Jeanne G'Fellers - No Sister of Mine

by Jeanne G'Fellers

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Discovery of love lost is the most powerful of healing agents.

  —Taelach wisdom

  Tatra stood on the edge of the fifth canyon they had encountered that morning. The hole appeared much as the others—a brown, rock-laden gash, oozing with muddy churn. She couldn’t understand how Krell could be so adamant this was where LaRenna was. It was identical to everything else they had seen. She raked her boots over a sharp stone to remove the mud then turned back to where Krell and Firman stood. “Found our location yet?”

  Krell glanced over the map and shrugged. “Still looking.”

  “It’s not shown.” Firman caught the scroll’s edge when a wind gust pulled it from his grasp.

  “Not all the canyons are,” replied Krell. “The Kinship generally doesn’t record the ones containing Hiding Caves. Their locations are passed down orally.”

  “Secrets, secrets.” There was an inordinate amount of whimsy in Firman’s voice. “The Kinship is full of them.”

  Tatra smoothed back her hair. “If we recorded them, they’d be ransacked for supplies. You know how Auts are.”

  “Hey!” Firman caught her by the sleeve. “What do I look like?”

  “I wasn’t referring to you in particular.” Tatra’s attempt to cover her blunder only made things worse. “It’s just that as a whole, Autlachs can’t be trusted.”

  “Cruel-hearted woman.” Firman stared at her. “I thought we might have something special happening between us and now open bigotry from you!”

  “Wait . . . I . . . Krell, help me!”

  “Don’t bother.” Firman shrugged her off and stormed over to where their packs rested. He picked up Krell’s and his own, setting them neatly on a rain-washed boulder. Tatra’s he used as a footrest, grinding it into the mud with a vindictive twist of his heels.

  “You stepped in it.” Krell’s eyes never left the map. “You can clean it off of your boots—and your pack.”

  “Go talk to him,” begged Tatra as Krell stowed the map. “Tell him I didn’t mean it that way.”

  “Didn’t you?” She turned away. “You explain yourself. I don’t have to understand you anymore, not that I ever could.” She watched as Tatra tried, in her own lofty-headed way, to explain away what was said.

  Krell. LaRenna’s voice was clear.

  LaRenna, darlin’, where are you? The question rolled so explosively through Krell that she couldn’t differentiate between speech and thought.

  Krell.

  Tell me where you are and I’ll come to you.

  Close. The impression of a dark opening formed in Krell’s mind. It was one of the Hiding Caves but which one? There were dozensspread across the Glory Land, three or four in each unmarked canyon.

  Which one, LaRenna? Which one? More images came clear: rising floodwaters, cliffs, the marker for a Hiding Cave, then nothing. Show me where you are. Still nothing. LaRenna!

  Krell. LaRenna’s voice was incredibly weak. Down . . . down.

  Down? Krell’s mind became void of LaRenna’s presence. Down where? Help me find you. LaRenna? The mental tie reestablished, but barely. Hold on my precious bird. My wren. I’m coming Wren bird. Hold on!

  I love y . . . LaRenna was gone, leaving the distinct sense of a deep, coma-like sleep . . . no thoughts, no pain, just sleep, sleep necessary to keep her frail body alive.

  “I love you, too.” Krell opened her eyes to find Firman and Tatra staring with well-founded concern.

  “You were screaming.” Firman gripped his sibling’s shoulder. Krell looked around him to the canyon edge.

  “She’s down there, Fir, in a Hiding Cave.”

  “We know.” Tatra shuddered. “Everyone on Saria Four knows.”

  “Was I that loud?”

  “And then some,” answered Firman. “We’ll begin looking as soon as this fog lifts a little.”

  Krell ignored him and walked to the canyon brim. “No time. She needs me now.” She looked to the left then right, then disappeared into the fog, moving in a northeasterly direction. But the farther she went, the emptier she felt. “Wrong.” She reversed course, concentrating on LaRenna’s presence until Tatra and Firman came back into view.

  “What’s she doing?” Tatra stepped forward.

  “I’ve no idea,” replied Firman. “But don’t get in her way.”

  “But what if she goes off the side?”

