Sunstone's Secret

by Kate Kennelly

  Natalie chewed her bottom lip. “I guess we’re going to get there by boat.”

  Onlo arched a dark eyebrow at her. “Can you think of another way to get between here and Skippingwallow?”

  Natalie’s stomach rolled like the waves of the ocean she would soon sail. “How long will we be on the Sionainne between here and there?”

  “About four hours.”

  “Oh good. That’s not a long time to be vomiting at all.”

  “We travel lightly. Take only what you need for yourself and Jules.”

  Onlo left her with these brief instructions. They seemed simple enough, but as soon as Natalie entered her room, she froze. What should she bring? How could she pack her armor; it was caked in drying blood? Dropping her bag from Asha’s infirmary on the bed, she peered inside and debated what to take or leave.

  All right, one thing at a time. If Anli’s worried, Jules must be at death’s door. Frowning, she trusted her instincts and left all the supplies in the bag. She’d rather have all her usual Healing supplies on hand and skimp on items for herself; one set of clothes should be enough.

  She quickly changed, washed as best she could with the ewer in her room and began rearranging the bag and her belongings. The hallway outside her door echoed with boot steps marching back and forth as Onlo and his team prepared to leave. Natalie jumped when a sharp knock sounded on her door frame. Opening the door, someone informed her they’d be leaving for the docks in a half an hour; another person came right behind them and took her armor for cleaning.

  The next visitor was Em, to whom Natalie entrusted Jake while she was gone.

  Em gathered Natalie in a hug. “I’m sorry I can’t come. One of my patients is due any day now.”

  “Women gave birth before you were here, Emmeline Arnold,” Natalie reminded her, sniffing back tears.

  “Nat. She’s my patient.”

  “I know, I’m sorry. I’m being selfish. I just don’t know how bad he’ll be. Having another Abbey-trained Healer would be—”

  Em put her hands on Natalie’s shoulders. “You’ll be fine. You can handle this.” She gave her a hard, determined look until Natalie reluctantly nodded. “Go bring him back, Natalie Desmond.”

  Tears spilled over onto Natalie’s cheeks and her lips trembled, but she managed a “Yes, ma’am,” clamping down on the sobs that threatened to choke her.

  What would I have done these past few weeks without Em’s support? What kind of friend follows another into exile? Amazing ones. Em is amazing. Natalie embraced her best friend one last time, gave Jake a final hug and scratch behind the ears, and then returned to her packing, sniffing and dabbing her eyes.

  Yet another knock on her door revealed that whoever cleaned her armor had worked a miracle in record time. She donned it gratefully, closed her bag and hoisted it onto her shoulder when another set of knuckles rapped on her door, these much smaller. A small boy with jet-black hair and copper skin ran in and handed her a square brown parcel and dashed back out again.

  Puzzling over the package, Natalie set her bag on the floor and tore the paper. Out came a short length of dark green cotton. Reverently, Natalie unfolded it to reveal an emerald cape. The silky material whispered softly as she swirled it around her shoulders and secured it at the base of her neck. The end fell to her lower back, which was perfect; it wouldn’t get it her way if she needed to defend herself. However, the color would be a clear announcement that she was a Healer.

  Natalie searched the wrapping for a sign of who her mysterious benefactor might be, but there was no note or tag with the package.

  She silently thanked the benefactor, the Goddess and the Five Mages. No one could keep her from Jules now.

  Last time they were together, he had saved her life.

  Now it was her turn to save his.

  Chapter 8

  N

  atalie hung over the rail of the boat wishing she hadn’t thought she should eat to maintain her energy before she left. Her fingernails dug into a nearby line. One more hour. I can make it one more bloody hour on this stupid boat. Dammit, Juliers Rayvenwood, if you aren’t alive when I get there, I’ll kill you myself.

  “Drink some water, Nat.” Charlotte handed her a water skin. Natalie gulped and willed her fingers to close around the small leather bag.

  Before they departed, Natalie had pulled Onlo to the side as soon as she spotted the princess walking along to the docks with them, bag packed.

