by Colt, K. J.
‘I expect you and Jemely to report to me morning, noon, and evening. And you will be escorted everywhere. Is this satisfactory to you, Healer Euka?’ Mayor Vawdon asked.
‘Certainly,’ she said, smiling thinly.
The older men standing next to Mayor Vawdon crossed their arms. Healer Euka went to check into the tavern, and Jemely and I headed out into the street with our two guards.
As we neared Mystoria, Jemely said, ‘I’m going to get some things from my house and see if Uncle is home. He’s either there or at your home.’ She smiled. ‘I’ll see you soon.’
‘That’s fine,’ I said, turning to stare at my home.
Candlelight glowed in the upper windows. I quickened my pace, stomping my feet into the snow, which crunched underfoot. I barely noticed the soldier beside me. We passed more prying eyes, and I returned the people’s stares with a smile.
‘What’s your name?’ I asked my soldier escort to make conversation.
My thoughts drifted back to memories of sitting by the hearth and reading a book. By spending so much time outside the house I’d come to miss the quiet of my own company. The world outside was complicated and challenging, yet by shoving my fears and doubts aside, I’d discovered a life that could be bigger than I’d ever dreamed. I was to be a spy for the king!
‘Hawrald,’ the large man said. I was lost for a moment until I remembered I’d asked him what his name was.
‘We’ll look after you tonight, Hawrald. What do you eat?’
‘Like anything, really. Meat and potatoes, I do. Simple man here. You go about your business. Don’t give me any thought,’ he said, giving me a stiff smirk.
I stopped at Mystoria’s front door and hesitated before knocking on it. I had never knocked before because normally I entered anytime I wanted. It was my home, after all.
‘Come in!’ Mother yelled.
I opened the door and stepped inside the store to hear Butter yelping loudly from upstairs.
Mother gripped the sides of her chair in delight. ‘Adenine! Oh, look at you.’ She wheeled over to me and hugged my waist. Butter was shrieking with excitement now. ‘Shut up, mutt!’ she yelled over her shoulder, then let me go.
‘He sounds better.’
‘Only because he rests. If he keeps this up, he’ll break another rib. Mayor Vawdon visited yesterday to apologise for everything.’
‘He did?’
‘Emala came too. They told me what had happened.’ Mother handed me a large scroll tied with blue lace. ‘The mayor gave me this. It’s for you.’ Tears glimmered on her cheeks.
I leaned down to hug her again. ‘I know, I have to go away, but I’ll miss you.’ I took the scroll from her.
She wiped away her tears and said, ‘Everything will be well.’ She fondled the folds of my dress. ‘Ahh. I’d recognise this fine Juxon silk anywhere. Did you get these from the king?’
‘I wore them to court.’
The smile faded from Mother’s face as she noticed Hawrald standing behind me. ‘I guess you’ve been assigned to make sure my daughter doesn’t run away?’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘Keep her safe from these crazy townspeople, all right?’
‘That’s my job, ma’am,’ he said.
There came the pleasant sound of paws pattering on the steps behind Mother and Butter appeared, limping and crying a little with each step. His vigorous tail-wagging was throwing him off balance. I ran to pick him up and save him further pain.
‘Oh, look at how fast you’re growing.’ He licked me excitedly. ‘Oh, I missed you too.’
‘I suppose you’ll have to leave him here,’ Mother said.
Maybe when he was better I could send for him somehow, but as I looked at him in my arms, I knew it was the wrong decision. ‘His home is here, so is mine, I’ll be back.’
‘I’m sure he’ll look after me as much as I’ll look after him.’ Mother beamed up at me and lines deepened under her cheeks.
‘Did you hear about Klawdia?’ I asked.
She nodded and rubbed at some dirt on her hands. ‘I know you admired her.’
‘What about you?’
‘Klawdia can survive anything,’ Mother said. ‘I’m not worried about her at all.’
I glanced at my soldier escort. ‘Can we have a moment, Hawrald?’
He nodded and stepped outside, closing the door behind him.
‘Jemely said that Uncle Garrad was dying and you knew all along?’ I said.