  “There’s nothing on her mind right now except LaRenna. Block her path and it may be you who goes off the side.” Firman drew Tatra back by the collar. “Let her be.”

  “But she’s babbling!” Tatra pulled loose and rushed forward. Firman snagged her before she had gone three steps, threw her face-first into the mud, and settled his girth across her back. She swore at him, kicking and arching as his knees forced her deeper into the muck.

  “Never trust an Aut.” Firman smiled smugly down. “We’ll get you every time you turn your back.”

  Tatra hurled a handful of mud over her shoulder, splattering it on his tunic. “Get off me, you moron! Krell’s almost out of sight again!”

  “Moron?” Firman admonished her insult with a curt laugh. “Who’s got a dry seat?” He drew his finger across the mud then her nose, leaving a streak. “I’ve wanted to do that since I met you, you self-centered, egotistical tease.”

  Tatra flailed all the more, throwing clay every direction, more landing in her own face than on him. “You’re crushing me just like you crushed my bag! GET OFF!”

  “Why should I?” He flicked another glob in her face. “You’ll take off after Krell again if I do. Leave her be, Tatra. I’ve a hunch she’ll be back when she needs us.” Firman bounced a couple of times, pushing her deeper into the slop. “Yep, you’re definitely more comfortable than that rock.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” After a moment Tatra ceased her thrashing and peered cautiously over her shoulder. “Firman?” she said. “You finished?”

  “You going to chase Krell?”

  “No.”

  “Promise?”

  “Firman!”

  “Just making sure.” Firman took her hand and carefully lifted her from the mud. “Truce?”

  “I suppose.” She flicked a clump of dirt from his chin. “You’re different than any Aut I’ve ever met.”

  “Oh, we’re all alike are we?” he teased, withdrawing his grin when she scowled at him. “I’m kidding, Tatra. No, I’m not like most Auts.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulder, pulling her into a hug. “Above all else, dear woman, I want to be your friend.”

  “What if I want to go slow?”

  “We go slow.”

  “Really slow?”

  “It’s a friendship, Tat.”

  “Just the same—”

  “Hush.” Firman covered her mouth with his fingers. “You’re overanalyzing.” She quieted to his request, smiled, and hugged him back.

  “FIRMAN!” Krell barreled out of the fog. “I’ve found her. I’ve found her!”

  “Where?” Tatra stepped away from Firman but continued to grip his warm hand.

  “Thousand paces from here, about twenty or so down.”

  “You can’t see that far in this soup.” Firman’s fingers closed around Tatra’s. “You sure?”

  “Positive. There’s a Hiding Cave down there and someone’s burning marker lights in the mouth. Come on!”

  Trazar was cleaning LaRenna’s fevered face when he heard the first skittering of pebbles in the cave entrance. He dashed to the archway where their chamber joined the main corridor and peered around the corner, dagger in hand. One, two, and then three silhouettes slid down a rope into the cave mouth. He couldn’t see them clearly against the glow of markers, but he could recognize two figures as Taelach from the reflections off their hair.

  “LaRenna!” The largest of the shadows called out in a definitive Taelach drawl. Trazar sheathed his dagger and stepped out.

  “She’s in here!” The figure blew by him at alarming speed followed closel
y by a mud-splattered second. The third approached with slower, calmer strides and extended his hand.

  “I’m Firman Middle. The two whirlwinds that just blew past you are First Kimshee Krell Middle and Healer Tatra Wileyse.” Firman clasped Trazar’s shoulder. “Who did you say you were again?”

  “Sentry Commander Trazar Laiman.” Trazar’s attention was fixed on those tending his sister. “You said one of them is a healer?”

  “The skinny one. I’ll have her check your hand later. The other one’s been looking for LaRenna for days.”

  “I know her,” replied Trazar. “First Officer Middle posted on Langus, same as I.” He watched Tatra examine LaRenna’s foot. She checked the bandages to ensure the drainage ran clear and gave Krell a satisfied nod. Then she adjusted the finger splint and began to untie the bindings on her ribcage.

  “They’re broken,” called Trazar.