  “This voyage is too dangerous for her; she should stay here under the protection of the Keep,” Natalie had argued.

  Onlo’s chestnut-brown eyes, usually so merry, darkened. He stepped close and looked down at her. By the Goddess, this man is tall.

  “The princess is coming with us because she is under my protection. Just as you are. I will keep you both safe. We leave in ten minutes.” He turned on his heel and walked away.

  She took a breath, ready to chase after him and argue. But with one glance at the set of his shoulders, she had closed her mouth. “What an insufferable ass.” She clapped a hand to her mouth and stopped dead in her tracks. I used to call Jules that behind his back. Not that he didn’t deserve it. At times. She smiled to herself. Then, gravity pulled her lips downward. I have to save him. I have to.

  As her stomach once again emptied itself, she grudgingly admitted to herself that Onlo had a point about Charlotte. If the princess was not at the Keep, she was safest with Onlo. Who would soon be with Anli, and those two were a deadly combination. And there was some small personal benefit—at least one other person on board knew something about Healing.

  Natalie lay on the deck and swallowed over and over, keeping her eyes on the horizon, and begging any deity who would listen to make her stomach behave. Charlotte stroked her hair and reminded her to sip water. She must’ve dozed off because the next thing she knew, a voice rung out across the deck.

  “Onlo.” A woman on his crew inclined her head. “Land.”

  Natalie scrambled to her feet, squinting her eyes for a glimpse of home.

  Onlo stood at the bow. “Good. Everyone—supplies ready. It won’t be long. Charlotte, make sure she’s hydrated.”

  Natalie found a water skin in front of her face and nearly choked as Charlotte emptied a good deal of its contents into her throat in her enthusiasm to follow orders. Snatching the water skin away, Natalie sipped the water herself and watched the thin line on the horizon grow steadily closer.

  Natalie’s eyes roamed from person to person on the boat. Everyone checked the readiness of their weapons. Anything brought along, they stored in pockets sewn into their leathers; if it didn’t fit, it was left behind. Idleness never sat well with Natalie; she hauled out her bag and checked its contents again, going over them with Charlotte so she knew where things were as well.

  “Do you have to bring the whole thing?” Onlo peered over their shoulders, eyeing the wide array of supplies with skepticism.

  “Yes,” Natalie growled. For Goddess’s sake, at least one thing about rescuing Jules was going to go her way. “Since no one will tell me what’s wrong, I’m bloody well going to have everything I need.”

  “Anli had to assume her message would be opened, decoded and read. Therefore, she included the least amount of information possible. She’s not trying to keep you in the dark on purpose.”

  Natalie nodded as the crew steered the boat ashore in a small cove. The second the bow ran aground, she leapt over the side of the boat, medical bag banging against her side. She stumbled when a hand grabbed her collar as she strode toward the woods.

  “Wait for the rest of us.” Onlo shot her a stern look and turned to help Charlotte onto land.

  “I don’t want to wait,” she hissed to Charlotte. “He’s so overprotective. I need to go now; I have to go to him.”

  “I know, I know, shh,” Charlotte set her own bag on the ground and rubbed her hands on Natalie’s shoulders. “We have to stick together. You and I ha
ve learned a lot, but we simply don’t have the experience to defend ourselves from what dangers lurk in those woods. We need their protection.”

  Tears stung Natalie’s eyes. Stupid logical thinking. Her head swung anxiously back and forth between the woods and the crew disembarking.

  At last Onlo nodded at her, checking the position of his daggers as he did so. “Let’s move.”

  They sped through the jungle at an impressive speed, Charlotte and Natalie at the center of Onlo’s team. Natalie tried to imitate the grace and silence with which the Obfuseltans moved and failed miserably, jumping every time she stepped on a stick or her feet crunched on dried leaves. Twice they hid amongst the wetland trees when they had to cross a road. Natalie peered out from the brush, ears straining for the slightest sound. When Onlo gave the all-clear, Natalie dashed across with everyone else, heart pounding in her ears.

