“I’ve compared my notes from Jyrenn to what I read earlier this year about the epidemic that affected Ismereld Isle. The symptoms are extraordinarily similar.”
“Do you believe it’s the same virus?”
“Perhaps not the same virus, Healer Rayvenwood, but a variant. Much like this plant”—Manuel indicated a delicate specimen with white flowers— “is a variant of that one.” This time he pointed to a plant that looked exactly the same, except the white flowers had brilliant yellow spots.
“The princess and I didn’t have mage powers until we were infected with the virus,” Jules added. “Why would a virus awaken our mage abilities while it killed mages two thousand years ago?”
A chill spilled down Natalie’s spine as everything Manuel taught her came together in one clear picture. “Let’s say Manuel’s theory is true—that we are working with one virus that is a variant of another—”
“And please understand, we can’t test it. We obviously cannot go back to the time of Bridhe and Jyrenn to observe their symptoms,” Manuel interjected.
“Then we can theorize the virus two thousand years ago halted the inheritance of the mage trait.” At the blank stares from her friends, Natalie persisted. “Consider if, for example, a virus infected this plant.” She cupped a plant with white petals and yellow splotches. “And the disease caused its offspring to only have white petals. And this species stayed that way for ages. Now,” she picked up a purely white plant. “What happens if, after centuries of being white, this plant species got another, very similar virus. But this time, the virus reversed the effects of the first disease, and now this plant’s offspring have yellow splotches.”
Jules rubbed a hand over his mouth. “So a variant of the virus from two thousand years ago swept across Ismereld this spring. And it awakened dormant mage powers in people who’d had them since birth?”
“Only in people it left alive,” Natalie murmured.
Charlotte gasped. Natalie gaped at Jules, and for the first time in an age, found his emerald eyes locked on hers. The blood drained from his face.
“My Goddess, Nat. There could be mages all over Ismereld. Charlotte and I weren’t the only ones to survive.”
Natalie nodded. “You’re right. And survivors travel. The new mages could be anywhere by now. And we’ve got to find them before the New Mages Guild does, or they’ll be killed.”
Jules paled, his expression far away. “Or worse.”
Chapter 15
T
he next day, Natalie put everything she had into her training with Onlo. During her few breaks, she watched the princess and Jules sweating with the effort of keeping up with Jyrenn’s lessons. Em took notes frantically, and even Anli seemed on edge. We need to leave soon, but we’ve got to be ready for what’s out there.
What specifically they were preparing for varied from person to person.
Jules pounded his fist on the rough-hewn table in the large cottage in which they ate meals. “We have to go after Aldworth. He’ll capture all the mages like he did me, if we don’t take care of him.”
Onlo nodded. “I agree.”
Natalie took in a breath to speak, but the princess interrupted. “Actually, we should probably go after my parents first.”
Now Anli dropped a fist on the table. “Woman, I never thought you were a spoiled, power-hungry heiress, but are you talking about us killing your parents so you can be Queen?”
“No! Well, sort of—”
Anli went off at the princess, prompting Em and Onlo to step in and try to calm her down.
Natalie drew herself to her full height and did her best imitation of her beloved Headmistress Gayla. “Anli, let her finish.” Anli sank into her seat with enough force to make the chair rock, crossing her arms over her chest, glaring at everyone.
“My parents have been working with Aldworth for a long time,” the princess began. Nearly the whole table erupted at this news.
Natalie pinched the bridge of her nose. They would never reach a consensus with all this fighting. “Everyone, be quiet. Princess, please, if you ever have information like this again, tell us right away.”
“I—I was afraid people would believe I was working for him, too. That I was corrupt like my parents.” She appealed to Jules. “You know how Roseharbor society can be.”
“I do. I’m sorry, please continue, Charlotte.”
Natalie glared at his hand on Charlotte’s arm.
“Before I ran away, I learned my parents had financed and helped much of Aldworth’s work. My parents and Aldworth also worked with someone else. Someone more powerful than Aldworth.”
Natalie crossed her arms over her stomach and struggled to swallow past the lump in her throat.
“I never learned who it was; my powers manifested and I had to run away. We must remove my parents from power, and we have to discover who they are working with.”
A heated discussion erupted, Onlo and Anli debating with her the merits of their own ideas, with Em chiming in from time to time, and Jules defending Charlotte’s choices to anyone who disparaged them.
Natalie sat back, crossing her arms over her chest. Goddess, what a mess. Why don’t Onlo or Anli take control of this? During the epidemic this spring, they always seemed one step ahead of everything. Now they were just arguing endlessly about our next course of action. But by the Goddess' merry bloomers, with the King and Queen and Aldworth all in play, plus all these new mages to find, we need help. We need people who can plan, and we need a bigger team.
Fine, if no one else will bring some sense to this table, I will.
Natalie held up a hand. “Everyone, quiet. Quiet,” she commanded, when everyone didn’t stop talking right away. “We need to go back to Obfuselt. We need the Special Operations Guild. The six of us cannot do all these things; there are too many targets. We need a plan, and we need more allies on our side to deploy where we need them.”
“But my parents—” Charlotte began.
