“No need, Mr. Blanchard,” Ian said. “You were understandably upset that I couldn’t save all of your trees. As an estate owner myself, I understand your feelings.”
“You’re a good man, Sylvan, and a talented one, just like your father was.”
“Except that Da’s talent was for vegetables, not trees.”
“True enough, true enough,” Blanchard said, nodding.
“I’ll attempt to boost all of your trees today, Mr. Blanchard.”
“That’s generous of you, Sylvan, but don’t go using up all your energy on my orchards. Do what you can, but save enough of your strength for the others. Hennessy is hurting real bad right now. He’s lost all of his corn and wheat, and has only his almond and walnut trees left, and he’s lost many of those. If he doesn’t get help soon, he won’t have anything to harvest, and he’s got a big family.”
Ian stared at Blanchard in surprise, but Blanchard just waved a hand. “I know, I’ve changed my tune a bit since you were here in early spring. Seeing Hennessy’s estate, and a few others, taught me to be grateful for what I have instead of bitter for what I’ve lost.” Blanchard hung his head for a moment. “Seamus Gint lost everything, did you hear about that?”
“No, Sir, I didn’t,” Ian said quietly. “What happened?”
“Sylvan Gale Tyler didn’t pace herself the way you tried to,” Blanchard said. “She’s young and let herself get pushed to the point of exhaustion.”
“Damn,” Ian whispered.
“Yes,” Blanchard agreed. “She nearly died. It took a month for her to regain her strength, and by then it was too late for Gint’s vines. He doesn’t have anything else to fall back on, like Hennessy.”
“I bet she feels really bad about that,” Ian said, thinking of the youngest of the Sylvan land healers and wondering why no one had told him. Probably because there isn’t a darn thing he could do about it, he realized. He had no talent for vines whatsoever.
“I’m afraid she feels too badly about it,” Blanchard said. “I sent a message to the Chief Sylvan of Vines, and he wrote back, promising he’d keep an eye on her. It taught the rest of us a real valuable lesson, though. We gotta share what help there is if we all want to get through this. If one of us takes more than we should, someone else is gonna pay a high price for their greed.”
“I speak for all of us when I say that we really wish we could do more, Mr. Blanchard,” Ian said. “If we could heal all of the land, every tree and vine and flower, we would.”
“I know it,” Blanchard said with another small smile. “We all do, and we’ve all agreed not to interfere with any of you again. All we ask is that you do what you can, for as many as you can, without hurting yourself. If anyone asks for more, tell ‘em no and the rest of us will back you up.”
“Thank you, Mr. Blanchard,” Ian said. “That means a lot to the entire Sylvan Group.”
“Well then, that’s done,” Blanchard said, nodding to himself. “Have you been able to learn what’s causing all of this?”
“Not yet,” Ian replied. “The scientists are working on it, and the Druid Council too, of course, but for now we Sylvans have to focus on keeping as many crops and trees alive as possible, for as long as possible.”
“Then I’ll get out of your way and let you get to it,” Blanchard said. “You come on up to the house when you’re done, Sylvan Fadden. Have a bit to eat, something to drink, recharge yourself before you go over to Hennessy’s.”
“Thank you, Mr. Blanchard,” Ian said. “I’ll do that.” He watched the older man turn and walk away, each step slow and deliberate, and sighed with regret. As the strongest Druid Sylvan on Apedra, it was fully within his power to heal every tree on Blanchard’s estate, and he wanted to. But if he did that, he wouldn’t be able to help all of the other growers on his list, and they all needed help.
What he couldn’t do, what none of the plant healers could do but should have been able to do, was determine why every growing thing was fading. There was nothing wrong with the soil, or the air, or the water. They’d had it all tested repeatedly by scientists from all over the Thousand Worlds. But knowing what it wasn’t didn’t help, because they still didn’t know what it was.
Ian walked down the low hill to the nearest orchard and sat down to take off his shoes. He put his socks inside the shoes and left them there. Then he entered the orange grove, stepped between two trees, and reached up with both hands to stroke their leaves as he silently greeted them.
He could heal almost anything that grew in the soil to some degree but, like all Sylvans, he had a special affinity for one type of plant. Usually that affinity was limited. A Sylvan with an affinity for vines might be able to fully heal fruit vines, like grapes and berries, but have little or even no success with beans or flowers. Ian’s affinity was for trees, and his power so great that he could heal any tree equally well as any other. Nuts, fruit, flowers, it didn’t matter. But, like all living creatures, he had only so much energy to give and once it was gone, only time and rest could replenish it.
He walked through the trees, brushing leaves, branches and trunks until he reached the center of the orchard. He sat down on the ground and dug his bare feet into the soft soil up to his ankles. Then he spread his fingers wide, and sank them into the soil up to the wrists. He closed his eyes, felt for the roots of the trees within the earth, and began sending his healing energy out to them.