Mother’s eyes widened. ‘How did Jemely know that?’
I shrugged. ‘Worked it out from all the different treatments he kept at the hill shack.’
‘We knew it was getting worse…’ Mother wiped her hands on her apron and then recalled the story. ‘One night, when they were drinking, Garrad mentioned that, you being a healer girl, you could fix his illness. He said it as a joke. Ardonian never dreamed he was being serious.’
‘It must have troubled Father that I could save his brother’s life, but—’
‘Never. Your father loved you more than anything.’
Reluctantly, I said, ‘Why didn’t he get a healing from a healer?’
‘Most healers recruit for the city. Your uncle was a strong, sturdy and a talented man. He found it impossible to find a healer who would heal him without demanding he move to Meligna. He loved us so much that he couldn’t bear to be parted from us.’
Love. The word he’d said just before he’d ruined everything. His type of love was still strange to me.
‘I have a surprise for you.’ She thrust a heavy purse into my hand.
I felt the weight of it. ‘What’s this?’
‘The sale of the hill shack. The council bought it from us on the cheap. We got forty gold coins. I’ll use the money to hire help for the shop. There are twenty in there for you. Save it for when you need it, my sweet girl.’ She pulled me down to kiss my cheek.
I stared at the coin purse in my hands and felt the forgiveness rise up inside of me. Instead of handing the coins back to Mother, I kept them and in my heart made an attempt to forgive Uncle Garrad.
‘Are you well?’ Mother asked, holding my hand.
‘I will be.’
Later that evening, Varago and Jemely came over for dinner, and afterwards, when they were engaged in a game of cards, I stole away to my attic bedroom to look at the scroll Emala had given me in the king’s throne room, and the one Mother had given me earlier that day.
Mother’s scroll was a certificate of some kind with signatures and a seal, I made out a few words that seemed to represent the sale of Uncle Garrad’s property. The other that Emala had given me was an elegant handwritten note that was impossible for me to read. I decided to have Jemely read it to me later.
Downstairs, having everyone together felt like old times, except even in the comfort of my home amongst the people I loved, the week’s events weighed on me. After dinner, I asked Jemely to go upstairs with me. Once in the attic, I pulled out Emala’s note and showed Jemely the certificate.
Jemely laughed. ‘It’s the deed to the hill shack, and it’s in your name.’
‘It can’t be… Mother sold it.’
‘She did? It doesn’t make sense.’
‘I’m a girl, though, and I’m only fourteen. Can I really own a property?’
Jemely shrugged. ‘Looks like the mayor has allowed it.’
‘And Emala’s note?’ I asked.
She scanned it for a moment, then read aloud.
‘Dearest Adenine, I’m sorry for speaking against Capacia…’
‘Gods above, Emala actually wrote this,’ Jemely exclaimed.
‘Keep reading,’ I said.
‘I only said what I thought was true. Father did accept the gold Healer Euka offered him, but only under threat from her.’
Jemely stopped again. ‘I can’t believe it.’
‘He lied to the king under oath,’ I whispered.
‘And you got all the evidence you need right there in your
hands,’ Jemely said. ‘You could end his life.’
I shook my head. ‘I couldn’t do that to Emala. Besides, the king already passed his judgement. Mayor Vawdon probably regrets what he did.’
Jemely snorted at me. ‘You keep believin’ that if it gives you comfort.’ She continued.
‘He pretended to help her to kidnap you, but instead used that time to undermine her actions. I won’t go into detail lest this falls into the wrong hands, but I wanted you to be aware of Healer Euka’s character. Father is scared of what will happen to you in Meligna, and because he couldn’t give back the gold, he bought back Garrad’s property, which he said is rightfully yours. He’s using the rest of the monies to hire a new doctor.’
‘Well, that explains it,’ Jemely said. ‘How much do doctors cost?’
I was so much in shock that I couldn’t speak. The mayor had bought me my uncle’s property!
‘I own the hill shack again,’ I said. ‘Mother should rent it out while I’m away.’
‘She needs the extra coin,’ Jemely said, then continued reading.
