Five Corners: The Marked Ones

by Cathi Shaw

  "Leave him alone," she said desperately, her words catching in her throat.

  The woman ignored her and soon five more men moved forward and to Thia's amazement, they removed the massive stone from Teague's buried foot.

  Thia was relieved to see that Teague did not move. She choked back a sob as she saw the black and yellow color of his foot. She knew from the frostbite cases that Brijit sometimes treated that the color indicated tissue death. Teague's foot was beginning to rot and if the resulting infection didn't kill him, it would be a miracle.

  The woman seemed wholly absorbed in what she was doing. She began to run her hands over Teague, much in the same way Brijit and herself used their energy fields to sooth their own patients.

  After what seemed like a very long time, Thia started to see something that she knew was not medically possible. As the woman ran her hands over Teague's injured legs his wounds appeared to be healing. Everything she had learned over the years from working Brijit told her this could not be true. But before her eyes she saw the color returning to his foot and his fractured leg beginning to knit.

  The woman continued her work, her focus entirely on Teague. She looked up and two of larger men moved forward and lifted Teague. Then they began moving towards the tunnel from where they'd appeared.

  "Where are you going?" Thia cried in panic, struggling against the arms that held her.

  Suddenly the woman turned to her and held up her hand. Before Thia could process what was happening, darkness fell over her eyes and she lost consciousness.

  ****

  When Thia awoke again she lying on a surface that was warm and gelatinous. She shifted slightly and felt the surface move with her, hugging her body. It was oddly comforting.

  Turning her head she stared at her surroundings. She was in a strange chamber. Its walls glowed with iridescence and the walls and the ceiling were smooth and rounded. She had the sense that she was very deep in the earth. Warmth filled her and she felt herself drifting back towards sleep but then the thought of Teague crept into her mind and woke her completely.

  Thia tried to sit up on the odd bed and after a few unsuccessful attempts, was able to push herself to a sitting position. She looked frantically around the chamber but she was alone. Neither the woman who had spoken to her in the cave nor Teague were in sight. Dread suddenly filled her. What if something had happened to Teague while she slept? She sent out a wordless message: Teague. But he did not reply. Tears flooded her eyes. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she’d failed him.

  Suddenly a rich female voice filled her head. Be still, Little One. We will be with you shortly. Your friend is safe. I will come and take you to him soon.

  Thia was stunned that there were others who communicated in the same way as Teague.

  Who are you? Thia asked in her mind. But there was no reply. She wondered if she’d imagined the voice.

  A short time later the woman with the iridescent hair drifted into the room. There was no other way to describe the way she moved. While her feet were on the ground, she seemed to glide rather than walk. Thia stared at her. She was shockingly beautiful in a strange way. All of her seemed to glow except for her black, flat eyes.

  She’d removed the robe she’d been wearing earlier and was clad in a long flowing material that seemed to reflect an inner glow. She appeared to belong in the chamber. She drifted toward Thia, her flat black eyes should have been cold but instead they were kind. Although she couldn’t say how she did so, Thia recognized her at once as the owner of the voice that had spoken in her head.

  An unexpected sense of deep love suddenly washed over Thia. She caught her breath, as she was held suspended in the most intense moment of love and caring that she had experienced in her entire life.

  "Thia, I am happy to see you conscious," the woman said, her voice thick and strange as if she were not used to speaking aloud. The heavy words echoed through the chamber. Thia wondered how she knew her name. Fear pricked at her. The sensation of love returned tinged with an underlying soothing feeling. Thia's eyes narrowed. Were these feelings being sent to her from the woman in front of her? Was she being manipulated?

  "Where is Teague?" Thia asked sharply, fighting against the calming sensations that were washing over her. The feelings suddenly ceased.

  "He is safe. I will take you to him shortly. But first I must ask you to tell me how you and Teague came to be in our domain?"

  Thia thought back to the storm and taking refuge in the cave and then the horrible slide of rock and mountain that had trapped them. She shook her head. "We did not intend to be here," she admitted. "The mountain came down and trapped us. We were merely taking shelter from the storm."

  The woman floated backward, considering her words. "Interesting," she said thickly. The mountain does nothing without a reason.

  Thia looked at her sharply. What do you mean?

  She didn't answer Thia's question but instead asked another of her own. Your friend is very special. She was watching Thia closely. Ah, you know this. Do others on the outside know what he is?

  Thia shook her head, uncertain what the woman was asking. "I don't know what you mean," Thia admitted. "He has been identified as a Draíodóir."

  The woman straightened, her face troubled. "Fools! They have no idea what they are dealing with," she growled. She studied Thia for a few moments. "Do you know what you are, my child?"

  Thia was taken aback by that question. "I am Thia. I’m a girl and a healer." She paused. "I don't know what you mean," she admitted in a whisper as confusion clouded her thoughts.

  "You may call me Celeste," the woman told Thia suddenly, "Your kind likes names, don't you? We forget the ways of the upper world."

  "You don't have names?" Thia asked.

  "We don't have need for names. We communicate without the archaic use of verbal speech. Less lost meaning," she sighed. "It is difficult to explain. But you know how to communicate slightly in this way, although you are not fluent in our way of sharing. Still you are more proficient than most of the Above Grounders."

