Ephemeral and Fleeting

by Patricia Reding

  “Pestifere is back,” Broden said to no one in particular.

  “Broth—”

  “Never mind!” he scolded his tutor. “I know his name: Brother Pestifere!” He seethed. “In any case, he’s back.” Then, looking back at Yasmin and Farida, still present, he gestured toward their room. “Go!” he repeated his order.

  When they’d retreated to the room they shared with Mouse and closed the door behind, he turned back.

  Mouse approached. She put her arms around him. “You did right, Broden. Maybe you can help.”

  “I need to get you out of here, Carlie.”

  “Come on, Broden, let’s go for a walk,” Striver said. “Some brisk cool air will clear your mind.”

  He shook his head. “Perhaps later. For now, I need to speak with the two of you and we can’t risk being overheard.” He growled. “Oh, I cannot tolerate that man! He makes my head ache and my skin crawl.” He shuddered.

  “Broden—” Striver started.

  “I know. I know!” He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. He ran his hand over the top of his head and down to the back of his neck. “I just— I don’t understand why he didn’t seek me out, why he didn’t take Carlie—err, ‘Mouse,’ that is—along with him.”

  “You mean your friend from Oosa?”

  “Maybe it wasn’t him you saw,” Carlie said. “Surely, Jerrett wouldn’t have left you behind in Darth if he knew . . .”

  He hung his head. “No, it was him. We’ve been over this. I walked out for a breath of fresh air and I saw Jerrett in the distance. I know it was him. I’d recognize his outline, his dress, his gait, anywhere. Like I told you before, I chased behind, but . . .” He growled again.

  “Pestifere had been watching me, and he’d followed me. Shortly before arriving at Cark’s home, he caught up with me. I know that’s where Jerrett was headed because the next day, we learned of the two dead guards found there, and a short while later, of that tunnel from Cark’s home that someone had blown up. It had to have been Jerrett that did it—and I’m sure he used a crystal to destroy the place.”

  “But if he knew you were there, why would he leave you behind?” Striver asked. “It doesn’t make sense.”

  Broden closed his eyes. “I fear he may have seen enough to have jumped to the wrong conclusion.”

  “He wouldn’t have,” Carlie said. “He knows you.”

  “I would have thought he’d believe in me.” Broden shook his head. Then he glanced her way. “Still, you have to admit, it didn’t look good with me being here. He must have known that I’d brought the great sword along. Zarek wielded it when we first arrived in Darth, when he addressed the crowd. Remember? What’s more, Jerrett wasn’t at the compound when I was taken, so . . . what else could he conclude?”

  He turned to Striver. “And from everything you told me about the man who came to check things out—the man who called himself ‘Jabari’— Well, what you told him may well have convinced him that I was loyal to Zarek. Moreover, he had to know it was Carlie who was with me. I’d always called her ‘Mouse.’”

  She embraced him yet again. “But he wouldn’t have left me here, Broden.”

  “No? Even if he thought we might have planned something together?”

  She pulled back. Tears sprang to her eyes. “No!” she cried, covering her mouth with her hand.

  “No, you’re right. He’d never doubt you.” Once again, he ran his hand over the top of his head.

  Weeping now, she buried her head in his shoulder.

  “It’s going to be all right, Mouse,” he said, pulling her back into his embrace. I’m going to get you out of here, whatever it takes. But for now, I’m off to do what I can about Farida’s sister, Ghazala.”

  Chapter Eight

  After having left behind a handful of Oathtakers in the event that more orphaned children showed up at Vida and Clarimonde’s home in Ethanward, the traveling entourage of Oathtakers and Select finally arrived in Shimeron. Bernard, a longtime doorman at the palace, and the only person who’d resided there for some years, was delighted with their arrival.

  It was fortunate that Basha and Therese had visited the palace fairly recently and that they’d cleaned much of it, preparing for the day the twins might eventually move there. Even so, it took days to unpack and to rearrange things so as to accommodate some of the former compound residents.

