Laura Jo Phillips

by The Gryphons' Dream: Soul Linked#5

  “Lariah,” Karma said, “Ellicia asks that you tell her what you are confused about.”

  “Oh, well, its nothing...,” Lariah trailed off.

  “You won’t answer her question?” Karma asked.

  Lariah hesitated as she began to twist her hands together. She glanced up at Lady Anne, then back to her lap again.

  “Nothing that is said here will ever be repeated, I so swear,” Lady Anne said.

  “I swear as well,” Karma added.

  Some of the tension left Lariah’s shoulders but it still took her another few moments to say what she needed to say.

  “I don’t understand why my sister didn’t trust me to raise her sons,” she whispered. Once she had those first words out, it was as though a dam had broke. “She was all the family I had, as I was hers, but she chose to let other people raise them, people who were practically strangers to her,” Lariah continued, speaking more and more rapidly. “Did she dislike me so much? Distrust me? I loved her, and I miss her, and I know that we were very different from one another, but I didn’t think she disliked me. I’m not complaining about Hope, or the Bearens, they’re wonderful parents and they love the boys so much, but I don’t understand why Ell didn’t trust me. Why she didn’t want me to raise her sons. I just don’t understand.”

  Lariah fell silent, and looked down at her hands.

  Karma looked at Ellicia’s misty form, watching as she shook her head the same way Lariah had a few moments earlier. She knelt beside Lariah’s chair and turned to Karma.

  “Please, tell her what I say,” she asked.

  Karma nodded. “Lariah, I am going to repeat to you what Ellicia says to me now, all right?”

  Lariah’s head came up and she nodded quickly. “All right,” she said.

  Karma heard the eagerness in her voice, saw the fear in her eyes, and hoped that Ellicia was careful with whatever she was about to say. It would be all too easy to say the wrong thing to Lariah without meaning to, and push her all the way over the edge she was teetering on. Karma’s biggest fear. But she was committed now. It was too late to stop.

  “Lari,” Ellicia said and Karma repeated, “that red hair of yours has fried your brain again.”

  Lariah smiled hesitantly at the familiar words her big sister had said to her so many times throughout her childhood.

  “My decision for the children had nothing to do with you,” Ellicia continued. “My sons are the first Owlfen, as you know. In order for them to survive, the Bearens had to accept the mark of the Sentinel and agree to learn and teach the boys Owlfen ways. This is not something that the Dracons could ever have done. It would not have been possible for them because of who and what they are. Even had that not been so, my sons were on Earth, the Dracons were here on Jasan. The boys would have perished long before the Dracons could have reached Earth to save them.

  “I had not thought of that,” Lariah admitted.

  “No, you hadn’t,” Ellicia agreed. “Like I said, fried brain. The truth is, Little Sister, I did not think of, or even know of, those things myself at the time. I only knew, in those last few moments, that I had to do what I did. I did not understand the reasons until later. Lari, the Bearens and Hope were destined to raise my sons. You are destined to play a very important role in their lives, but as their aunt, not as their mother.”

  “Destiny,” Lariah said softly. “Does nothing we want matter? Is everything already decided and planned for us?”

  “Not exactly, no,” Ellicia replied. “Destiny is the path we are urged to follow with our hearts, minds and souls. But we always have free will, and the choice to take, or refuse, any path at any time.”

  “I see,” Lariah said slowly. “I think.”

  “Little Sister,” Ellicia said, “I admit that I often chose paths in my life that I knew were not meant for me. But I did not do that with my sons. They are where they are meant to be, and where they need to be. As I am where I am meant to be. Lari, if you do not accept these truths and return to the path you are meant to follow, the consequences will haunt you for eternity.”

  “I didn’t mean to get so far off track,” Lariah said. “I think I got lost. That’s how it feels anyway.”

  “I know,” Ellicia said. “But it is now time for you to get back on track. If you don’t, you will remain lost.”

  “I will, I promise,” Lariah said. “Ell, are you okay where you are? And Mother? Is she there?”

