The Healer and the Warrior

by Bekah Clark

  “Can we cross in a day?”

  He nodded. “That’s the plan. We’ll leave very early and get to the path at first light. We need to be as quiet as possible as we travel.”

  A frown twisted my lips as a thought struck me. “Don’t the guards know about this path?”

  “When I crossed, I didn’t encounter any. They probably know about it, they just probably don’t believe anyone is foolish enough to take it.”

  My eyebrows furrowed and my frown deepened. The more he talked about this path, the more fearful I became. “What of the winds?”

  Softly, he stroked a lock of my hair and tucked it behind my ear. “Part of the reason why this path is so dangerous.”

  I barely slept that night. When I did, dreams of falling plagued me. I was awake early for once without Torric’s help. We packed up, taking the food, a few of my jars, and my quilt onto the horse we shared. Once we were on our way, Torric’s arms tightened around me and I took comfort in his strength.

  We were on the path by first light. At first, it was a gentle incline upward with grass waving in mild winds. But the farther we got, the narrower—and rockier—it became. The winds picked up and battered against me. I clung to his arm, nervous. My eyes wandered over the area. The greenery was gone, and the path curved up along the side of the mountain. My eyes slid back to the pass. It was large, halved in the center by a wall. In the middle of the wall was a large red gate. As the wind whipped the few loose strands of my hair around, I laughed to myself as I realized they were trying to keep evil out. On the Renth side of the gate, there was a large contingent of guards camped all around. I feared their arrows if they noticed us on the path.

  The farther up we climbed, the more the winds assaulted us. I was grateful to have my hair braided, although the few loose strands were irritating. Nestling back into Torric’s warmth, I dared to peek at him and found his hair was a wild mess, and I suppressed a giggle. He glanced down at me and smiled a moment before fixing his gaze ahead. His brow furrowed as he concentrated on making sure the horses carefully picked their way along the path.

  When we reached the top of the path, about three-quarters of the way up the mountain, I trembled as the path got truly narrow. Torric clutched me tightly to his chest, and I sank into his affectionate embrace. He slowed us down and let the horse pick its way, giving our packhorse plenty of lead to follow up behind us. His lips brushed my temple. “Shh, don’t worry, lass. I have you, and I won’t let you go. I’ll never let you fall.”

  I closed my eyes, and I whispered to whatever Spirits that were listening to please keep us from going over the edge. Suddenly, there was a downward shift. I opened my eyes to find that we were now slowly making our way down a sharp incline. I let out a little noise and closed my eyes again.

  “Are you unwell, Zianya?”

  “I thought going up was bad. Going down is worse. The world is just dropping away before my eyes.”

  His body shook with his quiet laugh, and then he brushed his lips against the shell of my ear. I trembled softly, heat rushed through my body, easing my cold heart. I turned my face to him and he smiled at me before gently brushing my lips with his. His hand played softly against my breast, the tip of his finger circling my nipple in a lazy rhythm and distracting me. “I’ve got you.”

  A gasp escaped my lips. “I know.”

  The day wore on and we made our way down the mountain path. It seemed like we would make it with no trouble. I peeked down and behind us. The wall was there, painted in a dark red on the Glane side. My whole life had been there, in Renth, in the village of Vella. Yet, as much as I had wanted them to be my people, they were not my people. Not really. My father was of them, but I was not. If my parents had not been True Mates, it was possible that my mother might have never married. I might have never been born.

  Thinking of my parents made me wonder how they knew that they were True Mates. Was it a feeling? Was it something you knew instantly? I wasn’t sure. All I knew was that with each passing day, my heart tied itself to Torric. If once we completed our journey he left me, I knew I would be in great pain. I tried not to think of that outcome. I tried not to think about the future at all.

  We came to a stop, and ahead of us was a man with black hair and brown eyes standing in the road. He was dressed in the red uniform of the guard, and his blade was drawn. Torric’s hard body stiffened behind me. My heart fluttered a moment. There was only just enough room to get off the horse. The man’s turbulent eyes flickered between the two of us.

