“Nice to see you, too, Cal,” Nick responded, his voice muffled by the thick material of Cal's jacket. “Trying to suffocate me?”
“Don't think you don't deserve it. You two gave me enough of a scare.” When Cal let Nick go, he raised an eyebrow at Meaghan, studying her as he ran a hand over his beard. “You don't look like you're dying.”
She cast him a bewildered smile. “Were you hoping for something different?”
“You know better than that,” he responded. “I was watching you on the wind when you fought that half-monster. It's no flesh wound you took. I kept hoping the wind would return so I could check on you, but it never did.”
“You couldn't use our fire to spy on us?”
“Not without something to connect me to it. The cabin walls keep out precipitation and earth. I could have used your smoke to get into the cabin through the chimney, but still air isn't useful to carry remote visions.” He paused, narrowing his eyes as he scanned them down her body. “You really don't look as bad as I expected. You're not healed already, are you?”
“She's getting there,” Nick answered. “The snow is too deep for her to make it to Neiszhe's, but I was hoping we could attempt it by the end of the week.”
“I was hoping we could attempt it now,” Cal said. “If we don't get Meaghan to the village sooner, Neiszhe will be intolerable. She gets grumpy when she doesn't get enough sleep, and she's been up worrying most nights.”
“About?”
“Her,” he nodded toward Meaghan.
Nick shrugged. “I'm not going to object to getting Meg to the village sooner. What's your plan?”
“We teleport. There's a crystal cave not far from here—”
“A cave?” Nick interrupted. “Please tell me you're not serious. It took us days to travel here from Neiszhe's village.”
Cal rubbed the back of his neck and shot a sheepish grin in Nick's direction. “Vivian told me it was necessary. She was right, wasn't she? You wouldn't have met Faillen or saved his son otherwise.”
“I suppose not,” Nick conceded. “So how do you propose getting Meaghan to the cave?”
“We carry her, at least on this end. The storm wasn't as bad by the village. The snow's already melted. She can walk well enough there.”
“I could walk on this end, too,” Meaghan said, then frowned, insulted by the conversation taking place around her. “I don't need anyone coddling me.”
Cal chuckled. “I have no doubt of that, and I also have no doubt you'd reinjure yourself trying to prove you don't need our help. You'll be carried and that's the end of it.”
He turned from her, but she refused to accept his decree. For the first time since she had left Earth, she had begun to regain control over her life and she did not want to surrender it so soon. She raised her voice to get his attention. “I don't appreciate you coming in here and telling me what to do. I'm a lot stronger than I used to be. Unless you intend to knock me unconscious—”
“That can be arranged.” He glared at her over his shoulder, and then left the cabin. Meaghan took a step forward with the intent of continuing the argument, but Nick raised his hand, stopping her.
“Neiszhe isn't the only one who gets grouchy with lack of sleep,” he said. “And Cal's used to dealing with your father. He'll follow through on his threat if he feels it's necessary.”
“But I'm perfectly capable of walking.”
“I have no doubt.” He covered the distance between them. Placing his fingers under her chin, he lifted it so he could smile down at her. “I'm proud of you for controlling your empath power, but now isn't the time to corral it. Release your focus on the doll, and tell me what Cal is feeling.”
She did as he asked, letting her power roam again. Nick's calm flooded through her first, and then Cal's strong emotions followed. “He's frustrated, anxious, and worried.”
“About you,” Nick said. “We all know you can make it to the village on your own if you need to, but the terrain isn't safe. The snow is still deep, by a couple of feet in some places. And the wind knocked down a lot of trees and branches. If you try to make it through the forest with your injury, you could pop your stitches. I wouldn't be able to stop the bleeding.”
And he could not fix her stitches in the woods, which meant she could bleed to death. The thought chilled her and she crossed her arms over her chest.
“All right,” she conceded. “I understand.”
“Good,” he said. “Let's go tell Cal.”
They found Cal crouched on the porch, examining the ambercat pelt. Nick had cleared the snow off a section of the porch and laid the pelt flat, then crusted the exposed side with a thick layer of salt. Cal flipped up a corner of the pelt so he could run his fingers over the fur.
