn apart by a force they could not control. She could relate. She dropped her gaze to Cal. “I'm going to try to sleep.”

  “Glad to hear it,” Cal said. “Take some of the clover bush tea. Two leaves.”

  “Okay.” She filled a cup with hot water and added two leaves to it as he had instructed. While he watched, she took a sip of the tea, but poured the rest out before she climbed into her tent.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  TALEA SLEPT. Although she did not snore, she breathed a soft whistle when she exhaled, giving away the depth of her slumber. Meaghan always counted on that quirk to signal she had privacy and felt her spirits lift with the noise when she settled under her sleeping blanket.

  She tightened her injured hand into a fist, winced with the pain, and then loosened her grip again. Her worry for Talis and the conversation after had distracted her from the burn, but now it found her attention again. She closed her eyes, focusing on Talea's breathing to remove her mind from the throbbing. Soon enough, she would have something better to keep her thoughts occupied.

  Inhale, exhale, whistle. Meaghan buried her uninjured hand within her cloak, seeking the corn husk doll. For a moment, she pretended Nick lay beside her, as he used to do every night in their cabin, then her fingers moved to her mother's amulet. She pressed her palm over it, soothed by the smooth stone as she counted the pattern of Talea's breathing. Ten minutes passed before she felt confident Talea would not awaken. Then ten minutes more elapsed before she dared recite the spell to create a ball of light. A bright orb illuminated the inside of the tent and she cursed, extinguishing the ball before it woke Talea. But not before someone else saw it.

  “Meaghan?” Cal whispered outside her tent. “Is everything all right?”

  “Yes.” She scurried from her blanket to poke her head out of the front flap. “Talea's sleeping. Don't wake her.”

  “I see,” Cal said and crouched down beside her. “Then I think it's safe to assume Talea wasn't the one who turned your tent into daylight. I take it you're playing with the light spell again.”

  “I was just trying to find something, that's all. I'm going straight to bed.”

  “Are you?” he asked. “Did you need me to make you more tea? I know you didn't drink the first cup.”

  She pressed her lips together. “How did you know?”

  Cal chuckled. “Because you were careless. I told you that would happen if you didn't get enough sleep. Next time you want to pretend to obey me, you should probably remember to wait until I'm not looking to dump out your cup.”

  “Oh,” she said. “I thought I had.”

  “Is that all you have to say for yourself?”

  “I don't know what else to say. I broke my promise. I can apologize, but I doubt it would matter to you.”

  “No, it wouldn't. Especially since we both know you wouldn't mean it. Why don't you tell me why you did it instead?”

  Meaghan sighed. “I poured out the tea because I wanted to read the Writer's book. I can't do that while I'm asleep.”

  “I figured as much.” Cal tucked a hand into his cloak, withdrawing it a second later. “Sit up, please.”

  She rose, curling her feet under her so that she faced him. “Are you upset with me?”

  “Hardly.” He took her injured hand in his. “This hurts you. I can feel it. The tea would have helped.”

  “There are razor beasts around,” she said. “I saw them tonight. If I take the tea, I'll be vulnerable.”

  “No, you won't. We're here to protect you.” He opened his right hand, revealing the tip of a thick green leaf. It had been some time since she had last seen the plant, but she remembered it well. She withdrew her hand from his.

  “I won't let you use the ice bush on me,” she said. “We don't have much left.”

  He ignored her and snapped the leaf open. It oozed a pale yellow gel. “You have no choice now,” he said. “I either use it or it goes to waste.”

  She sighed and let him take her hand back. He lathered the gel on her skin, and then massaged it in to activate the gel's cooling properties. Her hand tingled and a moment later, turned numb. Her pain disappeared.

  “I saw how much Talis upset you,” Cal said, releasing her hand. “He didn't speak any more than the truth, but that doesn't make it easier to hear. Reading the book allows you to connect with your parents. You think they're the only people who can understand what you're going through, since they had a prophesied wedding like yours.”

  “Aren't they?” she asked.

  “They went through it,” Cal responded. “But they aren't alive, Meaghan. The book might make them seem that way, but they're images from the past. They can't give you advice. They can't answer your questions. May and I can. We watched it all happen. We know how they felt and how they reacted to it.”

  “I can't talk to May about this.”

  “Then talk to me,” Cal told her. “Just as your father did. I understand. You and Nick weren't ready to be wed, but it happened anyway. It's done and that's hard for you to accept.”

  “It is,” she admitted, and closed her eyes to ward off her tears. “But it's more than that, Cal. I don't have any family here. I have Nick because of the wedding and because of that, May's the closest thing I have to a mother. She may have witnessed my mother go through this, but it's not the same. My mother was her charge and her friend. Nick's her son. If she thinks I'm hurting him—”

  “She doesn't,” Cal assured her.

  “Yet she mentioned it to the Head Elder,” Meaghan argued. “Why would she do that if she wasn't worried about it becoming a problem?”

  Cal smiled and drew a hand up to Meaghan's cheek. “Because Miles is more than the Head Elder to May. They're close, so she tells him things she doesn't tell anyone else. You're right. She is concerned, but not about you hurting Nick. She's worried about you being on this mission, and about what it will do
to Nick if you don't return. I'm sure she told him about your feelings for Nick as part of that conversation.”

  “Still…,” Meaghan said, but choked on the remainder of her words when tears flooded her eyes. She blinked hard to chase them away.

  “Still,” Cal echoed. “You can't think like that. You have to focus on what you have instead of worrying about what you may not have. If May were upset with you about your situation, that would be her problem. She can be a bit hardheaded at times, but she always comes around. In the meantime, she's not the only family you have besides Nick.” He dropped his hand to her shoulder. “You have me.”

  “I appreciate that,” Meaghan said and gripped his wrist. “And I know you mean well, but you're just saying that because of Nick. That's not the same.”

  “It isn't,” he agreed. “But my feelings for you have nothing to do with him. I consider you family because of James.”

  “James,” she whispered and a tear broke free from her control, coursing down her face. She closed her eyes and tried not to think of the man she had known as her father nearly her entire life. She had not had time to mourn his death, nor would she until the war ended.

  “Just because my younger brother wasn't technically your father doesn't mean I don't think he was. Ed was a close friend of mine and a wonderful King, but he never got to be the father to you that you needed. James filled that role for him. He loved you as his own, and as far as I'm concerned, that makes you the closest thing to a niece I have. Are you hearing me?”

  She nodded, but could not find any words to answer.

  “Look at me, Meg.”

  She opened her eyes in response to the nickname only her family and Nick had used. The nickname James had called her from the day she turned five.

  “Whenever you feel like you don't have family, remember that I'm here for you, okay?”

  “Okay,” she said and wiped the tears from her cheeks with her palms. “I miss James some days more than I can bear.”