  Anxiety lent speed to her steps and Natalie stepped on the shoes of the person in front of her three times, tripping him and earning herself more than one dirty look. She took a deep breath to center herself and felt energy rush into her body. Oh! The ley lines. Natalie halted, causing Charlotte to stumble into her from behind with a muffled “Oof!” for which they gained even more glowers.

  Undeterred, Natalie beamed and reveled in the connection to her island she’d so keenly missed. Confidence filled her as she caught up with the rest of the group. Maybe she didn’t know the extent of Jules’s injuries, but she was home; she’d be able to Heal him.

  The team rounded the base of a small hill. Halfway up the next slope, a small wooden shack lay tucked away in the woods. He was there, she knew it. Natalie dashed forward, only to have Onlo grab her and hold her back. She glared at him, praying her face conveyed every single word she would say were they not confined to silence by the danger of the situation. Holding his fingers to his mouth, he made a complex series of bird-like sounds. An answering sound came from just ahead, and a black-clad figure materialized from the trees.

  Onlo grinned at her. “I didn’t want them to kill you.”

  She smirked. “Thanks. Is it safe now?”

  He jerked his head. “Come.” He sprinted for the house.

  Natalie ran next to him; she outpaced him the closer they got. Bursting through the door, she blinked in the darkness. As her eyes adjusted, she took in the sunlight filtering through the wooden slats. Three of the walls in the one room cabin sported a small, dirty, and in some cases broken window. A hole just big enough to be called a fireplace inhabited the fourth wall, its broken mantel hanging off the wall in front of it. A guard stood at each window, and next to the fireplace was a cot next to which Anli sat, her face drawn and pale. A small moan came from beneath the pile of blankets on the cot.

  Anli lifted her head to face Natalie, tears in her eyes. “Please help him.”

  Natalie strode forward and set her bag next to Jules’s head. His face was pale, and yellow with fading bruises. His sunken cheekbones spoke to a long period without good nutrition. And it’s not like he went into this well-nourished, having just recovered from the sweating fever. It’s a miracle he’s still alive.

  Now I just need to keep him that way.

  She kissed his dry lips. “Jules, it’s me, Nat. I’m here, everything’s going to be all right.” She didn’t stop her visual scan when Charlotte set her own bag next to the cot. “I’m going to Name him now—I’m so glad we’re on Ismereld and have access to the ley lines. If he’s stable later on, I’ll walk you through it.”

  Charlotte nodded and Natalie made herself comfortable, closed her eyes, placed her hands on Jules’s head and began. The process came back to her as if she’d done it yesterday. She drew power from the Isle’s ley lines and sent it into Jules. The picture of his body in her mind formed clearly—and it nearly broke her heart. The malnutrition and facial injuries were only the beginning. He had three broken ribs and a fractured femur. And he burned with fever.

  She relayed her findings to Charlotte and asked the princess to fetch fidelia leaf from her bag. Normally she used the leaf as a surgical anesthetic, but Jules must be in a stunning amount of pain; he needed relief. Plus, she needed to inspect his leg without increasing his pain level. Gingerly, she peeled off blankets until she got to the last one. Everyone in the room gasped except Natalie, who swore.

  “Charlotte, we need to get the weed in him now.”

  Charlotte retrieved a mask from the supply bag, and then lit the fidelia weed so it began to smolder and release smoke. This she put into the dispenser for the mask. Natalie nodded with approval as she placed it over Jules’s nose and mouth and began to control the amount of smoke he was getting the way she was taught.

  “Good, now I’m going to need to set this leg—”

  The door burst open. “We need to move. They’re here.”

  Chapter 9

  T

  he room boiled like a hive of angry black-clad bees.

  Natalie shook her head as a makeshift stretcher appeared next to Jules’s cot. “Who is here? I will not move him.” She stood, hands on her hips. “Look at his leg. We must stay here, and that’s final.”

  Onlo took her by the shoulders. “Natalie, Anli risked her own life and that of her team to get Jules away from Aldworth and his New Mages Guild. During her mission, she confirmed the New Mages Guild killed Headmistress Gayla and Councilwoman Hawkins.”