  "Teague can do it," Thia said suddenly, "He communicates with me like that sometimes."

  Celeste looked at her closely. "There are other ways you communicate with your friend as well, aren't there?"

  The dreamwalks. Thia met her flat dark eyes in alarm. She had told no one of those, not even her sisters or Brijit.

  "Don't worry, I can't read your mind, Little One," Celeste assured her. "You and Teague have a special bond. It is clearly visible to us." She gestured towards her flat black eyes. "We see differently from you Upper Worlders as well."

  Celeste sighed. "There is much to explain and I don't want to overwhelm you," she paused. "Are you well?"

  Thia considered that question for a moment. Despite the sensations having stopped, she still had an underlying feeling of contentment. In fact she thought she could have easily fallen back to sleep she was so relaxed. Then she realized the implication of that. She was not in pain anymore. Her hand went to her forehead.

  "It is healed," Celeste assured her.

  Thia shook her head in wonder. "How?"

  "I will explain our ways in time. For now I sense your only reason for unease is the fact that you would like to see your friend?"

  Thia nodded and leapt to her feet.

  Celeste laughed softly, the sound musical in the small chamber. "Such haste. So unnecessary. But come we will set you at ease and then maybe you can help us."

  Celeste led Thia through a complicated maze of iridescent tunnels with multiple branching points. It was impossible to tell if these were naturally occurring chambers or if the people who lived here had dug the tunnels. And Thia had never seen material such as that of which these walls were made. It was almost as if they were alive, for they seemed to be lit from within. She was tempted to stop and study them closer but Celeste was hurrying onward.

  They soon arrived at a chamber that was similar to the one Thia had been in except this one housed multiple
beds.

  This is where we tend the ill, Celeste explained.

  Thia looked around the room in wonder, noting that all the beds were empty. All except one.

  Teague was lying in a bed on the far side of the chamber. She hurried across the room and automatically reached out to touch his forehead then pulled her hand back, remembering what happened when she touched his bare skin.

  Are you afraid to touch him, Little One?

  Without explaining herself, Thia nodded. And studied Teague. His color had returned to almost normal and he had the appearance of being in a deep but peaceful sleep.

  Thia turned to Celeste, "Why is he not waking?" she asked. "Are his wounds are healed?"

  Celeste nodded. "Yes. His body is healed but his mind seems to be trapped in a maze. We have not been able to bring him back to us."

  Thia moved closer to Teague. His eyelashes curled in dark crescents on his cheeks. She noticed for the first time the light dappling of freckles over his nose and cheeks. His face was smooth and clean-shaven despite the fact that he'd been without a razor for at least a week. She tried to remember if she'd ever seen Teague with stubble and frowned as she realized she had not.

  Do you know what he is? Celeste’s question came back to her. Was Teague something more than a Draíodóir? If so, what?

  When Teague was awake, his incredible eyes and overpowering personality took away from his other features. For a few moments, Thia just sat and studied his familiar face, her heart aching with worry and fear.

  Teague. She reached out but there was still nothing from him.

  "We have also tried to communicate with him, to no avail." Celeste paused. "I wonder if you could connect with him, Thia?"

  Thia looked up at her, confused. "I just tried. There was nothing."

  Celeste tipped her head to the side. "There is not nothing. He is there. Try again and you will see what I mean."

  Thia shook her head but sent out the message once more, Teague. She waited but there was no response. It was as if his body was there but there was no presence that she recognized as Teague.

  "You feel it?" Celeste asked.

  Thia looked at her in confusion. "I feel nothing." She felt tears filling her eyes. "I don't understand that form of communication, Celeste. It only ever worked with Teague and he always initiated it. I think I'm doing it wrong."

  Celeste considered her for a moment. "You can do it. You and I can communicate that way. But it is new for you." She sighed. "Let me explain what I sense when I try to communicate with Teague. He is there but it is as though he is behind a film. I can feel him and speak to him but I don't know if he understands me or not. And I have no idea if he is trying to communicate with me."

  Thia looked up at Celeste in misery. "So what can we do?"

  Celeste considered her for a moment. "I will teach you how to communicate as we do but I don't think even you will be able to get to Teague that way." She paused and looked at Thia. "The other way you communicate with him ... you initiate it, yes?"

  Thia looked at her wide eyes. How did she know? In all the years Teague and she had dreamwalked together it was almost always Thia who found Teague rather than him finding her.

  "At this stage, I think the dream communication would be best," Celeste said.

  Thia spoke, "I tried it when we were in the cave but he did not respond."

  Celeste nodded. "But you were both injured and fatigued. Now you are rested and well." She gestured towards a nearby bed. "I would like you to try again, if you would."

  Thia considered. Maybe she could find Teague in her dreams. It had worked before she had known him, perhaps it would work now when it was impossible to reach him in any other way. She nodded at Celeste and sank down onto the strangely warm bed. Immediately Thia felt a soothing relaxation flood through her. She wondered what these beds were made of and then she suddenly didn't care as sleep pulled at her. She closed her eyes and let it tug her under.

