Invocation

by Nicole Warner

  “That’s exactly what I want to avoid. Besides, it’s not like we haven’t been able to handle it.” Elron folded his arms. The anger suffusing his features forced me to avert my gaze. Into my tankard, I said, “You’ve kept me alive, Elron. I couldn’t have done it without you.”

  Elron snorted his disbelief, watching as I finished the beer in quick swallows. “Not this time. You’re damned lucky she didn’t get you with a tainted blade. Nothing would have saved you then.” He saw it in my expression and swore, shocked. “She poisoned you! How the hell did you survive?” he asked, getting right to the heart of what I tried to hide.

  “I was fortunate. All she managed was a shallow cut to my thigh and the dagger wasn’t laced with enough to have the effect she wanted.”

  He cursed again, clenching his fist around the handle of his tankard, taking an angry drink and slamming it down on the wooden table.

  “Dammit! I’ve had enough of this! Haven’t you? You’re reckless. Constantly diminishing these threats, trying to go it alone. God knows how you’re even still alive, Red, because it damn well beats me!” His disappointment hit with the force of a punch. “I don’t get how you survived the stab that nearly took out your manhood. The fires, that woman. Then those bloody strange children who appeared and disappeared. Into thin air! Explain to me what the hell is going on!” His brown eyes stared into mine with a look that said he wouldn’t be able to take much more.

  “I can’t.”

  “Then I’m telling Vallon I’m done with soldiering. I’ll not leave your side. Not even when you go visit that girl, Lilliana.”

  “You know about that?”

  “I do now.”

  I wanted to smile, but he was too worked up. “So you’ll wait outside the door?”

  “After I’ve inspected her accommodation.”

  “And Rosa. Do you want to keep me by your side at all times?” I widened my eyes, testing his boundaries.

  “No, thank you. You can wait on the balcony.”

  “What? While you’re not there to watch me.” Sarcasm underlined my tone. My reward was his scowl. “Face it, Elron. It won’t work. You can’t watch me day and night. I suggest you don’t even try.”

  Rosa came over and wound her arms around Elron before sitting on his lap. She glanced between the two of us. “Did I interrupt something?”

  “Just a simple negotiation between friends,” he said.

  She smiled, dark blonde hair falling about her shoulders as she snuggled into Elron. “That’s good because I’ve finished my shift. Who wants to go for a swim?”

  I cleared my throat and tried to catch Elron’s eye. He dragged his gaze to mine and glared over her head in clear warning. The joke I wanted to make shrivelled up on my tongue. I stood, stuffing the scrap of paper into my pocket, and strolled from the bar.

  The couple followed, arms about each other’s waists as they stepped out onto the sand. The moon was brighter here, streaking over the undulating waves in a sight that never failed to fill me with awe. Briny air, strongly scented with salt, fish and seaweed, swept across the shore, ruffling my hair and lifting Rosa’s skirts.

  I closed my eyes, imagining it was Anais and I who stood on this beach. Her fingers entwined with mine, the gold band on her left hand gone. For a second I almost made myself believe it, the salty air replaced by the light scent she favoured, and then it disappeared.

  The roar of the crashing waves, thump upon shore and sucking retreat, came into focus once more. Angry at such foolish thoughts, I dug a foot into the sand and kicked the grainy particles out toward the churning water.

  Had she received my letter? Did she guess at the things I couldn’t say? Those future events I desperately wanted to protect her from. All those attempts to start, and every effort blocked by the curse that induced the visions but forced me to never speak of them. I marvelled I’d been able to write the little I had. The one vision where we’d been happy. Would be happy. Together.

  Rosa’s delighted shrieks brought me back to reality. I turned, smiling, to see Elron swing her around and threaten to throw her into the crashing waves. She clung to him, still giggling. He stumbled, not far from falling into the water, his boots becoming soaked despite his quick steps as he retreated from the water’s edge. My heart, filled with happiness for him, was also heavy with a sorrow that rarely left.

  “Ah, here you be.” Tergen said beside me. I hadn’t heard his footfalls on the soft sand. “Ah’ve bin lookin for you.”