  “Yes, Lari, I’m perfectly fine. I’m with Harlan, and we’re happy and free of pain and worry. Mother and Father are here as well, and they, too, are together. We look in on you from time to time, but you needn’t worry about us. You have your life to live, and you must return to it.”

  “I will, Ell, I promise,” Lariah said. “I love you.”

  “As I love you, Little Sister,” Ellicia replied. She turned to face Karma and smiled. “Thank you, Karma.”

  Karma returned Ellicia’s smile. “Thank you, Ellicia, for saving all of our lives, and for your beautiful sons. They are well loved by myself, and Aisling and Berta, all of us that you saved. We will always make it our business to watch over them, and love them.”

  Ellicia’s smile brightened as Harlan slowly appeared next to her.

  “Goodbye, for now,” Ellicia said as she took Harlan’s hand. Karma watched as they both faded away.

  “They’re gone now,” she said.

  “They?” Lariah asked.

  “Harlan came to fetch Ellicia at the end,” Karma said. She studied Lariah’s face, noting that there was a little color in her cheeks, and her eyes were not so dull.

  “Lariah, are you going to be all right now?” she asked.

  “Yes, I think I am,” Lariah said. “I feel as though I have been living in a thick fog, and it’s just starting to clear.”

  “If a time comes when you need to speak with Ellicia again, please let me know,” Karma said. “I cannot promise that she will show up, but I do promise that I will try.”

  Lariah stood up, walked the few steps to where Karma sat, leaned over and gave the other woman a hug.

  “Thank you, Karma, more than I can say,” she whispered. “I shall never forget you, or what you have done for myself and my family.”

  Karma returned Lariah’s hug, relieved that this had gone so well, and none of her fears had been realized.

  “Yes, Karma, thank you, more than we can say,” Garen Dracon said as he, Trey and Val all stepped out onto the patio. Lariah turned towards her men and smiled, the first real smile they had seen on her face in months. Garen hurried to her and scooped her up into his arms, holding her close against his chest as he buried his face in her hair. Trey and Val crowded close as Lariah reached out for them.

  “Come, Karma,” Lady Anne said as she rose to her feet with a smile. “I’ll walk you home.”

  “Thank you,” Karma said, as eager as Lady Anne to give the Dracons their privacy.

  “Karma,” Prince Dracon said as they stepped off the patio. “We are forever in your debt, and you are forever under our protection. If there is ever anything you need, or want, we ask that you allow us aid you.”

  “Thank you, Prince Garen,” Karma replied. “I’m just glad I was able to help.”

  Garen, Trey and Val all bowed to her before turning as one and entering the house, Lariah still cradled in Prince Garen’s arms.

  “I think she’s going to be all right now,” Karma said.

  “Oh, I’m certain of it,” Lady Anne said. “As my sons have said, so do I. If there is anything you need, ever, only let me know. I will be more than happy to come to your aid.”

  “At the moment the only assistance I need is directions back to the guest house,” Karma said with a smile. “I’m afraid I can’t remember how we got here. Direction is not one of my strengths.”

  “I will take you,” Lady Anne said with a laugh. “Come on Tiny,” she called to the dog left sitting on the patio. “Walk with us.”

  The big dog lumbered to his feet
and joined them at the gate. He walked up to Karma and leaned his huge head against her hip.

  “He thanks you too,” Lady Anne said.

  “You are welcome,” Karma said, patting the dog on the head and rubbing his ears as she wondered why she’d been so worried. Maybe this whole talking to the dead stuff wasn’t such a bad thing, after all.

  Chapter 27

  Thelba climbed to her usual place among the boulders, then sat and rested for a few minutes to catch her breath. She had run half the night to arrive before the sun rose, as she did two or three times a week now. She volunteered for the task, which had raised a few brows at first. Once she’d explained that she knew the trail better than anyone else, and was more familiar with the encampment than anyone else, and that it was far less risky for her to take on this task then anyone else, her logic had been accepted.