‘Father hopes you’ll live in the hill shack one day. He is sorry for all that has happened, and I hope one day you’ll forgive me, too, and we can be friends again. Warmest regards, Emala and Almund Vawdon.’
‘Why didn’t he just tell me directly?’ I wondered aloud.
‘He’s ashamed.’
I felt tears forming in my eyes, but I blinked them away. This time, I owned the hill shack not because of a lie, but because it had been entrusted to me. Nothing could ever compare to the forest sounds and the light filtering down through the trees. The buzz of insects in the heat of summer sun, and the night animals crying by moonlight. Meligna would never have that kind of sway on my heart, even if the city ran with honey water and the streets were butter sugar.
‘Don’t like that mayor much, but he still deserves a thank you, as does Emala. Go see them tomorrow, eh? This letter makes everything better, don’t it?’ Jemely asked.
I couldn’t forgive the way Emala had spoken out against Mother, but no harm had been done by her expressing her opinions to the king. Our friendship was valuable, and I knew that most friendships needed forgiveness at one time or another, if they were to endure. ‘Yes. I’ll visit Emala tomorrow.’
Jemely suddenly sobbed, bringing her hands over her face. ‘Oh, I don’t want to. I don’t want to tell you this.’
‘Tell me what?’ I asked, shocked by her sudden breakdown.
Jemely took a deep breath and grabbed my hands. ‘Frooby died last night.’
Air seized in my lungs. My heart felt as heavy as a brick. We’d been celebrating. All of us had been celebrating. Varago must have known, as did Mother, so how could they be happy when my friend had just died?
The room spun, and I felt as if someone was firing blazing arrows into my chest. I clutched at my body and felt the pull of sleep. ‘How?’ I asked. My hands were shaking. I made myself take a breath.
‘Varago was summoned to his house to treat him, but it was too late; there was nothing Varago could do except make him comfortable. Frooby said to tell you to be brave. His father blames you for all of it, so I’d avoid him if I were you.’
‘I need a moment,’ I said.
She lowered her eyes, slid off the bed and went to my bedroom door. As she opened it, the room filled with warmth and raised, happy voices. Jemely went down to the living room and suddenly the noise stopped. I got up from my bed, fuming at their carelessness, and slammed my bedroom door.
I lay down on my bed and whispered, ‘Frooby,’ as if saying his name might somehow bring him back to life.
An hour later, when I’d run out of tears, I opened my door again to let everyone know I was well. My family continued talking in hushed murmurs.
Over and over, all I could think was that I could have saved Frooby’s life.
Butter pattered upstairs to keep me company. He jumped onto the bed with little effort and rested his head on my legs. No tears fell; my heart was empty. There was nothing.
After Varago and Jemely returned home, I went downstairs.
Mother looked weary, but forced a dutiful smile to her face. ‘There’s a gravesite behind Frooby’s house.’
‘Derkal might try to kill me,’ I said.
Capacia glanced at Hawrald. ‘You’ll protect her, won’t you?’
‘That’s my job,’ the soldier said.
‘Will you take me there now?’ I asked.
‘Show me the way.’
Outside, the clouds parted, allowing stars to shine through, and the moon cast an eerie glow over the icy landscape. My escort’s armour gleamed under the moonlight, and lanterns lit up the frosted windows of warm homes. The tavern buzzed with fiddles, flutes, and singing, and I imagined Healer Euka tossing about in her bed trying to find sleep among the merriment.
If the world was a just place, it would mourn the loss of Frooby’s kind and compassionate soul.
Frooby’s farmhouse looked ominous in the pale light. Wolves howled in the distance, their cries echoing the cries of my heart—haunting, sorrowful, angry. We found a track that led between a chicken hutch and a workshop. Farther back were five carved tombstones. One had fresh flowers, and I stepped over a small fence that served as more of a decoration than a way to keep out people and animals.
‘Frooby, gentle and honourable, a loved son,’ the soldier read aloud.
I slumped to the ground, put my head in my hands, and cried. I tried not to make too much sound, afraid Derkal would find me at his son’s grave and curse me. It was my fault Frooby was dead, and I deserved every misfortune that came my way.
