Oh, I remember now. I’m at the palace. They must have brought me here, to the infirmary. Oh, great Ehyeh, I have to be on my way!
She looked about. Spira sat on the nightstand at her side. Her clothing was nowhere to be found, but fortunately, there was an armoire against the back wall.
She struggled her way to it. Inside, she found stacks of standard Oathtakers’ garb in various sizes. She grabbed some items, returned to the bed, and then dropped them. After stopping momentarily to rest, and just as she was about to pull her nightdress off, a knock came at the door.
“Oh, Mara!” Nina cried upon entering, a tray in her hands. “You should get back in bed.”
“I can’t, Nina. I have to go.”
“Valentina will be here any—”
“Valentina?”
“She’s one of the healers that stayed here at the palace. She’s been helping me attend to you, but I sent her away last night so that she could get a few hours rest.”
Mara grabbed the clothing. “I couldn’t find my things,” she said, “so I got these.”
She stepped behind a nearby room divider, draped the items over the top, and then removed her nightdress.
“Yes, I know,” Nina said. “Honestly, the clothes you’d been wearing were so filthy and parasite infested, we had them burned.”
“You bathed and changed me then?”
“With Carlie’s help.”
“Thank you. But Nina, I have to go.”
“What’s the hurry? You arrived here three days ago. What difference could a few more minutes make?”
“Days!” she cried, peeking around the edge of the divider for a look at Nina.
“Yes. Fortunately, I was able to keep you hydrated—for the most part, anyway.”
Mara shook her head. “Well, in any case, I have to be on my way now.”
A quick rapping came at the door. Then it opened, and someone stepped inside.
“What’s this I hear?” the newcomer asked.
Mara pulled on a pair of trousers, then peeked out the side of the divider again. “Who are you?” she asked.
“I’m Valentina.”
After donning a standard Oathtaker tunic, Mara stepped out, fully clothed. “I have to go,” she said.
“Not yet, you don’t.”
“Listen, the twins are waiting for me. I was supposed to go straight back for them.”
Valentina stood before her. “No, Mara, you listen to me. I need to check your vitals. If all is well, you must eat something. Then you can go.”
“I don’t need your permission,” she snapped.
“I understand. But you could use my expertise. Now, please, sit there.” She motioned toward a nearby table.
Huffing, Mara followed her direction.
Valentina proceeded with her examination, checking Mara’s pulse and gazing into her with her magic. Finally, she sighed.
“Mara,” she said, “I admit that I’m one of the lesser healers. My powers are quite minimal. In fact, they’re not of much help for anything more than simple cuts and bruises. But when you arrived—” She paused, swallowed hard. “Well, in truth, you looked near death. The only problem was that I couldn’t locate any injury, or identify any illness.”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m fine now.”
“Still, something isn’t right. Your heart rate is . . . erratic—” Valentina held her gaze. “I’m afraid everyone has been terribly busy around here, but I’ve arranged for Kayson—our lead healer here—to stop in to see you before you go.”
“Yes, I know Kayson,” Mara said. Then she shook her head. “No, I’ve been too long already. The twins are waiting for me. I shouldn’t have stopped at all.”
“Oh, like you had any choice in the matter.”
She glared at her.
“Fine.” Valentina tapped a rhythm on the tabletop. “But at least get something to eat first. Surely, you’ve time for that.”
Nina filled a cup with tea and handed it to her. “Please, Mara,” she said.
As she took the cup, then tasted the tea, Nina lifted the cover from a plate of food. She pushed the offering of hot oatmeal with cinnamon, fresh glazed scones, a slice of cold ham, and fruit, her way.
“Please, eat,” she implored her.
“I have to admit, it looks good—and honest to Ehyeh, I haven’t had a decent meal since . . . I don’t know when.”
After filling a cup of tea for herself, Nina nodded Valentina’s way. “I’ll take it from here,” she said.