***
Nica watched absently as Joseph carried in the morning news viewer and placed it on the sideboard. The news reader was one of the few electronic devices used regularly by most, if not all, citizens of Galia. Each one had to be custom shielded to work on Apedra, so they cost more than a regular news reader but, according to Bree, they’d have been considered cheap at twice the cost since the only alternative was to use paper. Galia had a finite amount of land and every square inch of it was needed for crops. Not cities, or transport hangars, or factories, or trees to make paper from. The cost of importing the amount of paper needed to distribute the daily news to every household in Galia only to be used once, then disposed of, was not only astronomical, it would also be perpetual. So, news readers were used instead.
Since Bree had not come down to breakfast yet, Nica got up and retrieved the news reader. She freshened her coffee, sat down, turned the reader on and scrolled through the articles. There was a long piece about the success of the Westley’s ball the night before, along with pictures that Nica barely glanced at since she didn’t know any of the people in them. There was a list of upcoming balls, and after that, theater and concert dates, museum and art showings, and a wide variety of other events. Nica frowned, but kept scrolling until she finally spotted a headline that didn’t have anything to do with entertainment.
CIDADE'S FIRST MURDER
Nica arched a brow. Crime was rare on Apedra. Violent crime almost unheard of. It was one of the things Apedra was known for. Still, it surprised her that there’d never been a murder in their only city. She sipped her coffee and began reading.
CIDADE'S FIRST MURDER
Killer Still at Large
by Norm Hopeman, Daily Herald Crime Reporter
The first murder in Cidade's recorded history took place last night, according to a rare pre-dawn statement issued by City Police Chief Ralph M Udarich. The victim, twenty two year old Kaylin Hara, is reported to have died as a result of "murderous exsanguination" in Banba Park at approximately 02:45 VST. As of press time, the police have made no arrests in this matter and have no suspects.
According to Chief M Udarich's statement, the victim and her cousin, twenty six year old Orbital Traffic Controller Stannish Hara, were walking through a wooded area of the park after attending the ball at the Westleys’ home immediately adjacent to the park last night. Mr. Hara had left his sister to summon assistance after she injured her knee in a fall on one of the many unmarked trails that lead through that area. When Mr. Hara returned with aid, he found his sister dead.
Police swiftly brought Airie tra
ckers to the scene in an effort to pick up the trail of the killer, but they reported no fresh scent other than those of the victim and her brother, a fact that, according to M Udarich's statement, raises the strong possibility that the killer is a native Apedran.
The police urge citizens to avoid Banba Park and all other poorly lit areas of the city after dark, and advise those who live in the Weston Grove district of the city near the park to lock their doors. Otherwise, police state that there is no reason for alarm as they expect that the killer will be found in short order.
Respected University Professor Dr. Sydney Fineh, expert on the history of criminality on Apedra, contacted by this reporter for comment, confirms that the history of Cidade contains no record of there being any prior murder. "Until last night, our city was innocent of murder," he said. "Its scarlet thread is now woven into the fabric of our history from this day forward."
Any persons with information on this crime should contact the police immediately.
“What are you frowning over so early in the morning?”
Nica looked up at Bree, and gestured toward the news viewer. “A young lady you introduced me to last night, the one in the purple gown, you remember?”
“Kaylin Hara?” Bree asked as she went to the sideboard to fill a plate.
“Yes, that’s the one,” Nica replied. “She was murdered last night in a park.” A loud crash had Nica on her feet and reaching for a weapon before she remembered she wasn’t carrying one. Bree stood staring at the shattered plate mixed with scrambled eggs on the floor, then turned to Nica.
“Show me,” she demanded, her face white.
Nica retrieved the news viewer and handed it to Bree, who stood motionless as she read the article. When she was finished her arms fell to her sides, forcing Nica to move quickly to catch the viewer before it joined the broken plate. She placed it safely on the sideboard, then guided Bree to a chair at the table. Then she went back to the sideboard and poured coffee for both of them.
“What happened?” Nance asked quietly as she set a basket of fresh rolls on the sideboard.
“Just an accident,” Nica said, nodding her head toward Bree. “Would you mind coming back in a few minutes? Or, if you’ll bring me a broom, I’ll clean it up.”
Nance’s eyes widened in shock. “No, Miss Vinia,” she said quickly. “I’ll come back and take care of it. Please don’t trouble yourself.”
“All right, Nance,” Nica soothed, not wanting to upset the woman further. “Thank you.”
Nance cast a worried glance at Bree, and Nica gave her what she hoped was an encouraging smile. It must have worked because Nance nodded and left. Nica carried the coffee cups to the table, placed one in front of Bree and sat down beside her. Bree wrapped her trembling hands around the cup and looked up at Nica with tears in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Nica, it’s just so shocking.”
“Of course it is,” Nica said. “I’m sorry, Bree. I should have broken that to you more gently.”
Bree took a sip of coffee and set the cup down carefully. “I didn’t like her much,” she admitted in a low voice. “It sounds mean to say that, but it’s the truth. But she didn’t deserve to have her life stolen from her.”
“No one does.” Tears tracked down Bree’s face, but Nica was relieved to see that some of her color was coming back. She looked up at Nica, then back down.