  “Stay here,” Torric muttered as he slid down the side of the horse and moved to stand between the guard and me. His calm never broke as he asked, “Can I help you?”

  Gruffly, the man asked, “What are you doing here?”

  Torric kept his voice even. “My wife and I are traders. We wanted to expand our territory.”

  The man stood there, taking us in, his eyes lingering on my hair. He shook his head. “You’re going to have to come with me to the base.”

  Torric’s voice hardened. “I’m afraid we can’t do that.”

  The guard sprang out with a thrust to Torric’s abdomen. Torric spun, dodging the man’s blade, grabbed his wrist, and then turned to elbow the man in the nose with the opposite arm. He shoved the man back and drew his own blade. When the man sprang forward again, this time Torric swung his blade, pushing the man’s sword aside, and then he slashed down the guard’s chest. He stumbled back, bleeding profusely. The desire to heal him flowed through me, but I gripped the horse's pommel with one hand and stroked his neck with the other, whispering to keep him calm. Behind me, the packhorse whinnied. The guard looked down the side of the mountain toward the guard post. He opened his mouth, but Torric was faster, sinking his blade into the man’s chest. The man dropped like a stone, but the need to heal did not leave me.

  Torric turned to me.

  “Torric?”

  He swayed. The gaping wound on his side bled profusely. My eyes enlarged at the injury. I hadn’t even seen the strike. Slipping off the horse, I raced to him. Clutching him to me, I let my healing powers sink into him. Getting a sense of the wound, I knitted it together. Holding him to me, I flooded him with healing until darkness took me.

  When I woke, my stomach growled and there was a dark, honey-rich laugh in my ear. “My little healer needs to eat again. I don’t know what you did to me, but I feel better than I have in a long time. I’m more than healed.”

  My voice quivered. “When I saw you hurt, I just couldn’t. Torric, I couldn’t bear it if someone took you from me.”

  His body stiffened behind me and his arms flexed as he drew me into his warm chest. “I feel the same way, lass.”

  Some of the pan bread I’d been making at night suddenly appeared before me. It was stale, but I was starving. I ate it in his tender embrace. My eyes flickered around, and I noticed we were much lower on the mountain as the trees were all around us. Leaning back, I was still hungry, but well enough for now and gratified to be in his arms.

  “When we stop, I’ll hunt. We’re starting to run low on supplies. But we’re also only a day from the fort we have near the Renth border. We’ll resupply there and then get going to Kingshold. We might have to stay there a few days, depending on what’s going on when we arrive.”

  I yawned, and he soothingly rubbed my waist. Gently, he whispered, “Sleep, my lass. Sleep and I’ll wake you when it’s time to eat.”

  Chapter Eight

  Fort Nyte rested atop a large hill of wheat fields. It was beautiful, with green walls, multicolored roofs, and large, ornate gates. Although, as I gazed upon it, I also noticed that it was imposing. There was a watchtower on each corner, with warriors roaming the ramparts. From this vantage point, I could see a large catapult. At the sight of that, I realized their need for defense. This close to the border, the aggressors could only be from Renth.

  Torric’s lips fluttered across my cheek in a gentle kiss and then he set us off at a trot toward Fort Nyte. As w
e approached, I found myself feeling swallowed up by its size. When we reached the gate with its intricate lion carving, Torric had a small exchange with a couple of guards before we entered with one as an escort. I looked around the courtyard and watched the men going about their business. The clang and clatter of swordplay rang through the air, telling me that somewhere, men were training. Taking a deep breath, I slipped into Torric’s arms as he pulled me from the horse. A man in a black uniform with a small lion insignia over the left breast came over. He was tall, as tall as Torric, with large blue eyes and close-cropped blond hair. His shoulders were just a little wider than Torric’s, and his stomach was a bit thicker.

  “Tor! It’s good to see you again. And who is…” His deep, booming voice cut off as he stared at my hair. Then he asked, awe making his tone quiet, “Is she what I think she is?”

