Blood and Water_The Lionheart Province

by J. R. Castle

  Nobody seemed to notice him standing right in their midst. Of course, if the coin indicated anything, they truly weren’t able to see him.

  “Lost your touch at the tossing game?” Riyah quipped as Leon approached and moved behind the shelter of the oaks growing in a tight cluster.

  Holding open his hand, he held up the coin for the Elderad to see.

  “Ah, that explains a lot. This town has also been purchased.” Riyah turned in a circle, studying the people gathered in the common. “I wonder where the owner might be? Is he here, in hiding? Or perhaps watching from afar? I’ve felt eyes watching this town all day.”

  “What should I—”

  “Regent Leonard, there you are.” The Prior’s wife…what was her name? Ameila? Amiss?

  “Asmita,” Riyah whispered.

  Leon gave a bow. “Yes, dear Asmita, I was just about to go in search of your husband. Where is he?”

  She wrung her delicate hands and glanced about nervously. “Uh, he’s feeling poorly, Sire. I do hope you’ll excuse him, I ordered him to bed for some rest. These big events are tiring on him.”

  There’s a cloak of deception about her, but not a malicious kind of deception. I feel she’s frightened and anxious, Riyah spoke into Leon’s mind, something he only did when cloaking his own presence. Proceed with caution, my friend, until we find out what is truly going on here.

  Leon bowed slightly. “I am sorry to hear that. Hopefully, he’ll recover by morning, and we can speak then. You said you were looking for me, Asmita?”

  She quickly nodded and tucked her hands into the pockets of her skirt. “Yes, sire. Everyone has been fed, and I thought this would be a good time for you to give your speech if it still pleases you to do so.”

  Leon clutched the coin in his hand, the rough edges cutting into his palm. With a nod, he followed her to a stage set up near the small white tree. He stared at the pale, smooth bark for a long moment while she introduced him to the townsfolk. A tiny, star-shaped leaf broke off and flitted to the ground where a couple of others lay.

  He closed his eyes and thought, I have no idea what to say to them.

  “I’ll help you, Leonard the Lionhearted one.” Riyah remained right at his side, his invisible comrade in all this.

  Breathing in, he exhaled and said, “Thank you, dear Riyah.” Then stepped up to the podium.

  One more glance at the fledgling tree and Leon knew what needed to be said.

  “Dear friends of Goia, I’m so pleased to finally be here with you all. What a beautiful evening to celebrate, to gather together as one, and to enjoy the labors of your hard work. I first wish to extend my regret over how you’ve been neglected in the past. For you see, a branch cannot grow if it’s detached from the main part of the tree.

  “So, I come to you tonight in hopes of reestablishing the bond we once had. Rodonal is your source of strength, protection, and sustenance. You need us and much as we need you. I ask you tonight, to allow us to forget the past and forge ahead in building a stronger union than you ever had before.”

  The people along the front smiled and nodded along with his words. A few looked doubtful. He expected that. At least, they were listening. He somehow needed to make them understand that allowing the sorcerers to enter their town, to conduct business here, would only lead to their town being taken completely over. Perhaps it wasn’t too late for them. Maybe they could still fight back and reclaim their town.

  With no present or immediate threat, Leon wasn’t sure exactly what he could do at the moment. He wanted desperately to speak to the Prior. What was his wife hiding and why did she seem so nervous? Would she open up and speak the truth to him?

  He also desperately wished to return home, but this needed to be taken care of. He’d stay as long as necessary. His mother seemed to be handling everything well in his absence, as she’d done for the past several years.

  Yes, he’d stay until he found out what was happening to this last town of his Province.

  From behind him, Riyah let out a gasp and whispered, “Miltie!”

  Leon glanced around, wondering what had the Elderad so excited but couldn’t see much past the crowds illuminated by the lights hanging from the oak trees. Riyah, is everything all right? He asked in his thoughts, trying not to allow himself to get distracted from what he’d been saying.

  Yes, everything is fine. I finally found someone who might be able to shed light on the darkness covering this town. Finish your speech, Regent. I mustn’t tarry here too much longer.

