by Susi Wright
The men gathered around to get a closer look and the little dragon seemed to accept being surrounded by these one hundred curious warriors, sensing they were loyal to Luminor. It quietly preened its glistening scales and watched the ones who came closest with an equally curious gaze. Now looking far from dangerous in this placid mood, it was undeniably beautiful and graceful, appealing and extremely approachable. Bearing this in mind, along with the fact that it was intended as an attack animal, there was one condition that Luminor insisted upon. No-one, under any circumstances, was to pet the creature!
Having accepted the strange new addition to their ranks, something that seemed to be increasingly commonplace, the men wandered off to ready themselves for departure. They milled about while they fastened satchels, sword-belts and gathered bows and quivers. Luminor watched his men with increasing trepidation as a strong premonition of death assailed him. Some would die today. Just then, Melu approached Luminor with some worrying news. The Morvian’s entire body was a-quiver with anxiety as he began to babble in his own language and wave his one good arm; he was unable to communicate with Luminor in the usual way due to the shield.
Luminor understood that most of what Melu was saying – Churian was in mortal danger! The Morvian had a special connection with the Gaian elder and a deeply-held pledge of honour to save his life in return. With his excellent second sight, he had seen the attack and the fall. Churian was seriously injured and extreme danger still circled him, some distance away. This was an urgent call to that pledge. And a warning to the others to keep alert for the danger.
Luminor was not surprised that one of these beasts had turned up in these mountains. This was a most suitable habitat for the creature which had been displaced from its nest in the Northern Mountains of Baram by the Flame Adder, three years ago. Luminor knew first-hand the peril of such an encounter. This specimen might be the same one that had bitten him in the forests of southern Baram; the distance was not so far for such a powerful winged creature. He hoped Churian had not been bitten – he had no idea whether he would have the power to counter such a deadly poison. Of course, he would try to do something before going into battle. . .if there was time. And time was running out, in more ways than one.
Without question, he acknowledged Melu’s appeal. “Go! Fly quickly with your carrier and one other warrior. Bring Churian back. I cannot wait long. It is already past time. I must engage the enemy soon! I am sorry – if you are not here – I will have to go without you!”
CHAPTER 35
Possibilities
Aleana and Altor arrived on the front steps of the villa to the sounds of Fralii screaming in pain. They had left the council rooms early after Aleana had made an urgent summons. Both sensed something amiss. Aleana suspected the baby was on its way, calling off the dinner arrangement with the refugee women for that reason. Nerisse and the Morvian female, Shimbu, had offered to come along anyway. The women had extensive experience in birthing, having attended many of their own clan-sisters over the years.
After following the sounds to Espira’s bedroom, the two found much more amiss than expected. Not only was Fralii hunched over in the throes of birth pangs – more worrying by far, Espira lay mysteriously still on her cot.
Aleana checked the child for any urgent issues, found she was breathing and decided nothing could be done for the moment. She turned her attention to her daughter-in-law, garnering Altor’s help to get Fralii to her own bed. The birth was very close. Fralii would need an attendant at all times through the labour, especially if there were complications.
It was timely when the two other women arrived by samblar carriage. Shimbu, still not recovered from almost being dropped by her carrier on the flight to the Capital, had flatly refused to become airborne again just yet, pleading with Nerisse for a fast carriage. Due to the emergency, she left the children with some of her new friends.
Surprisingly, the women had Serafina in their company, despite the fact that earlier it had been considered unnecessary to include the youngest and totally inexperienced woman. Aleana questioned the choice, censure in her tone. “Welcome, Sisters! But, Nerisse, was there wisdom in bringing the young one?” The sharpness in Aleana’s voice was softened by the kind expression always present in her eyes. She frowned. “This all might be quite confronting to one who is uninitiated!” She cast a forbearing glance at Serafina, whom she had only met briefly once before, when she had been formally introduced to Nerisse’s group on their arrival. There was potential in her.
As on that occasion, the young woman’s eyes were shyly downcast. Aleana observed that the girl’s mental mask was firmly in place, but suspected that Serafina might not be aware of her own talents, having heard a brief outline of her story from Nerisse. In the last two days, there had not been much time to look in depth at the individual needs of the new arrivals. And now was not the time for it either.
“Dear sister, you must learn to look directly at your female elders,” she chided gently, still keeping her gaze trained on the girl. Serafina fidgeted but kept her eyes downcast, while Nerisse offered explanation. “She pleaded to come! She has been told she is a healer! She is shy because she carries shame. I have seen something else there. . . .but it is untested. I told her it would be safer to avoid looking directly at people, especially men – ” she pursed her lips and her eyes met Aleana’s pointedly, “ – until she has had more training. Perhaps, she can learn a little by helping here.”
Fralii groaned with another contraction and the women turned their attention to the matter at hand. Shimbu hurried to the scullery to get some hot water and linen, taking Serafina with her. Nerisse sorted out a bolster from a cupboard in the room, to place behind Fralii for extra comfort, checking her physical condition for the progress of the birth and Aleana held her hand, murmuring motherly encouragement. With all the ladies fully occupied, Altor excused himself, feeling a little superfluous. He had no experience in these matters, having not yet become a father. Besides, he wanted to further examine Espira’s condition, make sure she did not deteriorate and ponder the mystery of what might have happened to her.