  ****

  As the dream world opened before her, Thia began to seek Teague. Their Dreamscapes were always the same but they did have a few reoccurring themes. Their favorite was the river path where they had first met in their dreams. But when she arrived at the river path it was the same as it always was but Teague was nowhere to be found.

  Thia concentrated and shifted to a forest grove where they sometimes found one another but again Teague was not there.

  Quickly Thia shifted between every Dreamscape she could remember. In rapid succession she found herself in a great hall, followed by a wide and lengthy sandy beach, to a small schoolroom, a cliff edge, an open field full of wild flowers. All were empty and missing the one thing she was looking for: Teague.

  Gritting her teeth Thia went to a place she'd only ever been once with Teague. It was a grey shrouded, frozen land that scared her. When she'd been ten years old Teague had taken her there and she'd been so frightened she'd begged him never to do so again. He'd agreed.

  It appeared that he was keeping his word, as he wasn't anywhere to be found in the sinister Dreamscape. For a brief moment, Thia wondered what that Dreamscape represented for Teague and why he had taken her there that one time. She'd never thought to ask. Now she wondered if she would ever get the chance.

  Defeated Thia returned to the riverbed, despair overcoming her. She didn't know where else to look for Teague. She'd tried all their usual haunts to no avail. She didn't think he'd keep away from her if he were able to come to her.

  Thia put her head down on her knees. Was Teague truly lost forever? What if he was permanently injured? His body might be fine but his mind appeared to be missing. He showed no sign of life other than the breathing and the heartbeat. Despite what Celeste had sensed, deep down Thia feared that he might be gone forever.

  Suddenly she knew that she wasn't ready for him to disappear from her life. She wanted and needed him to be there with her. She'd lost Kiara and Mina. Brijit was far away. If Teague was gone as well … it was too much to bear. Thia put her head down on her arms and gave in to her sorrow. Great retching sobs shook her body.

  Then she felt a warm hand on her shoulder.

  Thia, why are you crying?

  She was so stunned to hear his voice just when she'd convinced herself he was gone forever that Thia could only look into Teague’s silver eyes in confusion.

  Teague! She exclaimed and leapt to her feet before throwing her arms around his neck.

  He laughed at her. Why are you so excited to see me? I guess I truly am forgiven now?

  Thia looked at him in concern. Did he not realize that time had passed?

  Teague, we’re in big trouble, she said a sob catching her words.

  Teague draped his arm around her shoulders and sat down beside her on the grassy bank.

  Shhh, now Thia, it can't be that bad can it?

  She looked up at him bleary eyed. You really have no idea, do you?

  A puzzled expression crossed his face as worry filled his eyes. Tell me, he said softly.

  Thia told Teague everything that had happened. The mountain coming down on them. His legs and infection. Her certainty that he would die. Celeste and her people finding them and bringing them to their dwelling underground. And finally the fact that they couldn’t wake him.

  When she finished, Teague looked at her in amazement. And I'm still unresponsive? he asked, his voice edged with panic.

  Thia nodded.

  It worked, he mused almost to himself.

  What worked? she asked in confusion.

  Teague looked at her. As part of my training as a Draíodóir I under went a spell that would be enacted if a life threatening injury were to occur.

  When he saw the confusion on Thia's face, he explained. If a Draíodóir is seriously injured he or she could be susceptible to having his or her mind tapped and the secrets of the clan could be revealed.

  Thia nodded, understanding dawning on her. So you are in this state as a way of protecting your knowledge?

  Teague nodde
d. Even someone with as limited training as I, has enough knowledge that could be dangerous in some hands.

  Thia sighed. So how can we wake you up?

  Teague looked thoughtful. Is this Celeste a threat?

  Thia shook her head helplessly. I don't think so. She seems concerned about you. She healed both our injuries and has been kind. And while her ways are different than ours, I do trust her. She seems to know more about what we are than any one else does. She said you are special.

  Teague nodded thoughtfully. I would like to meet her. You say she speaks in this way always.

  Thia paused. She said they don't speak with words. But her people don't seem to dreamwalk. This form of communication intrigues her. She does communicate like you do. It seems to be her preferred form of language.

  Teague dropped his head into his hands.

  What’s wrong? Thia asked in concern.

  He looked up at her, his expression miserable. I don't know how to break the spell, he admitted.

  What? Thia asked, fear gripping her. Are you saying you can't just wake up now?

  Teague shook his head sadly. The spell is only enacted if death is imminent, to protect the knowledge. But typically the person does not revive from death. He stopped abruptly as if another thought had just occurred to him. Was I dead, Thia?

  She shook her head. I was with you through it all. You were never dead but you were close to dying and I think you would have eventually succumbed to your injuries if we had not been found but you were always very much alive.

  Then the spell should have broken when I was healed. I wonder why it hasn't been broken.

  Thia suddenly thought of something else. What were you doing here? Before I arrived I mean?

  He looked around in confusion. I don't remember. He paused searching for words. I wasn’t exactly here. He gestured to the riverbank. It was like I was floating in timeless space. I had no concept of time passing. When I heard you crying it seemed to almost wake me from a trance-like state.