“Aldworth—” Jules said at the same time.
She forced herself to unclench her jaw. “Are two different targets in two different locations.” She leveled her gaze at all of them; she could see them mulling her statement over, and even Anli nodded. “Agreed?”
Everyone made noises of assent. “Good. Everyone keep training hard. We have a lot to prepare for.”
“Do you submit?” Natalie beamed, panting from the effort of her bout and sweat plastering her hair to her head.
“I submit.” Onlo grinned back at her. “Congratulations. Now tell me why you won.”
Natalie dissected her first ever short staff match victory versus Onlo all too happily. He nodded at her assessment and added his own critique to her observations.
“Excellent. Drink some water and we’ll go again.”
The next match was quite even; Natalie was proud of the skill she’d developed. For every blow Onlo landed on her, she landed one of her own. The only problem was that it was harder for each of them to win, so each fight now lasted longer; after several minutes, both Onlo and Natalie were making more mistakes than strikes. She and Onlo stopped at the same time, eying each other with concern when Jules and Charlotte interrupted their match.
“We’ve finished our training,” Charlotte beamed.
“And we have the best thing to show you,” Jules announced, the corners of his own mouth turned up in a grin that made Natalie’s traitorous heart beat faster.
“Get some water and then come here and sit on this bench.”
Obeying, she limped over to the water skins and took several long pulls, and traipsed back to the bench. She sat facing the two mages, elbows resting on her knees. Their last spar took a lot out of her. She’d have bruises for days.
“Okay, Jules, you take Nat, and I’ll take Onlo.”
Natalie and Onlo exchanged glances, eyes wide.
“What are you doing to us?” Onlo asked.
“Hush, silly
, everything is going to be all right.”
The hairs on Natalie’s neck rose as Jules walked around the bench and stood close behind her.
“Just relax, Nat.”
Unable to say a word, Natalie nodded jerkily.
Jules placed his hand on her head. An energy she’d only experienced on Ismereld flowed into her. She relaxed at the familiar sensation; it felt like home. Was Jules Healing her? On Solerin?
“Nat, you have severe contusions on your right hip, left rib, both thighs, and both sets of fingers are a mess. Do you have any dullanbark with you?”
“I … do. I don’t have a way to make tea. You can touch me now? Without me getting shocked?”
“Thanks to my training, yes.”
Charlotte handed Natalie a kettle. “Put water in this and bring the dullanbark.”
“You brought a kettle?” Raising her eyebrows, Natalie took the object from Charlotte and walked to her bag, blinking against the dizziness. Natalie brought back the dullanbark, filled the kettle, and handed them over skeptically.
“Put the kettle on the stone,” Charlotte asked. Once Natalie complied, Charlotte held her hands on either side of the kettle and applied enough of her mage fire to make the water boil. “Okay, you can add the dullanbark now.”
Stunned, Natalie added the tree bark to the hot water. When it was cool, she drank a cup.
Jules squatted in front of her. “I’m going to Activate it for you now, okay?”
“On Solerin?” Natalie croaked.
His hand touched her head once more, and her heart leapt at the familiar flow of his energy she’d savored so many times earlier this year when they’d held hands. But it was different now—stronger, and with a unique … well, flavor was the only word that came to mind. But the results were the same. The aches of her bruises disappeared. When he finished, she stood effortlessly with no soreness from her bouts with Onlo. Judging by the look on her trainer's face, he received the same benefits from his own treatment with Charlotte. She gawked at Jules. “How?”
“Healer mages,” he said, excitement spilling into his voice. “Like Bridhe. They could Heal anywhere. Lorelan, Solerin, all the Isles. Anywhere. Now Charlotte and I can, too.”
“So you don’t need me anymore? To Heal?”
Jules cradled his right arm. “Nat, I am grateful for all you did for me. We developed a system of Healing and we should teach it to others in case they need to use it.”
“But you don’t need me.”
“Nat, I—”
“Look, I’m happy for you. This is an amazing skill.” She stared into her empty tea cup, then snapped her head up, looking past Jules. “Since you’re done training, let’s thank Ystrelle for her help and go.”
Curled up in bed later that night, Natalie stroked Jake’s head and tried to work up the courage to ask the question she’d been dying to ask Em for weeks. They’d shared a cottage their entire stay on Solerin and every night, Natalie just couldn’t get the words out.
“I can’t believe we’re leaving tomorrow,” she said instead.
“Me, either,” Em said in the darkness.
“Did it bore you being here? I’m sorry we haven’t talked much, so I hadn’t asked if you found any patients here.”
“Um, no. I liked taking notes and learning about mages even if I’m not one.”
“Yeah.”
The silence stretched on and Natalie fidgeted with Jake’s ears.
“So. You and Anli. How long has this been going on?”
“Oh, Goddess, Nat.”
“What? I’m happy for you.”
“We—I didn’t—I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. What with you not being able to be with Jules right now.”
Natalie snorted. “Right now? I think we’re pretty much over. He spends all his time with Charlotte.”
Em’s head appeared like a ghost in the darkness when she rose to a sitting position. “Nat. Haven’t you seen him staring at you?”