During the next hour, Fralii’s attendants applied themselves efficiently and calmly to their individual tasks. At their mature age, Aleana and Nerisse had assisted every one of the few Gaian births in both their clans over the last century. Shimbu, in particular, had done this many times before for her sisters, due to the Morvian propensity for having large families. A surprise to everyone, Fralii’s first delivery had been so quick and painless, there had been no time for Aleana to attend. Espira had been born in just a few minutes, no fuss, in the early hours of the morning, with only Luminor in attendance. It was regrettable that he was absent now, but all was going as it should so far, albeit slower and more painful than the first. Fralii was in good hands with the ladies constantly alert for signs of complications. Between the three of them, it was determined that Luminor’s son would be born within the hour!
Serafina, an eager student, willingly accepted instructions from the three older women, running for a jug of drinking water or a cool rag to mop Fralii’s fevered brow, taking away soiled linen and bringing back clean white rags, from a pile that Fralii and Aleana had prepared specifically for this purpose during the last few weeks. She watched the proceedings with avid interest. However, she couldn’t help feeling relieved that she had escaped suffering the affliction of pregnancy during her life at Mister’s establishment. All the girls there were given a herbal tea to drink every day which they were told would keep them safe, but she had known several who had conceived anyway. Soon after discovering their condition, each of them had disappeared from the house and returned, three days later, pale and weak with a haunted look in their eyes. None of them had said much, except that they had stayed with an old woman who lived in a beach hut on the other side of the island. They were given two days rest before being expected to resume work and none of them gave birth to a child. She could only imagine what those girls had experienced
.
From general talk among the Gaian women whom she had met in the last few days, she had learned that most of them were barren. She supposed that might also apply to her, since she was Gaian. Serafina noted that many of those women and their husbands had recently adopted human babies and children who had been orphaned by the notorious Flame Adder. Since meeting the clan on Siva beach, she had only participated in one traditional Telling around the campfire, to find out all about Lord Luminor and his first quest. The ideals of the Alliance that he had forged, were discussed on a daily basis so she was becoming familiar with the culture into which she hoped to be accepted. This new life seemed so wonderful – almost too good to be true. Now, if only her angel would return from his quest and marry her. . . .all would be perfect!
In the other room, Altor stood over Espira’s still form, deep in thought. Frustratingly, he had tried several times during the last few minutes to get a sense of her emotion, but had drawn a complete blank. It was as if she was not there. It was very unsettling that her eyes were still wide open and unblinking. Her body was about as lifeless as a corpse, except for the almost imperceptible, slow breath. He had never seen anything like this, but then Espira was unlike any other!
Sitting down on a chair next to the cot, he sighed, wondering how long the dear child could safely remain like this, wishing for a greater measure of his elder brother’s wealth of talent. He strongly suspected that the only hope for Espira lay in the Supreme Power, in one form or another. The secret to her healing must lie in Fire.
A noise at the door drew his attention. Altor turned to see the shy young refugee, Serafina, standing in the doorway, eyes downcast, just as the three other times he had seen her since she arrived. She spoke quietly, addressing him with great respect. “Lord Altor. . . Excuse me, my lord. Ladies Aleana and Nerisse do not need me for the moment. They will call when they do.” She continued to study the floor.
He knew some of her story, but with the heavy workload and engagements demanded by his temporary office as governor, had not yet had the time to give her a proper audience and assess her personal needs. He sensed that at this moment, she wanted to be given another task here, though for the life of him, he could not think what he could assign her to do.
Understanding her reluctance to make eye contact, Altor decided to ignore it for the moment. Taking on the role as a tutor in this instance, he summoned her forward. “Sister, come to the cot and observe this child. Have you seen her before? Playing with the others in the city? So full of life? Now look how still she is. She has a mysterious affliction. I do not smell poison, but I do not disregard the possibility that there is magic involved.”
Serafina approached the other side of the cot and answered looking down, as she leaned over Espira for a closer look. “She is beautiful! I have been told she is special – a hybrid – the hope for the future!”
“You are learning quickly, sister! Yes, she is very special. . .and precious! But she is far more so, than any other yet born. We do not even know the extent of her capabilities!” Altor looked affectionately down at the child, as he caressed his little niece’s cold hand where it lay on the coverlet. “I hope we can bring her back!” His tone held a tinge of doubt. He glanced up, instantly shocked by the heat in the pair of flaming golden eyes staring at him, full of a myriad possibilities. A pleasant warmth pervaded his body. All doubt receded, replaced by fiery hope; the small flicker of desire which surfaced was easily put aside, paling into insignificance against the overwhelming promise of healing. He saw exactly what Xandor had seen. Here, in this untried novice, was a healer of considerable note!
Perhaps, here is also the answer to this problem!