  Elron spotted him and gave a wave. Rosa pulled off her shoes. Skirts bunched in her hands, revealing slender legs of caramel brown, she attempted to cajole him into the ocean. He must have decided having Tergen at my side meant I was safe enough, because he took off his boots to roll up his pants. She let out a happy shriek when he followed, and they kicked water at each other. They tried to jump away from the taller waves, not always successfully, and I chuckled at the sight of Elron’s large frame pretending it could in any way be nimble.

  “Where’s Shen?”

  “Ludlow has him still workin. He made a mistake today and nou he’s payin the price.”

  “What mistake?”

  “Little matters. Wus an excuse only, you ask me. Shen gets on his nerves, you nou tha.”

  We stared at the waves, at Elron with his girl, not saying anything for a while. I thought back on what Abbot William had said earlier in the day about Birne. I didn’t stop to assess the wisdom of my question, blurting out, “Tell me, do you have a strong faith?”

  He shifted to watch me, head tilted to the side, the braids in his hair and long beard moving in the sea breeze. “Aye, ah’ve a strong faith. Dui you?”

  I pulled out the tria, holding it until the gems in the triquetra caught the moonlight, flashing with faint reflections. “I do. Tell me something more about this Mother Earth and the creatures you mentioned. Have you ever seen one?”

  “Ah’ve seen such creatures as wud scare you tae witness. And some tha wud put a smile on your face.”

  “Only in Birne? I mean, have you ever seen any in Tellenel?”

  “One. A sprite.”

  A little surprised by his answer, I asked, “A sprite? What’s that?”

  “A wee creature of magic. Fond of water is he, and timid. Ther may be more. I canna nou for sure, but seein him be a good sign.”

  “Where did you see the sprite?”

  Tergen laughed, wagging his finger at me. “You’ll naw get tha oot of me. Such creatures must always be protected. If you’re lucky enough tae meet one, it’ll be because he desires it so.”

  “Does Ludlow share your faith?”

  “Tha one? Naw, he dinna recognise any value in the wee creatures. His mind be bogged down in only what he can observe and study.”

  We began walking along the beach, following the moonlight. I stared at Tergen, with his wild braids and build more suited to that of a soldier. Sometimes curiosity about why he’d chosen to train as a physician would overtake me. Then I’d see him with a patient, gentle and caring, and I knew. It still didn’t explain his reasons for coming all the way to Tellenel. I asked him now.

  It took him a long while to answer, and when he did, it surprised me. “I volunteered.”

  “Few takers to accompany Ludlow then.”

  Tergen tucked his hands into his pocket and shrugged. “Somethin like tha,” he answered evasively.

  Elron came running up, wet boots in one hand and the other held tight in Rosa’s grip. “Don’t walk off by yourself, Red,” he scolded, a little out of breath.

  Tergen glanced between us. “We wus only goin for a wee walk. Naw need tae get your knickers in a naw.”

  “What does that even mean?” Elron asked, shaking his head in bemusement. The couple continued walking with us, kicking up damp sand with their bare feet.

  “Ah, you still be ignorant shites!
It means dinna get upset. Wus just a walk.”

  “Then he didn’t tell you?”

  The Birnesh man shrugged his shoulders. “Tellt me what?”

  “Red was attacked today. By a dahlia assassin.” Rosa gasped and drew closer to Elron’s side.

  “What be a dahlia assassin?”

  “Women in the service of the assassin’s guild. They stab their marks with poison blades, guaranteeing a quick death. On the rare occasion the toxin doesn’t work fast enough, they’re also partial to strangulation or breaking necks. Targets rarely survive.”

  “And one attacked Red today?”

  Elron nodded, the relaxed posture to his shoulders fading, replaced with a growing tension. If he’d been able to forget about it for a time playing in the water with Rosa, it all flooded back now and with it his frustration. “He was bloody lucky. Tell Tergen what happened, Red.”