“What? No. He’s too busy being the best mage he can be.”
Em sighed. “Ever since you left Ismereld, you’ve been very single-minded, stubborn, and sometimes even selfish. First about rescuing Jules, next about coming to Solerin, and now about saving The Isles. Nat, you haven’t stopped pushing long enough to see the people around you.”
“Are you saying those things weren’t important? That I shouldn’t have focused on them?” Natalie challenged.
“No, Nat, I’m saying that not only did you focus on these things, you buried your head in the sand and became a bit of a fanatic. You have friends, you know. We can help you when you need help. And we sure could use your friendship in return.”
Natalie chewed the inside of her cheek. But I helped. I cared for Mysha. I taught Charlotte Healing. I volunteered for Asha. The sting of Em’s words mixed with the thought of Jules still feeling something for her.
Had she been so caught up in her own little world that’d she’d missed Jules’s attentions? It seemed possible. She certainly hadn’t noticed her best friend had fallen in love. She scrubbed her face. Em had opened her eyes—and Natalie didn’t like what she saw. She hadn’t been a good friend—to several people. When she had reached out to others, it had been to help herself.
Well, no time like the present.
“I’m glad for you, Em. I really am.”
“Thank you,” Em whispered. “We’re very happy together.”
“How did this all happen?”
Em flopped back on her bed. “Please don’t tell her I told you, but she sought me out for treatment. She suffers from extraordinarily heavy and painful moon cycles. She’s in debilitating pain almost every single day, regardless of whether she’s on her cycle or not.”
The number of times Natalie had been on the receiving end of Anli’s temper likely numbered in the thousands. Okay, maybe hundreds. She never considered chronic severe pain might be the reason. “My goodness. Were you able to find anything to help?”
“A few things. As we worked together to manage her pain, we just ... fell in love.”
Natalie clasped her hands over her heart. “That’s so romantic.”
Em sighed. “I never dreamed I’d meet anyone like her.”
Natalie nodded at the ceiling, scratching Jake’s ears. Jake stretched all four legs out straight and then rolled over on his back, paws in the air, snuggled next to her side.
“Nat?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t give up on your dreams.”
Chapter 16
C
harlotte’s warm energy flowed through Natalie, easing her stomach and activating the ginger tea she’d sipped. “I hate to say this, Nat, but I have to question why the Goddess has you living in a place surrounded by so much water.”
Natalie patted her former student’s arm. “Ha ha, you’re hilarious. That feels better, thank you. I’m … I’m glad you can Heal anywhere.”
Charlotte huffed. “Me, too. I like being useful and not setting things on fire.”
Natalie laughed, instantly regretted it, and breathed deeply through her nose to restore the small sense of equilibrium Charlotte’s energy had given her. “I’m sorry you had to go through all of that. It must’ve been like becoming Attuned, but worse.”
Charlotte laughed. “Like becoming Attuned, but with more fire. I was so scared I would hurt someone by accident. Look.” Natalie felt Charlotte’s hand on her shoulder; even Jake sat up, ears pricked, paws on the side of the boat. “Ismereld’s coastline is just visible.”
Natalie plopped her head back in the princess’s lap. “I can’t wait to go home.”
“Me either. Much as I enjoy visiting other Isles.”
Natalie arched an eyebrow at her Princess Heir. “Do you have a plan for if you become the queen?”
“I do,” she replied quietly. “I’d like the monarchy to rule more in concert with the Isle Councils. Somewhere along the way, the Isle leadership and
the monarchy became too divided. I’d like to reunite them, especially because I am a Healer. I would appreciate input from the Council of Healers—”
Natalie snorted. “Let’s form a new council, this time without the backstabbing ass.”
“You would be a brilliant Councilor. As would Jules.”
“Me? I don’t have even a smidgen of the experience my … my Headmistress did.” Natalie swallowed the lump in her throat. “And she was one of the Councilors.”
“Yes, I value your—”
“Ship astern,” the lookout called. “Closing fast!”
Natalie and Charlotte watched Onlo peer through the spyglass. “She’s not flying colors I recognize. Signal them, Fraser.”
Pulling on a deck rail, Natalie clung to a line and watched the ship closing in on them. Her stomach gave a lurch that had nothing at all to do with her seasickness. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, and no one save the sea made a noise as they waited for a reply to their own boats’ flashing mirror signals.
“They’re not responding, sir.”
“Sir, they’re moving to our starboard side!”
Onlo barked orders to several people and the deck boiled like a poked beehive. “Charlotte, you and Natalie go below. Prepare for a boarding party,” this last, he told Anli.
Charlotte took her elbow and they dodged crew members to get below decks. “I can stand on my own,” Natalie snapped. “Jake, come.” Descending into the darkness, Natalie jumped when a pale hand appeared in the darkness, but it was just Em reaching out to hold her other arm.
“Come over here where we’ll be out of the way.” Em led Natalie to the table where the crew ate meals. The lower deck was as busy as the upper, with people preparing to defend the ship.
Jules hung on to the table, his brow furrowed. “What’s the story?”
Natalie and Charlotte alternated telling him about the approaching ship. Jules swore.
Sunstone's Secret Page 9