  In the end, they found room in the palace for all of the members of the Select who had made the trip, and their Oathtakers, as well as for Vida, Clarimonde, and their children. With the exception of some household staff, the remaining people who’d traveled with them to Shimeron—for the most part, Oathtakers without living charges—set up camp on the palace grounds. There they’d remain until they could construct more buildings, or make other plans.

  The youngsters’ rough and tumble shenanigans, both inside the palace and without, had kept everyone’s spirits high over the past days. On her way to the kitchens, Lucy marched past a number of them who were on their way out to the grounds to play. Nearby, Bane sat, panting, with his tail thumping on the floor, and with his tongue hanging out.

  A minute later, she stood before the larder, scanning its contents.

  “May I help you?” Adele asked, approaching from behind.

  “I’m looking for the peppermint tea. Erin was sick all last night,” she said, referring to Nina’s sister who generally watched her and Jules’s children, and sometimes, Velia and Jerrett’s boys. “And Mara’s not feeling herself, either.”

  “Oh, no! Is it anything serious, do you think?”

  “Not really. But I thought I might bring each of Erin and Mara something to settle her stomach. What’s more, a number of the children have been unwell.” She glanced at Adele. “When not assisting Erin, I helped Clarimonde and Vida with them most of last night after designating one of the rooms next to their suite for use as an infirmary.” She frowned. “Who knows what diseases those children have introduced us all to? Gracious Ehyeh!”

  “What are their symptoms?”

  “Just coughs and low fevers for some, and nausea, for others.”

  “Can’t someone just . . . you know—heal them?”

  Lucy chuckled. “I suppose it’s possible, Adele, but there are so many of them, and frankly, we need the energies of the Oathtakers elsewhere just now.” She paused, cocking her head. “Also, I’ve found that people who’re allowed some sickness when they are young seem better able to resist illnesses as they grow older. And considering that a healer is not always present, I prefer to err on the side of letting nature take its course.”

  “That’s interesting.”

  “Yes. In any case, I’ve told Erin not to watch Nina or Velia’s children until she’s well again. I’d hate to see them catch something—not to mention the twins. Imagine having gone through all we have, only to end up with the two of them sick—or worse—and at a time like this when we’ve need of them performing at their peak. Still, taking the children along meant that Vida would join us.”

  She stopped suddenly, her lips pursed, thinking. Then, “Adele,” she said, “why don’t you make up a large batch of catswort tea? Perhaps we can nip this illness in the bud.”

  She turned and walked to a window overlooking the back yard, motioning with a wave of her hand for Adele to follow.

  “I saw some old sage plants and rosemary bushes just . . . there,” she said, pointing. “Fortunately, the temperature hasn’t dropped low enough here to freeze them out just yet. So we should prepare some for smudging in each of the rooms.” She glanced back at Adele. “Do you know how to do that?”

  “Sure. I’ll just tie up together, sprigs of them, put a bundle in a bowl in each room, and then light them all.”

  “Perfect.” Lucy returned to the cupboard and rummaged through the items again. “Goodness, but this all needs some organizing,” she muttered.

  “Yes,” Adele agreed.

  “Oh,” she said, grabbing a bag of tea tied closed
with a leather strand, “here it is.” She opened it and sniffed at it, then looked at Adele, scowling, her brow lowered. “This isn’t peppermint.”

  “It’s not?”

  “No, it’s— She smelled it again. “It’s spearmint.”

  “Oh?” Adele reached for it.

  Lucy handed it to her, then searched for another bag. “Who’s been in charge of all the herbs?” she asked.

  Adele smelled the dried tealeaves. “While we were at the compound, Barbara Jo supervised them,” she said.

  “Hmmm.” Then upon finding the one marked “spearmint,” Lucy opened it and took a whiff. “Yes, this is it,” she said. She pulled the ties closed again and handed the bag to Adele. “Make sure these get marked correctly. They serve different purposes, after all.”

  “I will. My apologies. Truthfully, things were out of order before we left the compound.” She paused, thinking. “Actually, they’ve been amiss since the night of the raid there—you know, shortly after the twins left on their journey? When Broden was captured? In any case, we had to move everything into bags—to make the traveling easier—and we’ve yet to return all the herbs to labeled jars.”