“Very well.” Valentina stood. Then, “Please promise me, Mara,” she said, “that you’ll have someone take a look—and soon.”
She waved her hand at the healer. “Sure. Fine. I will.”
After the door closed behind her, Nina leaned in. “Mara,” she said, lowering her gaze, “I am so, so sorry.”
“Nina, please, don’t give any of it another thought.”
“I said such hateful things—and to you, my oldest and dearest friend—my . . . savior, really. I owe everything to you. And now—”
Mara grinned at her, wanly. “Believe me, Nina, I understood then, and I understand now. There is no grief quite like that of losing a child—born to you, or loved by you as though it had been.” She took another bite of her food.
“Thank you for your understanding.”
“I’m glad Carlie’s safe.” Mara set her linen napkin down. “But I have to go now.”
She retrieved Spira from the nightstand. “I’ve been far too long. The twins are waiting for me—and I suspect that by now, Dixon is beside himself with worry.”
Even as her feet landed in the dew-laden grass, she reached back for her blade. She crouched into a fighting stance, then spun in each direction, looking for any signs of potential danger. Moments later, something fluttered at her shoulder.
“Merc!” she cried. “And Spec!”
They, along with Evan, had returned to Aliza’s former camp after Dixon, Dax, and Aliza were taken prisoner and they’d reported to Lucy.
“You’ve returned,” Merc said.
“Yes.” She held her hand out for him and Spec to land on. “I assume the twins passed through here. Right?”
“The twins? No. Aren’t they with you?”
“Ahhh . . . no. Listen, I have to go to find them.” She waved her hand for the flits to fly away. “Which way is it to the river?”
Merc flew at her side. “That way there,” he said with a nod.
She stepped out into the rustling grasses, but stopped again only seconds later to catch her breath, concerned that although she’d only just begun, she already felt winded. It was going to take some time to restore her health.
“The twins were to make their way here,” she said. “Oh, I do hope they’ve not run into any problems.”
“Evan headed upriver this morning.” Spec said. Then, as he looked up, he exclaimed, “Oh, here he is now!”
Evan neared. “Mara!” he cried when he was within hearing range. “I found the twins and Dax! They’re pulling their boats out of the water now. They should be here soon.”
Seconds later, the twins, followed by Dax, Broden, and their fellow travelers, stepped out of the surrounding forest.
“Mara!” Reigna cried on sight of her. “We hoped you’d be here.” She, along with her twin, ran to meet her.
Relieved, Mara threw her arms around them. “Thank Ehyeh you’re all right!”
“You don’t look good,” Eden said when Mara released her.
“I’m fine—really.”
“You need a healer to take a look,” Reigna said.
“Sure. Of course I will—when I get time.”
Just then, the others neared. When Broden approached, Mara turned his way. She put her arms around him and held him close. “I could never thank you enough,” she said.
He shrugged. “Not necessary.”
“Now, who have we here?” she asked as she glanced Striver’s way, then at Yasmin, Farida, and Ghazala.
; Broden introduced them all.
After welcoming them, Mara turned to Dax. “Thank you so much for all of your help.” She tipped her head the twins’ way and grinned. “Any Select would be blessed to have you as their Oathtaker.”
“And so I am,” Broden interrupted.
Her eyes flickered toward him. “What?”
He, along with his fellow travelers laughed. Then he explained how Dax had sworn an oath for his protection.
“Well, you’re in good hands with Dax,” she said. “And Broden, thank you again,” she said, taking his hands in both of hers. “You deserve the best protection possible—and now, you’ve got it.” Finally, she turned back to the twins. “All right then, Dixon must be crazy with worry by now. Are you ready?”
“Ready!” they exclaimed in unison.
“Good.” She took a hand of each. Then, “We’ll meet you all at Marshall camp,” she said. “You know where it is, Dax.” With that, she and her charges disappeared.
Light and color surrounded Mara and the twins as she spun her magic. But contrary to the norm, the light was low, and the colors muted.