  As soon as she caught her breath, she stood up and peeked over the top of the boulder. Her eyes went directly to one particular habitat, set a little apart from the others. The flaps over the windows and door were tied up, indicating that the occupants were up and about. There were not a lot of people moving about, but her eyes went from one to the other as she methodically searched for a specific form and face. Several minutes later, when she was certain she had looked at everyone who was outside of their habitat, she sighed and sat down.

  She would wait for a few minutes, then try again. The face she was looking for was probably visiting another, or perhaps he was inside eating. Her heart skipped a beat, then began to race as she thought about the many deaths that had occurred among the Brethren. But surely he would not have succumbed. Not him. He was young and strong and healthy. But she hadn’t been here for two days. Who knows what might have happened in that time?

  She leapt to her feet and turned around, her heart pounding with sudden fear. She was almost frantic to find him as she peeked over the boulder and began searching the faces below her again.

  “Why do you spy on us?”

  Thelba spun around, one hand pulling her knife as she crouched down, ready to defend herself.

  “Please,” the voice said lazily, “if I wanted to harm you, I would not have spoken.”

  Thelba recognized the truth of that statement, but did not relax her stance. Until she looked into the face of the man standing only yards away from her. It was him!

  “What is it?” he asked, turning to see if there was something behind him, then looking back at her.

  Thelba straightened, then bent down, taking her time sliding her knife back into the sheath on her leg as she tried to compose herself. When she faced him again she hoped she appeared somewhat calm on the outside, because her heart was racing with excitement on the inside.

  “Do you speak Standard?” the man asked. “That’s probably it, you don’t speak Standard, right?”

  Thelba shook her head. “I speak Standard,” she said.

  His eyes widened and he started to smile, then thought better of it.

  “So why do you spy on us all the time?” he asked.

  “I do not know the word spy,” she said.

  “Why do you watch us?

  “We are...fear...for you, for the Brethren,” she said.

  “Are you from Magoa?”

  Thelba frowned. She hated Magoa with every cell of her being. “No!” she said forcefully. “Magoa is...,” she trailed off, mortified at herself. She had come very close to saying what must never be spoken aloud. What was wrong with her? Had she lost her senses? Did she want to be sent to the killing fields?

  “Hey, are you all right?” the man said stepping forward, an expression of concern on his face. “You don’t look well. Perhaps you should sit down.”

  “No, I am fine,” she said. “I am Thelba.”

  “My name is Darck,” he said. “Thelba, if you are not with Magoa, does that mean that there are other people than his?”

  Thelba hesitated, studying his face closely as she tried to decide if she should trust him. Suddenly he scowled and stepped back. “Stop staring at me,” he said. “I know I’m no pretty boy.”

  Thelba’s look of surprise stopped Darck’s temper before it got started.

  “You are not pretty?” she asked. “Who would say you are not pretty?”

  Now it was Darck’s turn to be surprised. “Everyone,” he said.

  “Not me,” Thelba said. “You are...beautiful. I’ve not seen a male so beautiful before.”

  Darck studied the female for a long moment. Her skin was like his, green and scaly, but a lighter green, with softer, smoother scales. Her face was like his, but feminine, with wide green eyes and a small nose. She did not look remotely human, but then, neither did he any more. He wasn’t really sure why he thought she was attractive. But he did.

  “I think that you are beautiful as well,” Dark said, smiling.

  “Will you come with Thelba?” she asked.

  “Where to?”

  “To my village. To speak with my Marqex. She would hear your story.”

  “Yes, I will come with you,” he said without pausing to think about it. “I must go and tell my father first though. All right?”

  Thelba hesitated. “We must not be followed. I will lose my life.”

  Darck clenched his jaw.

  “None shall harm you,” he said. “I won’t let them.”

  Thelba smiled and nodded.

  Darck turned and disappeared, and Thelba smiled. He was even more beautiful up close. And he seemed to like her.