  She turned away and dropped the package of tea on a nearby counter. “I’ll make some up right away and get it to Mara and Erin, and then,” she gestured toward the larder, “I’ll get Barbara Jo after that mess.”

  “Do that.”

  “And I’ll get the catswort tea brewing.”

  “Thank you. Serve it to everyone at mealtimes.”

  Lucy started walking away. Then she stopped suddenly. “Adele,” she said over her shoulder before turning back, “now that Chaya is assisting with the children, and given our increased numbers, I imagine you’ll be needing more help in the kitchens here. I’ll make arrangements for that straight away.”

  “I’d appreciate that, Lucy.” She bobbed her head. “Thank you.”

  “Well, we’ve received word from Liam and Rafal, so I’m off to a meeting to go over their findings to date.”

  Making her way through the vestibule, Lucy found amongst the children now there, Aden, Velia and Jerrett’s eldest, tussling with Bane on the floor. The wolf bared his teeth and growled.

  Nearby, Jerrett stood watching the two of them. Along with his second son, Drew, he cheered them on. Then, suddenly, “Ah, ah, ah, no riding him, Aden!” he cautioned.

  “But, Dad—”

  “No. Horses are for riding. Not dogs.”

  “Or wolves, as the case may be,” Lucy muttered.

  Jerrett glanced her way, laughed, and then turned back to his boys. “You two get along now. Go out and play.”

  “But, Dad—” Aden whined.

  “Go on!” he said. “Take Drew with you. I’ll come find you boys when we’re through. We’ll do some training with Bane then.”

  “Come on, Drew!” Aden cried, clearly excited by the prospect. “Let’s go!”

  With Jerrett now at her side, Lucy headed down the hall to the office that Rowena, and later, Lilith, had used. Upon entering, they marched down the new brown rug that Lucy had set out to replace the red one that Lilith had put there years back, to a table and a dozen chairs the Oathtakers had set up earlier, at her request.

  She was pleased to find all of the others whom she’d asked to meet with her, with the exception of Mara, already waiting there. The group consisted only of those Oathtakers and Select who knew of the twins’ powers, along with the twins themselves, and the flits, Effie and Fleet. Collectively Lucy referred to them as “the inner circle.”

  As she and Jerrett took their seats, Bernard entered in his slow old way, and bowed.

  Approaching, he gestured at the coffee, tea, and scones on the table, their sweet smell filling the air. “Is there anything more you’ll require at this time?” he asked.

  “No, thank you,” Lucy said, her eyes on the paperwork before her. Then looking up, she added, “You know, Bernard, we can have others take over your former duties here. I—”

  “Excuse me?” he asked, a hand to his ear.

  She stood. “I said,” she raised her voice to accommodate his lack of hearing, “others can take over your duties. You’ve earned your respite. I can find a replacement for you.”

  “Thank you, ma’am, but it’s my pleasure to assist.” With that, and a smile, he shuffled his way out.

  “Very well then, I’m just about ready here.” Taking her seat once again, she addressed Dixon. “Adele is bringing some peppermint tea to Mara.”

  “Thank you.”

  She glanced back at the others. On sight of Jerrett, she paused and frowned. “You know, about Bane . . .”

  “What about him?”

  She frowned. “Are you sure he’s safe with the children? It makes me nervous watching them tussle about with him. Someone could get hurt.”

  “They’re fine, Lucy. He won’t harm them.”

  Sighing, she shook her head. “Very well. I can’t stop you from allowing Aden, Drew, and Jedrek, to wrestle with him, but I won’t have him running free with the rest of the children. It’s not enough to merely hold you responsible should any of them get hurt—it’s a matter of protecting them against the possibility. Now, to business.”

  She removed a compact from her pocket and placed it on the table. “We can start with Liam and Rafal’s message.” With that, she opened it.