  “She is, Keig. This is Zianya. She’s a healer. And she’s…” Torric stopped and glanced down at me, seeming reluctant to continue.

  Keig rushed over and yanked me into a huge bear hug as he let out a roaring laugh and twirled me around until I was dizzy. When he set me down, I stumbled a bit until Torric hauled me back to his side and slipped a possessive arm around me. Watching Keig for a moment, I decided that I liked him. I also wondered how long he and Torric had known each other.

  “Zianya, do you think you’re up to a healing?”

  Concern immediately filled me. “What happened?”

  Keig’s eyes turned to Torric for a moment. When I looked up, he nodded to the man. I turned back to find Keig eying me quietly. Then he nodded to himself and said, “We were attacked a few days ago by some men from Renth. A couple of my men were outside the walls. They were gravely injured.”

  Torric spoke softly, “If they’re too close to death, you can’t ask this of her.”

  I knew he was worried about me. But if I could heal these people, I had to try. I smiled at Keig and said with more confidence than I felt, “Take me to them.”

  We made our way into the main structure, which was a large building, larger than anything I had ever been in or seen. Our temple would have filled only half of this building. With that thought, another came unbidden—there was a shocking lack of red in this place.

  As my eyes roamed, Keig took me down a side hall and into a room designed for healing. Among the medics that were bustling around, seeming discouraged, were three prone men. The first man I approached, the need to heal swelled, but then I was drowning in the need to not touch him. Taking a deep, shaky breath, I turned to Torric. His eyes filled with immediate understanding, and he whisked me away. I knew he was afraid I’d overextend myself and die in the process. The truth was, when someone was beyond my healing abilities I felt it and could resist. Yet, the dread-filled green eyes trapped my gaze. He could not have been much older than I was, and this young man knew he was going to die.

  The next man was just a little better off, enough so that I knew I could save him. I ran my eyes over him. He was probably in his midthirties, with light brown hair and bright blue eyes that were struggling to stay open. Fighting the urge to heal him immediately, I softly said, “I can save him. However, I want to see the other man first. Whoever is worse off, I’ll heal him today. The other I will heal tomorrow.”

  Torric grabbed my arm and turned me toward him. Concern clouded his eyes. Smiling up at him, I stroked his arm gently and then turned to followed Keig to the last man. He was young, barely twenty, with brown hair and blue eyes. Looking at him, I could tell he was the brother of the other man. They had the same aquiline nose. I turned to Keig. “He’ll live. I’ll heal the other first. Tomorrow I’ll tend to this man.”

  Gruffly, Torric said, “You’ve told me before that a major healing can take a few days before you can heal another.”

  Realizing I should not have been so free with information when we had ridden across Renth, my lips twisted before I took a deep breath. Putting my confidence into my eyes, I touched Torric’s arm gently. “Get me some meat. I’ll eat quickly and heal him.”

  My gaze fell on the second man, and Keig supplied, “Jort.”

  Smiling, I said “Jort. When I wake, feed me well, and I’ll start healing his younger brother.”

  “How did you know Jern is his brother?” Keig asked quietly.

  I smiled. “They look alike.”

  After several minutes, a servant arrived with some cold chicken, which I quickly devoured. After washing my hands in a nearby sink, I walked over to Jort and found a spot where I could gently touch him without causing pain. I let my power wash over him. The instant pain left him, the tension in his body eased, and my power slipped of out me and into his body to knit all of his wounds together. They were extensive, and I had never healed anyone so wounded, but I knew I could do it. If I couldn’t have, I would have felt the need to not touch him. As the last of my energy flooded into my patient, I was suddenly light-headed. As I fell, I could feel Torric’s warm arms embrace me.

  When I woke, I was starving, and my head was pounding. I sat up, finding Torric by my side. He was up instantly. “Are you all right?”

  “I need food and tayden tea. In either order.”

  Smiling, he gently kissed my cheek. “Good thing I know what that looks like now. Stay here.”