“I don’t mean to be morbid, but what does that word mean, exsang…exaguin..whatever it said.”
“Exsanguination,” Nica replied. “It means she died from lack of blood.”
Bree sucked in a sharp breath and held it for several seconds before blowing it out slowly. “How could that happen?” she whispered.
“Maybe she had an injury that wasn’t severe enough to kill her, but she lost too much blood from it.”
“That makes sense. As much as such a thing can make sense. Why would anyone do such a thing to her?”
“Well, you said you didn’t like her,” Nica said. “Were there a lot of people who didn’t like her?”
“I don’t know,” Bree said. “Kaylin was competitive. About everything. Who had the longest hair, the biggest house, the most money, the prettiest clothes, the most power, the cutest boyfriends. In her mind she was always the winner, and if anyone contradicted her, she could be nasty about it. So yes, she had a tendency to irritate people to a large extent, but not enough that people hated her. She never physically hurt anyone.”
“Bree, what did it mean, in the article, about bringing in Airie trackers? Did they mean dogs?”
“Dogs?” Bree asked blankly. Then she blinked and dropped her eyes to the table. “Um…no…not dogs.”
“What then?”
Bree looked at the door leading to the kitchen, then the door leading out toward the hall on the opposite side of the room. Then she leaned toward Nica. “There are…secrets, Nica. Not my secrets, personally, but secrets of my people, of Apedrans. If anyone ever finds out I told, well…,” Bree trailed off and shuddered.
“Maybe you shouldn’t share them with me, Bree,” Nica whispered.
“No,” Bree said, shaking her head. “I’ve always felt guilty for not telling you this stuff because you’ve always shared your secrets with me. Just promise that if it ever comes out that you know any of this, don’t tell anyone it came from me.”
“You have my word, Bree,” Nica said even though she thought Bree had worded that rather oddly. Bree smiled her thanks and looked at the doors again.
“Trackers are always Airien Druids. People with a special ability relating to air,” she whispered. “I’m really surprised that was even mentioned in the news.”
“Did you say Druid?” Nica asked in surprise.
“Yes, and I know that you’ve always been interested in the subject of ancient Druids on Earth, but there’s no connection.”
Nica nodded calmly, though inwardly her curiosity rose sharply. Bree knew all about Clan Jasani, and the special abilities shared by all of them to one extent or another. Yet she’d never once hinted that it was common on Apedra too. And although she knew Bree wasn’t lying, the use of the term Druid seemed an odd coincidence. “Are there other types of powers?”
“Yes,” Bree replied. “There are Sylvans. They’re healers.”
“Healers?” Nica asked. “Like doctors?”
“Some,” Bree said. “Some heal plants or trees or land. Others heal people or animals.” She looked directly into Nica’s eyes, then said, “The strongest Druid of Apedra heals trees.” Then she looked toward the end of the table where Ian always sat, then back to Nica again.
Nica’s eyes widened and Bree nodded, just a tiny shift of her head, but it was enough. As much as she wanted more information about Ian, she couldn’t put Bree in the position of betraying her brother, so she moved on. “Is that what you meant when you said Kaylin competed over who had the most power?”
Bree nodded. Nica’s eyebrows rose questioningly and she pointed at Bree, her question obvious, if silent. Bree shook her head, her eyes sad. “I would have told you that years ago,” she added in a whisper.
Nica scooted her chair closer to Bree’s. “Is that what Flora meant last night when she called you a…what was it she said? Non-see?”
“Non-sidhe,” Bree said, nodding. “It means I have no power.”
Nica could see that wasn’t a happy subject for Bree, so once again she moved on. “What about Kaylin?” she asked, keeping her voice to a whisper since Bree seemed to think it necessary.
“She was a Solan,” Bree said.
“What’s that?”
“Solans are able to do things with light, and sometimes heat,” Bree explained, still whispering. “It all depends on individual strength. Kaylin wasn’t very strong but she could manipulate light so that people couldn’t see her.”
“She doesn’t really vanish though, right?” Nica asked. “Like the Dracons do when they speed travel?”
“That’s right,” Bree replied. “You couldn’t see her,
but you could still reach out and touch her.”
“Why didn’t she make herself disappear last night?” Nica wondered.
“Maybe she did, and whoever killed her knew enough about her ability to know she was still there.”
“Wouldn’t she have made herself disappear as soon as her cousin left? That way no one would have known she was there to start with.”
“Why would she?” Bree asked. “There’s never been a murder in Cidade before, Nica. I know that, in her place, I wouldn’t have thought myself in danger.”
“What happened last night proves that just because something hasn’t happened doesn’t mean it can’t happen. So do me a favor, Bree. If you’re ever in a position like that, be very careful.”
“I will,” Bree promised. “You too, all right?”
“Yes, me too,” Nica agreed.
She changed the subject after that, leading Bree into a discussion of that night’s ball and what dress she would wear. All the while she was wondering why she had such a bad feeling growing inside of her. And why she couldn’t stop wishing Ian would return.
Nica's Legacy (Hearts of ICARUS Book 1) Page 16