Khari'na Made (Muse Book 1)

by Jean Winter

  Wow …

  It would take days to read through the whole thing from start to finish, so for today Lyra chose to be content just spending time in some of her favorite sections. She read from Bilthemew who led the people over the ocean at a time of great apostasy and contention in and out of the church in order to escape their enemies. By miracle, they were able to pass through the Barrier where they found an island to inhabit in peace for a time. Eventually though, inner turmoil among them caused God to move His righteous back to their original homeland once it was safe again. This was why Lyra was certain there must be something besides storm and wind on the other side of the Barrier, though she could not have revealed such knowledge to J'Kor.

  She went on to the prophet Rayne's writings whose engraving style was on the uneven, scratchy side compared to the others, like he didn't have the patience to be perfect when he had such important concepts to get down. Grinning, Lyra turned some more pages and her eyes fell on the verses of the prophecy—the one that had the government of Caldreen so concerned that they killed her Jon and many, many others over it.

  “And in that day, when the mighty storms of Satan's army fall as a shadow across the land, when my people are driven to cower in the mountains and secret places for fear, I will raise up my ensign to the nations; yea, a great leader from among the Strangers who shall be lifted by an helpmeet of my chosen.

  And he shall overcome the strength of the wretched and abominable One. Yea, by the gift and power of God, will my servant go before to lay low all those who deny the power thereof.

  Then shall my servant vanquish the great evil that has fallen upon my promised land and build a new kingdom to reign in righteousness; a kingdom of glory that shall not fall again, save through disobedience and sin.”

  This wasn't the only place in the Tohmu'vah where this particular calamitous event was mentioned, but it was the main one. It was the one everyone quoted when people talked about it. Lyra read it again, and her heart leaped like never before. Maybe the end of the world as she knew it was going to come about sooner than she had ever dreamed. They were already cowering in the mountains, and old as he was, the current prophet, Brother Oubwyn, was a great and wise leader. He also was of Stranger blood—a converted mother. This prophecy could very well be about him. Only, Lyra needed to get this artifact back to him. The urgency with which she suddenly felt this almost made her dizzy.

  Lyra closed the book and wrapped it up as before, returning her stewardship to its box and hiding place. She needed to think.

  Not really looking where she was going, Lyra wandered from the bedroom and out to the front porch, her soul bursting from the amazing experience of this morning and the compelling questions it now raised.

  “Would you like to join me for midmeal, Mrs. Woodrose?” said an approaching J'Kor, bare chested, his shirt draped over a shoulder.

  She straightened from her contemplative lean over the railing. “Oh! Is it that time already?” And as if on cue, Lyra's stomach growled.

  “Past.” He grinned. “Have you been enjoying your day off so much, you lost track o' the time?”

  “Well, I guess I did.” Her grin back was quite sheepish. More than you know.

  It was such a nice day they decided to eat outside and the cold leftovers tasted good, sitting together there on the porch's old, weathered chairs. J'Kor politely inquired how her morning had gone and Lyra couldn't hide her smile during her carefully revised summary of general spiritual enlightenment. J'Kor went quiet for a while.

  “So, tell me more about this god o' yours,” he finally said. “Where does he come from? What makes him so special to deserve your dying devotion?”

  “Ummm,” Lyra swallowed nervously at the unexpected interest. She had better just keep it really simple for now. “He is a divine being of flesh and bone who once went through His own mortal probation like us, but has since reached a high enough level of spiritual maturity to create his own worlds. He is our literal father, the father of our spirits.” Lyra cast him a shy glance. What would he make of this? “He is special because He gave us … everything. Our lives. This world. The plan to return to Him someday if we are faithful.”

  She'd stop there. That was probably plenty.

  He stopped eating and looked at her. “So, you are saying that God is an alien who has made himself a new planet to colonize?”

  Lyra couldn't help but giggle. “It sounds funny when you put it that way. I wouldn't call Him that, myself, but I guess that's the general idea.”

  “That sounds pretty fantastic.”

  “It is,” she agreed. “But it is true.”

  J'Kor cocked his head. “So, tell me how you reconcile believing in the power o' this man to create entire worlds at will while simultaneously denying your own ability to close a wound?”

  And, Bam! His sudden perceptive irony struck Lyra so forcibly that she almost dropped her plate.

  “You just seem so repelled by the concept o' mages and any kind o' sorcery,” he added in clarification.

  “Well,” she said, squirming, “one uses the sacred power of the Priesthood and the other … the other is not from a righteous source—even if it was real.”

  “You think that what you did was no' real?”

  Lyra shook her head. “I don't know. I don't know what to make of it. I always thought that stuff was bogus, practiced by people only seeking to deceive others with their snake oil concoctions.”

  J'Kor gazed across his fields dotted with happily grazing poofs. “Under most circumstances I would agree with you—and this is coming from someone who, by hobby, has spent time with a number o' people who make their living doing just what you accuse. But Lyra, some o' it is genuine. What you did with Dr. Wyk, that was no sham.” He turned to her. “Nor was it with me.”

  “Really?” she whispered. She had not yet asked about the supposed occurrence that got Nim so interested in her in the first place.