  “I know.” Tatra glanced over her shoulder at him. “I’m loosening them to promote her breathing. Did you tend to her foot?”

  “I did what I could.”

  “Good work,” she replied. “You saved it from amputation.”

  “What about the ankle? I didn’t know what to do about it.”

  “It’s past full repair, but thanks to you she’ll still have it.” Tatra smiled sympathetically at Krell, knowing the information was painful. “A brace will help. She’ll adjust.” LaRenna’s low fluidic cough prompted Tatra to hold her ear to her chest. She listened and gave several experimental thumps but no amount of physician’s training was able to disguise the diagnosis when she looked up. “She has pneumonia.”

  “Fix it,” said Krell.

  “I can’t. Not here. There’s not a remedy in my pack or in a Hiding Cave’s medical stores. Taelachs just don’t get illnesses of this nature.” Tatra glanced up at Firman. “We’ll have to send one of you to the Training Grounds medical compound for what I need.”

  “Can’t we carry her there?” suggested Trazar.

  “No.” Krell cradled LaRenna’s head. “She wouldn’t make it off the cliffs and wouldn’t last the time it took to go for medicines. She’s dying. Tatra, for love of the Mother, please help her.”

  Tatra placed her hand over Krell’s. “There’s little I can do. She’s simply too weak. Draining the fluid from her lungs might make her more comfortable, but”—she looked to Firman—“it’s out of our hands.”

  “No, it’s not.” Krell couldn’t hold back her tears. “There is something I can do and you know it.”

  “No!” Tatra’s eyes grew large. “It’s far too early.”

  “I’ll do it with or without your help. I can’t let her slip away from me again.” Krell removed the cloth from LaRenna’s forehead. “Hold on, wren bird. I’ll be there soon.”

  LaRenna’s eyes briefly fluttered in response.

  “Krell?”

  “Yes, I’m here. Open your eyes for me.”

  LaRenna’s lids slowly parted.

  “Krell.”

  “There you are, wren bird. I’ve been looking for you. You know what I’m going to do, don’t you?”

  LaRenna turned her face away.

  “No.”

  Krell eased LaRenna’s face around until she looked up again. “I’m not going to argue with you, darlin’. Just know that I love you and I’ll be with you in a little while.”

  “I’m not strong enough to fight anymore.”

  “Close those eyes, wren bird, before they close themselves. I’ll be out here making ready while you rest up for me.”

  No, let me go. LaRenna’s heavy lids collapsed together despite her resistance.

  I’m far too stubborn for that. Stop wasting your energy by arguing. Krell pushed a light pleasure phase that forced LaRenna back to sleep.

  “Krell, you can’t!” wailed Tatra. “A soul phase between new lovers is unheard of. It’ll kill you both.”

  “Life won’t be worth living if I lose her.” LaRenna began to convulse in Krell’s arms, gasping short wheezing breaths that returned little air to her inflamed lungs. “Please, Tatra, it has to be now.”

  “Firman?” Tatra turned to him. “We can’t let this happen.”

  “The decision isn’t yours to make.” He pulled her to him. “If their faith in each other is strong enough, it will work. If not, then at least they’ll be together. Help Krell into the soul phase then let things happen as they may.”

  Tatra sighed a deep, tearful breath, then looked back to examine the determination in Krell’s face. She was in deep meditative prayer, preparing her mind and body for what was LaRenna’s last hope. Such dedication, such self-sacrifice could not be ignored. Firman turned Tatra’s face to his and nodded, releasing her of all guilt, any notion of another choice. “Your help is crucial.”

  “Why do I always find myself a part of the Middle clan’s impossibilities?” She sighed. “All right, let’s do it.” Tatra set about preparing a space in an adjoining room.

  Firman enlisted Trazar’s assistance in removing all the store crates from the space, explaining the precarious situation to his fellow Autlach as they added the supplies to those of the front chamber. “That’s the gist.” Firman wiped his brow. “They both survive or they both die.”

  “And if Krell doesn’t attempt the soul phase?” asked Trazar.

  “This far away from the proper medicines, if Krell doesn’t try this, LaRenna will die for sure.”