“This is beautiful,” he said. “How did you manage to get her?”
Nick shrugged. “Luck.”
“How can you be sure the animal was female?” Meaghan asked.
“Female ambercats are hunters,” Cal answered, looking up at her. “Males stay close to their dens, watching the young. As a result, only females have developed the power to camouflage their coats.” He flipped the pelt over again so she could see what he meant. Everywhere he touched, the fur turned the color of his skin. She gasped.
“Amazing, isn't it?” he asked, letting go of the fur. “This would make beautiful gloves. They'd be invaluable in the wintertime.”
“That was my intent,” Nick said. “I thought I'd bring it to the tailor in Neiszhe's village.”
Cal nodded his approval, and then a hopeful smile spread across his face. “Any meat left?”
“We finished most of it,” Nick replied, reaching up to remove a bag from the hook in the ceiling. “But I saved the best roast for last. It'll be enough for four people.”
“Fantastic. I'm already starving.” Cal rolled up the pelt, then tucked it under his arm and stood. “Grab what you need for a few days in the village. It's time to head out.”
§
TIME HAD a way of warping perception, allowing moonlight and sunlight to merge, and tricking the mind into believing days had become weeks. Meaghan had naively fallen for the illusion, letting it convince her that it had been long enough since she fought the Mardróch for her body to heal. Her trip through the forest proved otherwise.
Every jostle brought agony. Every shift of Cal's arms and every step sharpened her pain. When he grew tired and traded her to Nick, his elbow bumping her in the side in the process, she had to bite her lip to keep from crying out. She wished she had taken the time to drink a cup of jicab tea as Nick had suggested. Her ribs ached. Her head throbbed. She struggled to keep her eyes open. And the thought of controlling her power became no more than a fleeting wish.
She clutched the doll in her hands, but her power refused to listen to her command. Nick seemed to realize her waning strength and began using his blocking power soon after leaving the cabin. When Cal's worry and anxiety became too much, she reached out for Nick's power, focused on the peace it brought her, and closed her eyes, only opening them again when Nick's pace slowed. He crossed a small river, long since frozen into a sheet of ice, and entered into a thicker part of the forest. A few recognizable landmarks caught her attention, but otherwise, everything blended together, lost to trees so dense she could not tell if day held the sky or if dusk had descended over them.
Cal turned right. Nick followed. They reached the opening of a low cave, ducked to enter, and then stood tall again when the small entrance yielded to a vast cavern. A stream of light cut through the darkness from a hole in the roof, brightening the front of the cave, though it did nothing to warm the space. The temperature seemed to have dropped ten degrees within the confines of the rocky earth. Meaghan shivered.
“This way,” Cal said, banking to his left. A moment later, they stepped around a wall and entered another, smaller cave. This one appeared to be no bigger than the cabin. Every surface but the floor glowed with white crystals. Meaghan shielded her eyes. The
world dissolved, and then came back into focus when they teleported into a larger crystal cave. The familiarity of the new cave did not escape her, though it had been many months since Meaghan had last seen it, and the potent effects of raw jicab root had dulled her senses during the initial visit.
Nick sat her on top of a rock as Cal moved underneath a hole in the ceiling. Picking up a wooden torch from the floor, he lit it with a match from his pocket.
“I thought it would be best to keep a torch here after our near brush with the Mardróch,” he told them. “It's saved me more than once. They've searched this area at least twice a month since you went into hiding.”
He whispered a rhyme, directing the fire to blaze, then closed his eyes and lifted the torch above his head. Smoke escaped through the hole and with it, his power. A few minutes later, he lowered the torch. Waving his hand over the fire, he put it out. “We're good,” he said. Turning toward a boulder resting along one wall, he waved his hand again. The boulder slid to the left, revealing a small opening.