She grew anxious. Almost instantly, she regretted having traveled magically with the girls—and so soon after taking Carlie to the palace—and she not in her best form. Perhaps they should have simply hiked back to Marshall’s camp.
I think there is something wrong with me, after all.
Almost fearing where they’d land, she struggled to open her eyes when her feet hit the ground. As she looked up, Dixon, Jerrett and Velia, along with Basha, Therese, and Trumble, all smiling, rushed her way. Behind them, came Lucy and Aliza.
Overcome with exhaustion, she dropped her hold on the twins. Her knees buckled, and she fell to the ground.
“Mara!” Reigna cried. She squatted at her side. “Oh, my! What’s wrong?”
Her eyes quivered, but she hadn’t the strength to open them.
“Mara?” Dixon called when he reached her side.
She recognized his voice, but was unable to respond. She struggled for a breath.
“Hurry! Hurry!” Basha cried. “We need a healer here! Quickly!”
Then Mara heard no more.
Chapter Fifty-Five
Dixon and the twins sat in the infirmary, at Mara’s bedside. The sound of rain falling on the canvas tent overhead, met their ears. It seemed to weep for them, as Mara had not regained consciousness since she’d arrived with the twins at Basha’s camp, seven full days hence.
As he and the girls had done repeatedly, to keep her hydrated, Dixon once again dripped water into her mouth. He’d follow later with some broth. He vowed that nothing would draw him from her side.
Mara’s breathing remained steady, but slow and shallow.
Overcome with exhaustion, Reigna’s head bobbed as she fell asleep against her every effort not to do so. Jerking back awake, she looked at Eden who, once again weeping, held their Oathtaker’s hand. Then she glanced up as the tent flap opened.
Basha, Velia, and Lucy, entered.
“Dixon,” Lucy said as they approached, “may I have a word?”
He glanced her way. “Go on, then.”
“I mean . . . alone,” she said. “Basha and Velia can stay with the twins.”
“No.”
“Dixon—”
“No. Anything you have to say to me, you can say in front of them all.”
She bit her lip. Then she asked, “Would you just step over there with me then?” She pointed to a corner.
“Fine.”
He stood and then followed her as Basha took up his former position to drip water into Mara’s mouth. Velia watched on.
“Dixon,” Lucy whispered, “I’m very concerned. We’ve none of the best healers here at this camp, I’m sorry to say, and of those who are here, no one has been able to figure out Mara’s problem. The nearest they can tell, she’s suffering from some sort of magic overdose. I had Effie and Fleet send one of the flits, Diaphanous—Daphne, I guess they call her—to the palace. She just returned.”
“And?”
“And it seems that Mara broke down after delivering Carlie there, too. She was out for three days. That explains why it took so long for her to return for the twins. In any case, against the healer’s recommendation, she then set out to get the girls, shortly after regaining consciousness.”
“And?” he repeated.
“Dixon, she was already weak. I don’t imagine that her current emotional state, having lost Mariella, helped either.”
He stared at her.
“The truth is that I’ve never seen a situation quite like this before.”
He let out his breath slowly, deliberately. “So?”
“So—” She choked back a cry. “Dixon, I love you all. I know at times I haven’t shown it, but—”
“What do you want, Lucy?”
She swallowed hard. “These are dangerous times. I’m hearing some noise that it may become necessary to have Mara remov—”
“Absolutely not!” he cried. Then, between gritted teeth, he seethed, adding, “How dare you!”
“I’m sorry, Dixon, but it’s not me this time. It is others who are making the recommendation.”
He looked at her closely, his eyes narrowed. “You think— You think she could—” He couldn’t bring himself to say the word.
“If this is a byproduct of her having used too much magic, I can tell you that I’ve only seen a situation this bad once before.”
“And?”
She hung her head, then looked back up at him. A single tear rolled down her cheek. Wiping it away brusquely, she swallowed hard. “And that Oathtaker,” she whispered, “did not make it.”