  Not wanting to alarm Rosa, I described it in unvarnished terms, only saying I’d gained the upper hand, resulting in the woman’s death. When I finished, a shiver of unease travelled across my shoulders.

  We reached a section of beach where fishing boats were pulled up to shore. Strewn over the wooden prows were thick nets and ropes, left trailing onto the wet sand in sloppy piles. At an unspoken signal between us, we turned back the way we’d come. The wind picked up, sending a few stray drops of seawater to pat upon my hair and neck.

  “Ah’ve never heard of such women. Be they creatures of the dark tae choose a life of givin death?” Tergen asked.

  That got my attention. “Creatures of the dark?” The sprinkle of water returned, harder and more insistent. Not random droplets of salty water then. We all walked a little faster.

  “Aye, ther be darkness in such professions. It stains the soul in ways you canna see, but only feel. The Great Adversary uses dark compacts tae bind those blinded by a desire for power tae commit ever more unspeakable acts.”

  “The Great Adversary?” Rosa asked. Her voice, faint with fear, trembled. It couldn’t have been the conversation she expected this night.

  Tergen peered across at her. “Ah’ve scared you lass. Accept my apology. I’ll speak of it naw more.”

  “No, please go on,” I implored, casting a contrite glance her way. Rosa gave a small smile, her eyes filled more with the unease brought on by hearing a scary story, one that intrigued as much as it terrified.

  The rain increased in volume, a fine drizzle that gleamed wetly on our faces, lit by a moon not yet covered by clouds. Aside from our faster pace, no one else seemed bothered by the weather, not even when the sea breeze took on a deeper chill.

  When Rosa said nothing else, Tergen felt comfortable enough to continue with his tale of dark powers. “I forgoe your strange religion hae naw concept of an evil behind man’s sins. In Birne, destroyin the creatures of the earth or seekin tae subvert the power of the wee creatures for their oon use be an act of great evil. And, as men belong tae the land, killin them for money or selfish gain be just as bad.”

  Elron coughed, a little discomforted. “Well, I don’t think evil is the motive for the assassins. The guild gets paid to do a job and usually they succeed.”

  “Will more come for him?” Rosa asked.

  “No. They’ve a peculiar rule. If they can’t kill someone on their first try, they’ll never make the attempt again.”

  “Truly? They just give up?” she marvelled.

  “Yes,” he answered with a simple shrug that explained too little to satisfy anyone, much less his girl.

  “Why?”

  I took up the tale, deepening my voice for added suspense. “They believe in an ancient prophecy that speaks of a man who will survive an assassin’s poisoned blade. A second attempt on his life will cost the lives of not one but ninety assassins, and the third will destroy the entire guild.” I grinned at her astounded expression, finding the story just as absurd as she did.

  Elron rubbed a warming palm over Rosa’s arm, adding, “Little wonder they don’t want to risk it coming true: the price is too high. So, should any mark withstand their poisonous blades, the bond is returned and they won’t accept another contract, no matter the riches they’re offered.”

  “Naw so much dark as superstitious then?” Tergen suggested.

  “Maybe.” Elron kept stroking her shoulder, soothing himself as much as her with the motion. “Either way, it’s put me on edge. It would help if he’d listen to me for once and let me call for more guards.” My friend stared past Rosa, catching my gaze. “Wouldn’t it?”

  “If it gets me out of this rain,” I quipped, lengthening my stride.

  “It is getting cold.” Rosa shivered.

  Elron wrapped both arms around her for warmth. Together they shuffled awkwardly across the sand, trying to keep up. I reached the sanctuary of the Broken Sail well before them, Tergen only steps behind. Elron forced us to wait while they put their boots on.

  “I’ll take him tae the dormitory if you like. He’ll be safe enough with me. Especially if ther naw gonna attack again.”

  Half amused by the way they spoke, as if I were not there, I let them work it out. When they agreed on a suitable arrangement, I didn’t argue, just waved goodbye to Elron and Rosa, following Tergen back to the university.

  Dead tired, I pulled off my boots before lying on the hard pallet. One last thought of Anais and sleep crashed over me with a wave blacker than night.