The last time she had crawled through the tight tunnel, she had been nursing a broken leg and a sprained ankle. The short distance through the mountain to the outside had been agonizing. This time the pain in her side made her movements difficult, but she emerged on the other side without suffering. She also managed to walk to the village, rather than riding along in Cal's arms like a pesky child who could not keep up. Rows of colorful cottages and houses appeared in the distance, growing larger in welcome as Meaghan trekked across the open field.
When they stepped onto the main road, villagers greeted Cal with familiar waves while Meaghan and Nick received the same curious stares as before. Cal met each person with a courteous nod, but kept a fast pace, leading the way through to a small cottage near the end of the street.
As soon as they turned onto a narrow, cobblestone path, the front door for the cottage opened. A woman rushed toward them, her black hair streaming behind her as she ran, and her smoke-colored eyes dancing with joy. Launching herself into Cal's arms, she pressed her lips to his.
“It's good to see your face, love,” she told him when they parted. “It's been too long.”
“I know,” he whispered. “I missed you too, Neiszhe, but our reunion will have to wait.” Drawing his hands up to her cheeks, he kissed her again before nodding toward Meaghan. “You have a patient.”
Neiszhe turned her head. Although her eyes met Meaghan's and then flicked down her body, Meaghan realized the woman did not see her as much as she used her power to sense for an injury. When her gaze alit on Meaghan's side, she pressed her lips together, and then sighed. “You're worse than May told us.”
“It's not that bad,” Meaghan responded, and covered her side with her hand.
Neiszhe shook her head. “I disagree, but it shouldn't take long to fix. Come inside and we'll get started.”
Relief washed through Meaghan before she checked it. Her wound burned from the trip and she wanted to take Neiszhe up on the offer without a second thought, but Neiszhe's face looked tight and pale, her eyes tired, and Meaghan had her doubts that lack of sleep had contributed to the slight tremor in the woman's lips. Meaghan tugged her power away from Nick's, commanding it to follow her will. It took all of her focus, but she managed to train it on Cal's wife before the dozens of other emotions in the village broke through her resolve. She reached for Nick's power again.
Though her connection with Neiszhe's emotions had been brief, it had been long enough. She tilted her head, studying the woman before trailing her attention to Cal. Given what she had sensed, she had expected to see worry or concern on his face, but he remained calm. A moment later, she understood why. He did not know.
Meaghan's gaze returned to Neiszhe. “Can you even do the job?” she asked. “Is it safe?”
“Of course. Why would you think,” Neiszhe started, then drew her hand to her stomach. Her eyes widened. “How did you know?”
“My power,” Meaghan responded, but said no more when Cal placed a hand on Neiszhe's shoulder, and turned her so she faced him.
“What does she mean?” he asked. “Is something wrong?”
“It's nothing,” Neiszhe told him. “We should get Meaghan inside if we want to—”
“I don't believe you. You look pale.”
“I'm fine,” she insisted. “I'm just—”
“Distracted,” Meaghan said, offering Neiszhe a cover. She had not intended to worry Cal or to give away his wife's secret. “She missed you. I thought her emotions might impact her power.”
“Neiszhe's one of the best Healers in the kingdom,” Cal responded and his tone conveyed both anger and a warning Meaghan did not miss. “I don't appreciate you insinuating she'd be anything less than professional.”
“I'm sure she didn't mean it that way,” Nick said, stepping in front of Meaghan. “How long has it been since you were home last?”
“Don't change the subject,” Cal growled, crossing his arms. “Meaghan's out of line. I expect an apology.”
Neiszhe sighed. “It's all right, love. Answer Nick's question.”
“Fine.” Cal dropped his arms, though his eyes remained heated and locked on Meaghan's. “Six weeks, give or take a few days.”
“You gave us the impression you'd spoken recently,” Nick said.
Cal shrugged. “We talk through the fires when there's wind. There's been a lot here over the past few weeks.”
“But it's not the same as seeing each other. Why has it been so long?”
“You aren't the only ones who are targets. The Mardróch have traced me back to my home twice over the past three months. It's easy enough to change caves, but here,” Cal hesitated, looking around at the people as they hurried by, at the houses surrounding them. “I don't want to think about what those monsters would do if they followed me here.”