  Chapter Nineteen

  By the time Darnel returned to camp, Fajer had the remaining horses saddled. Anwynn rushed around dousing the fire and packing their cookware. Her gaze never left her work and she said none of her usual cutting remarks.

  Darnel tied his own mount close to a grassy spot where it could graze and rest. “I see the elf’s hand isn’t as damaged as she was putting on.” He chuckled over her dramatics.

  A true show of weakness, as far as he was concerned. This pleased him. If she was weaker than she let on, he still had the upper hand over her.

  He’d not allow himself to be bested by some wily elf.

  Fajer leaned against his horse. “I mended her bones. Elves heal quickly anyway. I need her to help carry out my next plan of action. We must get the Regent to leave my town.” Fajer seemed weary as he went over to her and draped his arm across her shoulders. “We are good now, are we not, my fair Anwynn?”

  Had the effort to heal the elf taken more out of the Sorcerer than usual? Strange.

  She gave a nod, her eyes glued to the ground at her feet. “We are, Master. Thank you for healing my hand.”

  This was a power Darnel didn’t know the Sorcerer possessed. His raised brow drew a smile from Fajer.

  “Yes, my friend,” he answered the unspoken question. “The Sano in this town isn’t the first I’ve drawn power from. But when we draw out someone else’s power, the effects eventually wane over time. This is why we continue to seek out more of the specially gifted ones. To refuel our own powers. I’m sure you’ve found the newly gained energy you received from the last ceremony has begun to diminish.”

  Darnel had, but he’d dismissed it. His Logorian skills, since leaving Aloblase, had been slightly fading for some time. Another reason he hungrily studied every book and document that he had access to on the subject. He needed to learn how to resupply his powers, to increase them even more, before he was reduced to walking this earth as the other mortal mongrels did.

  Except, he’d be left to exist in such a sordid state forever unlike humans who eventually passed on.

  Darnel gave a nod, then asked, “So why are we packing? The Regent seems as if he plans to remain a while. I stayed to listen to his pathetic speech. Some of them were eating it up.” He’d not seen the Elderad anywhere and had been sure to not use any powers, just in case. “The more intelligent ones, I assume, remained guarded as they should. Words are like dirt in the wind, blown about by the wiles of the strongest currents.”

  Fajer gave Anwynn’s shoulders one last squeeze, then finally moved away. She seemed to breathe again. How long would she stay and put up with Fajer? Sometimes he wondered why she stayed in the first place.

  And if she did leave, how much would she make them pay before her departure? Neither of them treated her favorably if truth be told.

  Fajer began kicking dirt over the fire ring. “Anwynn has been able to learn from her woodland connections that a messenger hawk is heading for the Regent. I wish to intercept that bird. She has a means for us to do that, but we’ll need to hurry. It’s still several leagues away. We’ll need to circle around the town and intercept it before it reaches Goia.”

  “And why do you care about this messenger bird?” Darnel went to help Anwynn finish packing their belongings.

  She offered him a grateful smile, despite favoring her injured hand. Fajer may have mended the broken bones, but it must still cause her pain. A fair reminder for her to watch herself. />
  Fajer answered, “If we intercept the Regent’s messenger bird, we may learn some beneficial news. More importantly, we can change the letter in a way that will make him leave Goia and hurry home.”

  Darnel glanced at Fajer whose smile grew in depth and malice. “It won’t be the first letter I’ve intercepted and most likely not the last. I’ll be able to copy the handwriting perfectly and change the words. Anwynn will be able to block the hawk’s memory of what we’ve done, so it’ll not alert anyone of the breach.” He set the cooking gear inside the caravan and closed the door. “I do not wish to have to kill the Regent. That will bring that Prince back, and possibly more of those glowing warriors of his who’ll resume hunting for the Brethren’s fortress.” He shook his bald, tattooed head. “No, I believe that distracting and urging him to return to Rodonal is our best course of action at this time.”