  Chapter 28

  Olaf, Rand and Rudy stood in the hall outside the infirmary aboard the Kontuan, waiting impatiently for the med-tech to tell them that Aisling was out of the healing tank. For the past two weeks they had spent most of their time standing in the tank room watching her still body as it lay suspended in the thick greenish tissue regeneration fluid of the healing tank.

  “If we ever have any doubts as to whether we made the right decision with Aisling, we need only think back on these past two weeks,” Olaf said.

  Rudy stopped his pacing and looked at his eldest brother in surprise. “You haven’t had doubts, have you?”

  “No, not for a moment,” Olaf assured him. “The only doubts I have concern my ability to wait any longer to hold Aisling in my arms again.”

  “Yes, I’ve had that same doubt,” Rudy said. “I never knew that two weeks could be so long.”

  “It will only be a few more minutes,” Rand said. “When we see her again, she will be fully healed and no longer have to struggle with her balance. That is worth every moment of our wait.”

  Rudy nodded his agreement and resumed his pacing.

  A few minutes later the door opened and the med-tech stepped out. “Everything looks good. Miss Aisling is fully healed, out of the tank, and she should begin waking up in about three to five minutes.”

  “Thank you,” Olaf said. “I assume that once she is awake, she will no longer need to remain in the infirmary?”

  “That’s correct,” the med-tech said. “If she has any unusual dizziness, headaches, or unexplained pain she should let us know. Otherwise, she is cleared to leave as soon as she is awake.”

  Olaf nodded as the med-tech left them, then opened the door to the tank room. The sight of Aisling lying on the bed rather than in the tank was such a relief that it caused his heart to race with excitement. He took a deep breath to calm himself and approached the bed, reaching out to touch her gel darkened hair with careful fingers. She seemed so fragile and small lying there, swathed in a pale blue medical gown several sizes too large for her.

  “The first thing she’s going to want is a hot shower,” Olaf said as he felt the sticky residue of the tank gel in her hair.

  “No, the first the thing I’m going to want to do is see if I can walk,” Aisling said, her voice a little hoarse from disuse, but easily understandable.

  “Maybe the first thing you should do is open your eyes,” Rand suggested.

  Aisling opened her eyes slowly, then blinked a
few times before focusing on Olaf’s face. She smiled, then shifted her gaze to Rand, then Rudy. “Hi,” she said. “Tell me something good.”

  “You’ve been in the healing tank for two weeks, and according to the med-tech you’re now fully healed,” Olaf said as he stroked his fingers along her cheek. “We are five days out from Rathira, and all is well. All you need to do now is get up and walk without limping, and everything will be perfect.”

  “Let’s do it then,” she said as she started to sit up. Rand slid one hand behind her back to help her up as Olaf supported her shoulders. She sat motionless for a moment, then slowly swung her legs around to the side of the bed. “That’s much better so far,” she said with a smile. “There is no pain at all when I move my left leg.”

  “You experienced pain when you moved?” Olaf asked in surprise.

  “Yes, but it’s gone now,” Aisling replied.

  “How much pain?” Rudy asked. “Did it hurt every time you moved your leg?”

  Aisling looked at him, surprised by the soft growl in his voice. “What’s the matter?” she asked.

  “We did not know that you were in constant pain,” Olaf said. “If we had known that, we would never have allowed you to wait so long before having the injury corrected.”

  “Allowed?” Aisling asked archly. “Did you really just say that to me?”

  “Allowed was perhaps not the best word,” Olaf said. “However, please understand that the idea of you being in constant pain when it was not necessary is extremely difficult for us.”

  Aisling frowned, opened her mouth, closed it and sighed. “Look guys, there is no need for this conversation right now. Let’s shelve it till later, all right? I want to see if I can walk.”

  “Very well,” Olaf said. “Until later.”

  “Help me down please?” she asked Rand.

  Rand placed his hands carefully around her waist and lifted her from the table. He kissed her lightly on the forehead before lowering her carefully to her feet.

  “Let go now, please,” Aisling said once she was sure she had her balance.

  Rand removed his hands and stepped back, watching her carefully for any sign that she was about to fall.