“They're able to trace you because you're moving around a lot,” Meaghan whispered. She grabbed Nick's hand as the weight of her words settled over her. “Because you're helping us. We've put you in danger.”
“You haven't,” Cal said. “I choose to help. Not because of who you are, but because I loved your father, and Nick's. It's not just you, though. My power makes me a target. I can't exactly make it go away.”
“I guess not,” Meaghan conceded, though she did not feel any less guilty. Weariness washed over her and she closed her eyes, only opening them when a pair of hands bracketed her shoulders.
Neiszhe stared back at her. “Let me heal you.”
“No,” Meaghan protested. She brought her hands to Neiszhe's wrists and held them there, commanding the woman's attention with the gesture. “You can sense my injury. You know I'm not in danger.”
Neiszhe tightened her grip. Meaghan could also see protest tightening her face, ready to form on her lips when she parted them, but Meaghan did not let the woman speak.
“I insist,” she commanded, and then lowered her voice so only Neiszhe could hear. “Please let me do this for you. You need time with Cal.”
Neiszhe held Meaghan's gaze, and then nodded. “If you insist, my lady, then I have no choice.” She squeezed Meaghan's shoulders, then let go. “But you'll drink a pot of jicab tea before you sleep.”
“That isn't necessary.”
Neiszhe's lips curved into a smile. “It's the only way I'll agree.”
“You shouldn't be agreeing at all,” Cal muttered. “Meaghan might think she's entitled, but she has no right to treat you like—”
“Be quiet, Cal,” Neiszhe's soft voice cut through Cal's building reprimand. “Or you'll say something you'll regret.”
“She's out of line,” he blustered in response. “I hardly think I'm going to—”
“You will,” she assured him. “Now come along. If you want to be my hero, you can start a fire in the kitchen so we can brew tea. I don't have the patience to light the stove today.”
She turned and went back inside, leaving Cal staring after her in bewilderment.
CHAPTER T
HIRTEEN
“DO YOU want to tell me what happened this afternoon?” Nick asked. He threw one more log onto the fire, and then straightened up, turning from the fireplace to face Meaghan. She lay across the bed in the guest cottage, holding the cornhusk doll in her hands. He had expected her to fall asleep by now. Though curiosity had bugged him since their bizarre conversation with Neiszhe, he had refrained from asking Meaghan any questions while he built the fire, giving her the quiet she needed to rest. But when it became obvious his expectation and reality would not meet anytime soon, he allowed his curiosity to take over.
Setting the doll down at her side, she smiled at him. “I'm not sure what you mean.”
He crossed the room to sit next to her on the bed. “You know exactly what I mean. You should have allowed Neiszhe to heal you. Why didn't you?”
“I wanted her and Cal to have time together,” Meaghan responded. “It isn't fair they have to be apart so much.” Picking up the doll again, she touched a finger to its hair. “I can't seem to master this technique. My hold only lasts a few minutes, and then the emotions flood through.”
“You're injured,” he reminded her. “That makes things a lot harder. Even if you weren't, controlling your power won't happen overnight. It's going to take time.”
She frowned at him. “How long?”
“It's hard to say. Based on how fast you learned to control your revival power, I'd guess a few weeks.”
“Weeks,” she echoed and closed her eyes. “I want it to be sooner. We're putting Cal in danger.”
Nick lowered his lips to her forehead. When she opened her eyes again, he stroked a thumb across her brow. “Danger is part of life,” he said. “We can't change that. And we can't change Cal. He won't stop protecting us even after we return to the Elders. He'll still be away from home. He'll still be doing what he feels is right.”
“He needs to be here,” she told him. “He may not want to change, but he'll have to soon. He won't have a choice.”
Nick withdrew his hand from her face. “What do you mean? What do you know?”
She sat up. “It's not anything bad. At least, Neiszhe seemed to be happy about the news. I suspect Cal will be, too.”
Aerenden: The Gildonae Alliance (Ærenden Book 2) Page 9