“How many days was he unconscious before he . . .” His voice dropped to nothing.
“Four.”
Dixon nodded.
“And Mara just ended her seventh day.”
“But this has happened before, you know—that she’s lost consciousness. In fact, it happened several times after she was injured.”
“Yes, but each of those instances, just like her recent one at the palace, were all limited, Dixon, to three days each. None lasted this long.” Lucy stopped to listen to the rain beating on the canvas above. “Was there anything about those times that was the same as now, do you think?”
Sighing, he hung his head. “I don’t know. But Lucy, if we’re going to—” He choked back a cry. “If we’re going to . . . lose her . . . then it won’t make any difference if we just wait to have her replaced.”
“I agree—and that’s what I’ve told those who’ve brought the issue to me. Have no fear. I’m with you on this. I just thought you should be prepared in the event you heard anything.”
“Dixon. Dixon!” Reigna cried. “Her eyes are fluttering!”
“Mara?” Eden let loose a wail. “Please answer us. Please.” She released her hold on her Oathtaker, then turned to her twin and wrapped her arms around her, weeping all the while.
Dixon rushed to Mara’s side, then brusquely moved Basha aside.
At that moment, Mara inhaled her first fully deep breath in days.
“Mara!” he cried.
Her eyelashes fluttered.
“Please, wake up.” He wondered, and not for the first time, why he had to keep re-living these situations with her.
Her eyes opened slowly, and then just as slowly, closed again.
“Wake up,” he urged.
Once more, she inhaled deeply. Then she opened her eyes again. She tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come.
“Are you all right?” Reigna asked.
She stared at the twins. Slowly, the corners of her lips turned up into a wan smile.
“Oh, Mara!” Eden cried.
Turning to Dixon, she worked her mouth, as though loosening it.
“Are you all right? Are you in any pain?” he asked.
“Nnnn,” she gurgled. “No.”
He stroked her hair, then looked skyward. “Oh, thank you, Ehyeh
!” he cried.
She cleared her throat.
“Here,” Reigna said, “let me get you a drink.”
When she was through assisting her with one, Mara grabbed her hand. “Thank you,” she said. Then her eyes quickly scanned her surroundings. “Where am I?”
A collective sigh of relief made its way through her crowd of visitors.
“You’re in the infirmary at Marshall’s camp,” Dixon said.
“What happened?”
“As near as we can tell, you overdosed on magic—again.”
She grinned. “Goodness, Dixon, you just can’t help being . . . charming, can you?”
He laughed with relief, then kissed her forehead. “We’ve been so worried about you!”
“I’m fine. Can you help me to sit up?”
“It’s too soon.”
“No, I’m fine. Really.” She turned to Reigna. “More water, please?”
Once she was upright and had taken another drink, she looked out at her friends.
“Oh,” she said upon sight of Basha and Velia, her fingertips to her mouth, “how I’ve missed you two!”
Dixon moved to make room for the two of them as they dropped down at her side.
A long quiet moment passed. Then, “I lost her, you know,” she said, catching Velia’s eye.
She nodded. “I know. I’m so sorry.”
Tears rolled down Mara’s cheeks. “Thank you. I know. I know you are.”
The day after Mara regained consciousness, Broden stopped in to see her. Still resting in the infirmary, she smiled upon sight of him.
With Dixon at one side of her, he sat at her other. He leaned forward, then kissed her cheek. “You look good,” he said, smiling.
“Doesn’t she though?” Dixon stroked her hair.
She nodded. “Ha! Well, that’s very generous of you, I’m sure. Of both of you!”
“No, its true!” Broden insisted.
She grinned. “I am feeling a bit better today, I guess.”
“Good.”
She drew her fingers together, then picked at one of her nails, her expression turned serious. “Were you . . .” she began, then paused, taking in a deep breath. “I never got to ask Carlie . . . Were the two of you able to give Mariella a proper burial?”
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