  I woke to Elron sitting on the trunk beside my bed, swarthy features amused, foot gently tapping against the stone floor. He pointed to the corner of his lip and I knew he was telling me to wipe away the morning drool. A few choice words told him in no uncertain terms to sod off. I rolled over where I couldn’t see him. He ripped the blanket from me and kicked my backside hard enough that I leapt up, swearing even louder.

  Shen watched on, his red hair in glorious disarray, sleepy eyes amused. “You’re right. He is a grumpy shite first thing in the morning.”

  I pushed Elron off the trunk, grabbing a change of clothes, and stormed off to the bathing area. It was the only privacy he allowed me all day, once more acting the shadow, to my great annoyance. He followed everywhere, hulking over patients, inspecting every one of them as if they’d somehow reveal themselves to be assassins. Only the abbot, seeing his overbearing manner and finding the right words to reassure him, had Elron stepping back to give me room to do my job.

  For seven otherwise uneventful days, it went on like this.

  Inspired by my stand, and with the support of Abbot William, the other students began to wash their hands between patients. Even those who worked with Ludlow the closest, the Dunst brothers and my friends, refused to use tools on multiple patients. Instead, asking the assistants for clean tweezers, blades and needles.

  Ludlow, by all accounts, was furiously unimpressed, but against such a swell of action, even he was forced to concede. He continued to berate his students, calling them all kinds of names for giving in to what he called my absurd superstition. They wouldn’t be swayed. Conditions in the other wards improved. I flattered myself a little, imagining the patients noticed and appreciated the effort made to provide them with a cleaner environment.

  I treated two people who came in with early symptoms of the red plague. The ease I healed them with made me think of my mother, of all I might have done. It wasn’t easily spread but, just in case, I visited both houses and was relieved to learn no other family members had caught it.

  At the end of the week, at Elron’s insistence, we spent a day with the soldiers at the monastery, to make sure I did not forget how to use a sword or musket. After I gave a solid performance, he began to relax, trusting again in my abilities to protect myself. Not enough, however, to give me the independence I craved.

  There was one exception: the morning I woke up in the foulest mood, snapping at everyone and ready to draw blood at the slightest provocation.
Elron, understanding how much I chafed under such close observation, allowed me to ride alone on Champion along the hills around Arnil Wale. The wind whipped about us, so fast did he gallop, until I laughed from the sheer joy of it, my dark humour dispelling.

  A patient died early the following day from some catastrophic injury in her brain, an interruption to blood flow that shut down her body with such swiftness I was given little chance to counteract it. Her death, unexpected and heartbreaking for her family, hit me hard. My first since the central ward came under my care.

  Ludlow dared speak to Abbot William about it, as if it were proof enough I still needed his guidance. I could only be grateful when the other teachers stepped in with overwhelming support for my work, insisting it was not a sign of incompetence. I knew any one of them would have been hard pressed to save the patient, even those with gifts.

  It was a turning point in my bloodless war with Ludlow.

  Soon after, a letter from Anais arrived. It was difficult to find a private place to read it. Elron sometimes left me alone when he entertained Rosa, and only then because he’d fobbed me off to Tergen. My remaining option was to wait until everyone in the dormitory was asleep but, with fortuitous timing, they decided to go out drinking, even the Dunst brothers.

  I had no desire to join in, mainly because I wanted to read Anais’s letter, but it was the excuse of the woman’s death that I used to get out of it.

  “I’ll stay with you then,” Elron said.

  “Don’t spoil your night.”

  “It won’t.”

  I gave a short bark of laughter. “So you say now. Rosa will disagree, I think.” With some fast talking, I convinced him to leave me in the dormitory, pointing to the pile of texts I had to read. “I’ll be safe here.” Elron hesitated, so I decided for him, shoving him out. “See you in the morning,” I said, firmly closing and locking the door.

  That stifling sense of confinement lifted. Not quite believing it would last long, half fearful Elron would change his mind any second, I crossed the dormitory and pulled the letter out from under my pillow.