  * * * *

  Kardia had fallen asleep with her head resting against the bedroom window. She woke with a start, looking around in confusion until everything came back. She’d missed the festival. Her parents had locked her away for no reason.

  Or…maybe there was a reason. She’d seen the shadowy figure standing in the woods, watching the town’s celebration. For a moment, when he’d stepped too far into the glow of the lanterns, she’d recognized his face. One she’d foolishly thought was handsome and kind.

  Her heart grew cold. Was the Sorcerer nearby?

  Her mark! It was darker and turning red.

  There wasn’t much time left.

  Would the Regent’s visit cause her captor to come sooner and claim her months before her twentieth year?

  She rested her face in the palms of her hands and fought back the tears threatening to drown her. Dadda wasn’t going to speak to the Regent about her. If he admitted that he’d made a bargain with a Wizard, he’d risk them all being cast into the outer-lands.

  No, Mother would never allow it. Far as Kardia knew, Mother might have locked up Dadda, too, if she felt it necessary to keep their secret. Why hadn’t Kardia realized their true plans sooner?

  “I need to find a way to get out of here.” She tried the window, but it was stuck closed.

  Stuck, just like she was. Stuck here in this town, stuck under a contract she had no part in making, and stuck to pay the price for this town’s good fortune.

  Kardia closed her eyes. “Don’t lose hope. Don’t lose—” when she opened them again, she noticed a strange light, ghostly in nature, heading toward the woods. And walking beside that light was Miltie!

  “What in Alburnium?” Kardia pressed her face to the glass, trying to make out exactly what she saw through the rippled pane. A renewed sense of urgency to get out of her prison pulled her from the stool she’d been sitting upon.

  She tried again to pry open the window, but this one wouldn’t budge. Nor would the one on the other side of her bed. She ran to the door and noticed one of the servants had left a tray of bread and cheese for her on the small writing desk. Holding her breath, he turned the lock, hoping Silvie—

  It turned! The door opened!

  Kardia covered her mouth to suppress the cry of glee that almost slipped out. Next time she saw Silvie, she was going to give her a big hug.

  The key to her door hung on the wall in the hallway. Kardia took it down and locked the door in hopes that if Mother did get up to check on her while she was gone, she’d believe her daughter was still hidden away inside.

  How to lock herself back inside when she returned was a puzzle Kardia would work out when she returned. If she returned. She fought back the saddening thought that she had nowhere else to go. Goia was her larger prison, her room was only a tiny cell they could keep her in while the Regent visited.

  But maybe now was her chance to find him and beg for his help. She’d only seen him once and wasn’t sure where he was staying. No, first she’d find out where Miltie was going with that strange light.

  Fear gripped her. Miltie had promised to stay for her. What if she was leaving…no, Kardia refused to believe that! The Herbalist had never lied to her, not once.

  Still, she needed to be sure.

  Once outside of the Meeting Hall, Kardia ran as fast as her slippers would take her toward the woods. The soft glow accompanying her friend helped direct her on the way to go. Miltie’s crackling voice chuckled as if she was walking beside an old friend. Her laughter carried through the thick trees. They were following the footpath toward the river.

  If she hurried…

  Her foot caught on an exposed root and pitched her forward onto her knees, scraping the skin and sending a sharp pain down her shins. Kardia released a cry before biting down on her bottom lip.

  Miltie’s voice grew quiet. The light went out, leaving the woods in complete darkness. Even the moon’s glow didn’t penetrate through the thick leafy boughs. Slowly, Kardia pulled herself up, ignoring the pain. Blood trickled down her leg. She patted the hem of her skirt to the wound and continued walking, trying to make out the narrow path that led through fern and low vines.

  “Miltie?” she called out.

  “That’s my girl!” Miltie replied. “Light back up, Ri, and show her the way, will ya?”

  The Herbalist truly was with someone. Some kind of… what? Kardia had read about powerful Beings and Creatures. Some humans could glow, but she forgot what they were called. If Milty were with a mere human, she’d be able to see them. So that meant that Milty must be…with some kind of Being.