CHAPTER 36
Search and Rescue
For more than an hour, the three friends struggled between them to manouevre Saria’s limp body through the narrow tunnels. They were racing against time because if the lubio drug wore off and she woke up distressed, they could have a greater problem. It was imperative they place the lady under Sumar’s protection as quickly as possible.
Xandor had a secret and selfish reason for wanting her to remain asleep, which he miraculously managed to keep hidden from the others. From the first moment in her chamber, when he had laid eyes on her sleeping form and applied the lubio to her lips, curious but apprehensive to finally see his betrothed in person, he had known. Without a shadow of a doubt – she was not the one for him! Her beauty was undeniable, her form graceful and Dak had already said much of her kind and charitable nature. Still, he could not shake the image of Serafina from his mind, however hard he tried. She seemed to be in his head constantly. Even while he regarded the sleeping Saria, knowing full-well he should pay due respect to honour, he couldn’t make himself feel one glimmer of desire to make this woman his wife. He would rather leave before she woke, wanted to avoid facing her and even trying to explain something, about which he was himself confused. Procrastination was his sole intention right now.
His personal frustration came out in an irritated quip, about Dak’s choice to make the new tunnels too narrow for the group of four to negotiate. Dak replied matter-of-factly and effectively put Xandor in his place. “There was only me! Why would I waste energy and risk discovery?”
Dak was right. Xandor wisely said nothing more, but put extra effort into carrying the unconscious woman the next several dozen paces, before handing her to Zenth.
When the passageway finally widened out, closer to the exit, they were able to move faster and with Saria beginning to stir, it was just as well. The fissure through which they had entered, which was only the width of a man, presented the final challenge to their exit – it required one of them to drag Saria through it, sideways. The jostling disturbed her even more, confirming to them all that the drug was wearing off more quickly than expected.
Once outside, they propped Saria against the wall for a few moments while they hastily conferred.
“Do you have more lubio?” asked Zenth, practical as always. Xandor was already rummaging in his satchel, not really needing any encouragement to reapply the tincture and extend Saria’s oblivious state for as long as possible. He had kept the bottle for this very purpose knowing the effects of just a couple of drops. A little went a long way. He was also thinking ahead, to the certain casualties of the coming battle. There might still be some left to take with them to the battlefield, where the powerful painkiller might prove to be a welcome boon to an injured warrior or two.
“It will be safer. For her and all of us!” Xandor considered this appropriate justification for continuing to drug the woman as he stepped forward with the bottle of lubio. His eyes met Dak’s whose expression, for just a heartbeat, seemed thoughtfully assessing, almost suspicious, though he made no comment. Apparently in agreement, he crouched to gently open his cousin’s mouth.
Saria’s rapid blinking and murmuring ceased within seconds and Dak scooped her up into his arms, taking his turn to carry her the last stretch to the monastery. He was pleased to have at least been able to rescue his cousin, with whom he had been very close until the clan had chosen to join Xian. They had grown up together and being the elder by a score of years, he had always taken on the role as her protector, since she had no brothers and her parents were both extremely frail. Of course, many more of his clan brothers and sisters still languished, unwitting captives, under Lord Xian’s edict. Even had they known they were captive, no one would know how to escape an edict issued by such a master of the mental arts, or if indeed it was possible at all. He regretted that circumstances prevented any attempt at communication with her, or any of them, before he left to join Lord Luminor in battle.
Pressing against the shadowy wall, the friends waited for the sentry on the ramparts to pass before they made a dash for the nearest gully a few hundred paces away. They paused in the shelter of some large boulders there while the second guard did his tour. Once he had moved to the next section of wall, out of sight, Dak guessed they would have at least fifteen minutes
to get far enough from the palace to avoid detection, to disappear into the cover of the darkness and heavy mist. By air-cloak, it was not so far to carry a passenger the remaining distance to the monastery. Sumar would be expecting them.
Half an hour later, the three with their passenger landed in the monastery courtyard. They were greeted by Sumar and the others. The sentinel on duty had spotted them emerging from the mist, making the owlet-call to the others to signal their approach.
“Well met, Brothers! And well-done!” exclaimed Sumar, “Churian told us you made a rescue!” He glanced at the unconscious woman.
Xandor stepped forward with Saria in his arms. “Yes, Brother, this is the Lady Saria – ”
“Saria? . .is that not the same – ” began Sumar. Xandor deliberately cut off the question with urgent instructions. “We must leave for battle. . .she will wake. She must not become distressed! I know that you will be able to keep her calm and hidden for as long as necessary. We can not afford to alert Xian! Unless. . . having her. . .becomes an advantage to our cause!” Xandor quickly looked into his friend’s questioning eyes.
For assurance?, Sumar wondered. Is it an appeal for some kind of understanding. . .for the thought of neglect. . .or betrayal? Either way, in these circumstances, with the battle looming, he was magnanimous enough to give it. With no need for a spoken promise, the confident gleam in his eyes and the gesture which Xandor had come to know, meant Sumar would have it all under control: the signal tapping of his temple.