That day when I’d offered to heal him, I should have insisted. I should have made him better. He would be alive, and even if I had gone to Meligna, I wouldn’t have this guilt pressing on my soul.
My body jolted as each sob escaped my lips. I leaned over, placing one hand on his tomb stone for support. I hated what I was.
‘Let’s go,’ I said bitterly, full of self-loathing.
My grief sucked the last of my energy, and I struggled to walk. Hawrald offered me his arm, and I took it, leaning on him as I had learned to lean on so many people in the past few years.
My friend can’t have died for nothing. He should have been healed, and the healing should have been freely available to him. The poor had as much right to be well as the rich, and I’d been given an opportunity to help right that injustice by risking my life as King Erageo’s spy. Mother had taught me to lie, to value cleverness and wit. Klawdia had shown me how to be strong and cunning. I could gain the trust of the Queens and uncover all their secrets.
There was an illness much worse than anything I had ever seen, and that was the sickness of my country, the sickness of Senya caused by the division of the North and South.
And I was determined to cure it.
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BLOOD HEALING PREVIEW
THE LOUD AND JOLLY CELEBRATION of my fourteenth birthday two nights prior still rang in my ears like a haunting song. The party had been wonderful, but the undercurrents of sorrow and grief lingered like a persistent cough. Snow fell, making the road to Meligna city in North Senya an obstacle course for my horse as it stumbled over hidden rocks and branches.
Winter had encrusted every tree, shrub, and rock with ice. My loud thoughts disrupted any silence that the insulated wilderness might bring. I feared what awaited me. I feared never returning home again. I feared that Klawdia, the Ruxdorian woman who’d protected me, would die at the hands of her people.
My bottom and inner thighs ached. We’d stopped only to rest for a few hours at a time, and I knew we drew closer to the city. Around me, branches snapped under the weight of layered snow.
The dazzling white of the landscape reminded me of my parents’ spotless tunics that they wore to Old Bow four years ago, a time when I was happy and Father was
alive, when I knew nothing about the world outside my house. I had left everything I’d ever known—not by choice—to become a healer in the city stolen from my king twenty-five years ago by four healers called the Queens. Dressed in a bright red robe with golden trimmings, Healer Euka, the Queens’ ambassador, led our party. I glared at the back of her head. She was responsible for my current predicament.
I turned to observe my friend Jemely on a horse behind one of King Erageo’s personal royal guards. The king was the one who had forced me to Meligna against my will so I could spy on the Queens. Jemely’s cape covered the horse’s rump, and the hem flicked against its hind legs. Jemely faced the woodlands. Since the trial in Juxon City, she’d grown quiet and withdrawn, like a snail retreating into its shell. On the morning of our departure from Borrelia, I’d looked out through Mystoria’s window to see Jemely and Healer Euka entangled in some confrontation. Healer Euka had stood straight, arms crossed, head held high while Jemely spoke angrily. When Jemely had finished, she’d turned to walk away from Healer Euka, but the ambassador took a step forward, grabbed Jemely’s shoulder, and spoke several words that made Jemely spin around in shock.
Jemely had stood there frozen like an ice sculpture, eyes wide, lips parted, and when finally she reacted she brought her hands together and begged. I yanked open the front door of Mystoria to join them, but Healer Euka spotted me and scurried to join Bikat and Hawrald, our guards, in the street. Upon asking Jemely about their conversation, she’d shouted at me to mind my own business. Jemely had a volatile nature, so it had seemed normal for her to yell, but slowly she had grown withdrawn and troubled, a heavy cloud filled with worry and hopelessness.
Now, when I tried to get her attention or meet her eyes, she merely thinned her lips and turned away. Her emotional absence made me feel alone with my gloom. I longed for Mother’s optimism.
Jemely adjusted her seat. I watched, hoping she’d turn my way and smile or do something that was quintessentially her. Instead, she moved back beyond the edge of the saddle. Suddenly, she pushed herself over the horse’s rump, rolled on the ground, got to her feet, and bolted into the tree line.