  Tatra passed them sweepers and ushered them back into the room. “Give that floor a good raking. I want it as clean as possible.”

  “How clean can one get a cave floor?” Firman leered in her direction.

  Tatra winked at him. “Just do it and stop overanalyzing everything I say.” She giggled at her own retort then returned to the main chamber and the expanded mound of crates. “How do you want things arranged in there, Krell?” She rifled through the contents of the nearest box.

  Krell sat cross-legged on LaRenna’s bedroll. “Stack the bedding as high and as thick as you can. I want her comfortable.”

  “Anything else?” She heaped bedding and pillows beside the door.

  “No, just that. Please hurry, she’s slipping away.” The urgency of Krell’s request startled everyone into doubling their pace. They unfolded sleep platforms into a double thick, triple width frame and spread an abundance of rolls on top. Tatra disassembled two rolls and laid the blankets to the side for use as top covers. The men piled pillows high at one end of the arrangement.

  “Not that way, you lugs, surround the—ah, let me do it.” She snatched the pillows and tossed them around the perimeter of the platform, creating the effect of a padded nest. “Done. Go get Krell.”

  Firman turned just as his sibling appeared in the doorway, LaRenna cradled in her arms. She faced Trazar, letting LaRenna’s warm thoughts speak for her. “I’ll do everything I can for your sister, Trazar Laiman.”

  “I never told—”

  Krell nodded toward LaRenna. “She did, in her fever dreams. You and Firman must leave. There’s nothing else you can do.”

  Trazar departed after a quick kiss to his sister’s forehead, but Firman lingered momentarily. “See you when you return, Krell Tanchana.” He pressed the lost amulet into Krell’s palm. “Tatra gave it to me,” he whispered. “Said she had a copy made when you two were together and gave you back the dummy. She was wearing it when we fled Langus. Now you have everything you were missing. Don’t lose yourself.” Without another word, he walked away and closed the door. Tatra stood by the bedside while Krell eased LaRenna into its softness then slid the amulet over her head. The healer checked all the bandages then eased LaRenna out of her sweat-drenched clothing and under a light blanket. Krell undressed as well, then took a spot next to LaRenna.

  “You ready then?” Tatra asked.

  Krell snuggled into LaRenna and nodded. Tatra placed their arms above the blanket then lashed LaRenna’s right to Krell’s left, immediately above the wrist. “The binding of arms symbolizes the joining of y
our spirits before, during, and after the soul phase takes place.” Tatra’s expression lost some of its reverence. “Never thought I’d be putting you to bed with another woman.”

  “Never thought I’d be letting you. Take care of Firman for me, will you?”

  “You can do it yourself when you return.” Tatra patted Krell’s arm and turned to her medical pack. She opened a small packet of powders into a vial of sterile water, capped it tightly, and shook it vigorously. It reacted chemically, producing an orange smoke that threatened to burst the container. Rag to her face, Tatra released the top of the jittering vial and a thick vapor spewed into the room—a Taelach pain reliever used in large areas where the injured outnumbered those capable of phasing relief. In the chamber’s confined space, the effect was compounded, making Krell lightheaded in the first few breaths. Tatra mumbled something unintelligible through the cloth then looked down, removing the cloth to repeat what she’d said. “Bring her back in your soul phase, Krell. We need you both.” She covered her mouth again before the sweet-smelling gas could overtake her and backed out of the room.

  In the relaxed depths of the drugged haze, Krell pushed a heavy pleasure phase, praying LaRenna had enough remaining strength to accept it. She did. Pure light energy encased them both, bringing them together in a form beyond the physical. Where one ended, the other began. LaRenna’s pain was Krell’s, Krell’s strength LaRenna’s. They drifted somewhere between life and death as LaRenna’s body began to fail. Krell breathed for them both, sustaining LaRenna’s existence. Concepts of time and space, Autlach and Taelach faded from their reality. All that remained was their one spirit, their one being, one voice, one heart. They were soul phased.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Painful memories, though deeply suppressed, are never truly forgotten.

  —Taelach wisdom

  They floated between realities, Krell’s entire being wrapping LaRenna’s, shielding her from the consuming cold of Death.