  “We’ve arrived in Darth,” came Liam’s voice from the trinket, “but discovered that Zarek had already returned to his palace in Fallique. So we’re headed there now. You should know that the border is crawling with a special guard. We learned that they’re called ‘succedunt’ soldiers. They wear all black, even over their faces, leaving only their eyes uncovered. It’s difficult to get past them without their noticing, and from things we’ve seen, and from stories we’ve heard, they are vicious. Also, we saw numerous refugees from Chiran in Oosa on our way here, so we suspect that Zarek ordered the succedunt to guard the border only recently.”

  “Yes, we’ve learned something of the succedunt. Steer clear of them and keep us informed,” Lucy said into the compact before snapping it closed. Liam and Rafal would retrieve her response when able.

  She turned back to the other attendees. “Well, no news of any significance there, I guess.”

  Dixon sat up straighter and patted a rhythm out on his thigh. “But, based on that message, it sounds as though we’d best get at training our army—post haste.”

  “I agree.”

  Reigna leaned in. “As you know,” she said, “we left, in the City of Light, most of the Oathtakers and Select who went there—to the gathering you all called for while Eden and I were in The Tearless. We asked around about who might be the best person to leave in charge of the training there. The name we kept hearing was ‘Galen Dax’—although I understand he prefers to be called simply ‘Dax.’ Anyway, Eden and I spoke to Lucy about him, and we all agreed that he should be in charge there. Fortunately, he agreed to the plan.” She lowered her brow. “Oh yes, and his first assistant is . . .” She glanced down at her notes. “Aliza . . . Kensey.”

  “Aliza? Oh, that was a great choice,” Velia said.

  “You know her?”

  “We did our Oathtaker training together.”

  “Who was her charge?” Lucy asked.

  “Ahhhh, let me think.” Velia tapped her finger to her chin. “Oh, yes!” Her eyes lit up. “Kimber . . . ahhh . . .” Her brow dropped. “Colder? No, that’s not right. Kimber . . . Calder. Yes, that’s it!”

  “Rowena’s cousin—of sorts.”

  “Oh, is that right?”

  “She was one of her grandmother’s oldest sister’s children.” Lucy paused, frowning. Then she reached for the tea and filled her cup. “But Aliza couldn’t have been Kimber’s first Oathtaker.” She passed the teapot to Jerrett at her left.

  “Yes, that’s right,” Velia agreed. “Aliza was Kimber’s second Oathtaker after her first died while in her service. Aliza swore to Kimber’s safety sho
rtly after we completed our training, and then served her until she died.”

  “Kimber was a fifth-born, I believe,” Lucy said.

  “That’s right.”

  “Any idea of Aliza’s powers?” Lucy asked Reigna. “I suppose I should have thought to ask her myself,” she added apologetically.

  “No,” Reigna said, “I don’t know.”

  Velia tapped on the table. “She’s able to take on different forms,” she said.

  “Goodness! You mean, like the form of an animal? Something like that?” Eden asked.

  “No, not animals—people.” Velia grinned. “It really is quite amazing. She can take on the persona of man or woman.” She looked Lucy in the eye. “She can make herself look like someone else. Honestly, you wouldn’t recognize her when she does so. The resemblances she’s able to re-create are . . . uncanny.”

  “What of her clothing? Her voice?”

  “That’s just it. Everything about her changes—even her clothing. Well, in truth, as she tells it, she doesn’t actually change anything about herself. Rather, she’s able to make others see and hear her as she wants them to see and hear her.”

  “Hmmm,” Dixon said, “that’s interesting. It’s a power I don’t recall ever having heard of before.”

  “Yes, it’s quite unusual,” Lucy agreed.

  “What of Dax?” Reigna asked. “What are his powers?”

  Lucy chuckled.

  “What? What’s funny?”

  “Actually,” she said, still grinning, “he is unique among Oathtakers.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Well, once in a great while, an Oathtaker like Galen Dax comes along. He has no powers whatsoever—except of course, for the power of his blade which, like any Oathtaker’s blade, will never miss its mark.”

  The attendees all looked at Lucy, clearly surprised by her news.

  “None?” Eden said. “But then, what qualifies him to lead the guard?”

  “Did I say ‘none?’” Lucy laughed again. “I guess to be more accurate, I should say that he possesses a single power.”

  “And that is?”