  Natalie blanched, covering her mouth with a trembling hand. Aldworth had told her Gayla was dead; she had suspected it was by his orders—possibly even by his hand. She never thought to question the veracity of his story. Apparently, Onlo had.

  “I know it would be best if you Healed him here, but consider what will happen to him if we stay.”

  Natalie swore again. She stowed her supplies in her bag and secured it to her person. “Charlotte, you and I will keep the fidelia weed flowing as much as we can on the road. We’ll just have to keep him alive until we’re on the boat.”

  The shooting started when they crossed the first road. Two rearmost of Onlo’s guards started firing their bows and arrows and Natalie abandoned all pretense of stealth, grabbed Jules’s stretcher even tighter and told Charlotte to run. Her teeth ground together at the sight of his body jostling and her heart broke with every moan but she kept moving, expecting an arrow between the shoulder blades at any moment.

  Training with Onlo was the right decision. This is why I pushed myself all those weeks; channeling my anger—so I could be ready for situations like this. Five bless him.

  At the second road, they managed to find some cover. While Onlo scouted and his team picked off more of Aldworth’s men, Natalie whipped bandages out of her bag and tied Jules to the stretcher with lightning speed, immobilizing his leg as best she could. Charlotte dosed Jules with fidelia weed and Natalie felt much better when they received the all-clear and resumed their mad dash toward the boat.

  Shoulders and arms screaming, sweat soaking her shirt, and a stitch in her side from running carrying a human being and a heavy bag, Natalie ordered her fingers to hang on and her legs to keep pumping, ducking as the occasional arrow whistled by her head. The twang of bowstrings and sharp, clipped commands echoed in her ears and it was all she could do not to turn and find out what was happening behind her. She prayed the grunts and cries of people behind her meant Onlo’s squad found their marks more often than not.

  She caught a glimpse of the boat ahead and redoubled her stride. Her breath came in gasps, as did Charlotte’s and most of the people helping them carry Jules. Thankfully Jules slept through it all.

  “Take him below,” Natalie shouted as they swarmed up the gangplank. Descending into darkness, she squinted and spotted a roughhewn table surrounded by hammocks. “Put the stretcher on the table. I need five of you plus Onlo for five minutes. The rest of you go sail the ship. Stay as close to the coast as possible so I can access the ley lines.”

  Undoing the bandages securing Jules’s leg, she examined the fr
acture of his femur. It was a terrible, but clean break, with one end of the bone protruding from the skin. “Keep the leaf going,” she said to Charlotte. This is going to be painful.” Gathering splints and bandages from her bag, she placed them nearby. With any luck, she might still have ley line access when they were done.

  The stairway darkened. “Natalie? Why are you giving orders on my boat?”

  Four weeks of doors shut in her face overtook Natalie’s temper entirely. “Onlo, you brought me here to Heal Jules. I need to set his leg right now, or else it will get infected and I’ll have to amputate it. I need three people pulling his shoulders in one direction while myself and two others pull his foot in the other. Once the bone is in place, I need Ismereld’s ley lines to Activate my medications. This may be your boat, but this right here is my hospital.”

  “Fine. But we sail out to sea toward Solerin first, to mislead Aldworth’s men. We’ll sail back when you’re ready.” Judging from his tone, four weeks of her impatience and stubbornness was taking its toll on Onlo.

  She seethed. “Fine. Get near his shoulders. Choose who you want with you.” She stalked over to Jules’s foot and took three deep breaths. She couldn’t set a fracture this bad if she didn’t have a hold of her temper. Grasping Jules’s ankle, she took a moment to ensure the proper placement of her hands. She dug her feet into the wood floor to obtain the best angle. She nodded to the people next to her. “Grab near my hands and get ready to pull as hard as you can. Onlo, you ready?”

  Onlo nodded, his hands hooked in Jules’s armpits. One person stood on either side of him, grasping Jules’s upper arms, waiting for her order. Charlotte caught her glance and indicated her readiness.