  Kardia’s throat went dry.

  “Miltie?” she called out, trying to keep her voice quiet. “It is me. What… where are you?”

  “Come on, girlie. Come down to the river’s shore.”

  Kardia followed her friend’s voice, the glow growing stronger until she reached the clearing and stopped. All she could see was a ball of light hovering beside Miltie. Kardia took a step backward, shaking her head. “What is…that?”

  Miltie looked up toward the ball. “She won’t be able to see ya, will she?” The old woman gave a nod, as if the light answered her, then said, “Right, didn’t think so. Come on, Kardia, you’re safe here. Safer than you are anywhere else. How’d you get free? I had a sneaking suspicion that woman you call a mother locked you up, though I can’t imagine why. Knew you hadn’t taken ill. She told me to go home and forget telling stories, there was too much going on for that nonsense.” Miltie’s scowl scrunched up her wrinkled face.

  Kardia moved a little closer, keeping the Herbalist between her and the strange light. Crouching on a rock beside the river, she washed the dirt from her knees. “Mother did lock me in my room, but one of the servants forgot to lock the door when they brought my dinner. I know why Mother did it. I think…” her gaze darted to the light and she lowered her voice, “What’s going on Miltie? Who…what is…that?” Her head bobbed in the direction of the glow.

  Miltie’s grin widened as she looked lovingly at the light. “This here is one of King Shaydon’s Court Guardians. He’s called an Elderad, and his name is Riyah.”

  At the mention of the Being’s name, something soothing washed over Kardia, easing her fears for a moment. A Being from the White City? “Can he take—”

  Miltie shook her head. “He’s an Adviser to the Regent. He could tell you how to find the White Path, but you are still bound to this town, love. He’s been able to sense things aren’t right here. I can see him ‘cause of my medallion. Came pounding at my door in the middle of the night to speak to me, he did. I’d hoped he was going to take me to reunite with my Tarlton, but he insists it’s not time yet.” Her scowled deepened a moment, then with a sigh, smoothed away. “I suggested we come here where it’s more private and I can speak freely.” She turned to face Kardia, her hands clasped together at her middle. “Looks like you took a tumble, do you need me to—”

  “No, I’ll fix it,” Kardia finished washing the dirt from the scrape, then placed her hand over the injury and willed the skin to mend. A soft glow pulsed from her fingers, warming
her knee. For a brief moment, she saw the most beautiful man standing beside her friend. His long hair flowed down around his shoulders like snow flowing off the sides of a roof. His features were perfect, with a sharp nose and chiseled features like the little statues decorating the library. His brilliantly soft blue eyes met hers. Then he smiled.

  When she pulled her hand away from her knee, he disappeared again.

  A trembling starting at Kardia’s chest and moved out to her arms and down her legs. “Miltie, does your Elderad friend have white hair and…”

  “Shining blue eyes? Yes, indeedy. So, you can see him?”

  A low murmuring came from the light.

  “Oh, when she…yes, Ri, she’s a Sano. A Mender. But she’s been forbidden from using her gifts, so they’re weak. Her parents keep it hidden, not that it’s done any good. The Sorcerer has still found her and claimed her.”

  Another murmur came from the light.

  “I feared as much.” Miltie sat down hard on a flat rock beside the river. “Ri, there must be something we can do. Her heart is as golden as her hair, I tell you. We can’t allow that thief to take her. We can’t.”

  * * * *

  Leon bolted up on his cot and looked around the silent tent. The cloth flapped in the soft spring breeze blowing outside. The chirping of crickets were the only sounds that came to him, but deep down, he sensed something was amiss.

  “Riyah?” Leon whispered.

  When no answer came, he bolted off the bed and rushed to the opening. The town lay quiet, all lights extinguished, except what came from the dying embers of the bonfires that had burned earlier.

  Where had his counselor gone off to? Riyah had said he’d recognized someone but gave no further explanation. If the Elderad knew of someone who might shed light on what was really going on in this town, he wished to meet them.