  As I waited, my eyes wandered around the room. It was large and had the feel of a high-ranking officer’s room. I was on a large feather bed, but it was not ornate—rather, it was very utilitarian. The room itself was also unadorned with decorations but contained two bureaus, a table with two chairs, and a large bathing chamber. Immediately, I headed to it and was happy to find a tub, among other things. If Torric hadn’t been due back soon, I would have taken a soak. Instead, I gave myself a quick wash.

  When I came back into the bedroom, Torric had a large tray of food, which smelled delicious, and a pot of tea, which smelled bitter. I sat at the small table in the room and dug into the food. Sighing after a couple of mouthfuls settled into my stomach, I found Torric watching me with an amused expression before he sat across from me and poured a cup of tayden tea. I took a sip of the bitter brew and sighed again. When I was a child, I had often hated this tea, but over time, I’d learned to enjoy its bitter taste. “Thank you.”

  “You’re ravenous today, my little healer.”

  I grinned, “And you’re fussing over me, my brave warrior.”

  “You had me worried. You’ve been asleep for eighteen hours.”

  I stopped midbite on a chicken leg and blinked. “Eighteen?”

  He nodded. “I didn’t want to leave your side.”

  I smiled and a blush took my cheeks as I continued to devour my food. I’d never been so hungry. As I sipped my tea, I realized that this healing had taken more out of me than I thought it would. Torric seemed more relaxed, relieved. Worry still filled his eyes despite this. Finally, he said, “I told Keig that Jern will have to heal the regular way.”

  I paused again and frowned. “I’m going to heal him as soon as this headache leaves me.”

  “No.”

  “Torric. I don’t know what it is we have, but I know this…” Biting my lip, I took a deep, calming breath. “I will never allow you to dictate whom I will and will not heal.”

  He let out a long and annoyed sigh. “That isn’t what I was trying to do. You wore yourself down. You need to rest and heal yourself.”

  I kept my voice level but firm. “That isn’t for you to decide.”

  His emerald eyes met mine. There was a hard glint in them, but I knew it was because he thought he had to protect me—even if it was from myself. I reached out and gently touched his hand. His other covered mine and softly stroked over the fragile bones, which lead to my fingers. We sat there quietly for a long time. When finally he spoke, his voice was firm but tender. “Zianya, I know you feel a need to heal, but if you wear yourself out, who will be there when people really need you?”

  My heart swelled at the tenderness within him. His tenderness for me. He was far
more than a simple warrior. Of that fact, I was certain. I met his gaze with a steady one. If he and I were to have any sort of future, he had to accept that he could not dictate whom I healed or how often. “Do you know who the only person who fully understands my limits is?” I paused and searched his face as he waited for me to continue. “Me. If I could not heal a person, if it would kill me, I would know.”

  “How would you know?”

  Even after everything he knew, his concern for my well-being clouded his understanding. I smiled. “I just know. Please accept that I’ll never let you tell me not to heal.”

  He folded his arms and said with a furrowed brow, “I did before.”

  I laughed softly. “You mean when I felt the urge to heal an enemy? Did I fight you? Well, I did struggle a bit. Let me ask you this: did I tell you to let me go, that I must heal him?”

  He watched me for a moment before he reluctantly admitted, “No, you didn’t. You struggled a bit, but you were quiet.”

  “If I want you to stop me, I will simply not argue with you. I’ll let you take me from the person. But it seems I’m a citizen of Glane now, and I’ll not have you stop me from healing one of our warriors. I might need another bout of sleep, but I’m going to heal him today.”

  He scowled and looked aside. Even without that expression, I could tell this was eating at him, but this was important to me. If he was going to stop me from healing when I needed to, then we were going to have a problem. So I watched as an array of emotions ran across his face, the most prominent of which were anger, worry, and finally acceptance.

  He studied me. “Fine. However, if you try to heal one of our enemies, I’m going to drag you away.”

  I laughed. “Fine. Unless I tell you otherwise.”

  He frowned. “For such a sweet lass, you can be so much trouble.”

  I grinned and went back to eating and drinking my tea. Afterward, I curled up on the bed for another hour until my headache was gone, and then I went to heal Jern.