  “Aye.” J'Kor went back to watching his flocks. “Though, I did no' realize it at first. I had no' bothered to look at it since bringing you home until Nim examined me when she came over.”

  “And there was a dramatic difference?”

  “Aye. It usually takes six months for a scar o' that caliber to fade so much. The fact that you were no' even trying or in direct physical contact with me has got Dr. Wyk all in a tizzy,” J'Kor said, his brows knitting together. “From what little understanding I have o' the craft, that is unusual.”

  Drat. Now that the dust had settled, Lyra was secretly hoping that J'Kor could help shed some rational, debunking light on the whole strange matter.

  “Lyra?”

  “Yes, sir?”

  “Kade,” he reminded.

  “Yes?” She left it at that and did not let his little eye roll bother her.

  “I do no' understand it, I admit,” he said, “and I do no' want Nim and the professor making a spectacle o' you, but there is no way this talent o' yours is 'evil.' It is an impossibility coming from you. That I know.” With that, he took his plate inside, leaving Lyra to her own apprehensive ruminations.

  Well, despite every other worry in her life right now, at least one item was checked off the “Things Lyra Has to Stress Over” list. She had a friend in J'Kor.

  A fancy carriage rolled up the drive toward the house and Lyra stood to get a better look. Now who could that be? Given the current situation, any one of several people. (None of which Lyra cared to see.) She retreated back inside.

  “Lord J'—!” Oh. He was right at the door, pulling on caked work boots. “A carriage is approaching. Were you expecting someone today?”

  Surprise. Then foreboding. “Do no' worry. It is just Sal,” he muttered, not sounding very enthused at all. J'Kor's chin was supporting a frowning as he strode outside to meet the carriage in the yard while Lyra remained on the porch, watching from a distance. Mejhisk could not even open the coach door before he was lit upon somewhat tensely through the window.

  # # #

/>   “… that is just the way it has to be from now on,” Kade finished after reluctantly bringing Sal up to speed regarding Nim's last visit and his and Lyra's new relationship. “No more pestering me or Lyra any further on the subject. Understood? I have made my decision.”

  “What? No more flirting with her behind your back?” Sal pouted like a child. “No more witty innuendos? Kade, you are no fun.” Then he suddenly brightened. “But you will let me call for her the next time I have a groin injury.”

  “Not a word,” Kade said.

  Sal beckoned Lyra over with a wave.

  “Ah, Lyra the Muse!” he sang, referencing the legend of the lady of the mountains who lured men to her cabin with her siren song to make them her slaves. Reaching from the window, he took Lyra's hand in a kiss. “You have been keeping more than one secret from me, it seems.”

  “No, just the one, I think,” Lyra returned breezily. “You can't count the ones I don't even know about.”

  Sal laughed. “Well, I was just on my way to Beegot's to help him hunt down a certain whorlock that has turned serial killer on his game fowl, and I thought I would stop a brief moment to just say hello.”

  “Hello,” Kade snipped shortly. Sal would not be able to hold his tongue for long. The faster this visit ended, the better.

  “Oh, you will not come in for a minute?” Lyra asked, but Kade's warning look made Sal dutifully decline.

  “But I do hope that taking care o' this poor sap is still part o' your job description, Lovely,” Sal said. “He desperately needs someone to look after him.”

  Lyra bowed her head with a smile. “Yes, my lord.”

  “I am going to hold you to that.”

  The sudden candor and their subsequent exchanged looks made Kade suspect he was missing something, but no matter. Sal soon had his driver moving him along again and Kade and Lyra went their separate ways for the rest of the day. Kade spent the majority of his time plowing the back field with Whinnee, and when he returned to the house, his nose was greeted with the smell of something delightful cooking in the oven.

  He noticed the table was set for two.

  “You do no' need—”

  “I know,” she answered quickly with a smile. “But I was going to cook for myself anyway and it was no trouble at all to make for one more. By the way,” she picked up a sealed envelope on the counter, “you got a specially delivered note while you were out.”

  The stamped return address showed it was from headquarters at the capital. And the envelope was addressed to Warrant Officer J'Kor, Retired.

  CHAPTER 15

  Hmph. What did they want from him this time? Kade had occasionally been called to temporary service for a day or two. Sometimes headquarters came in possession of an unusually tight-lipped prisoner or one that required delicate handling. It was a pain for Kade to rearrange his schedule on the spot like that, but when his country called, he listened. He didn't have a choice.

  The letter read as expected:

  “… You will report to Colonel Thyks tomorrow morning at nine o'. We wish to consult you on a matter of some suspicious detainees …”

  Kade sighed and turned to Lyra, cutting vegetables at the counter. “I have to go into the city tomorrow for some business. I will leave early in the morning and likely no' be back until well after nightfall. Do you feel that you can handle my chores and be okay here all by yourself?”

  The chopping paused. “Are you certain you will need to be gone that long?”

  “Aye. It is even possible I may have to stay overnight.”

  Lyra went very still and Kade wondered if she was concerned about being alone on the property that long. “You could spend most o' the day at Sal's—”

  “No. I-I will be quite fine taking care of whatever you need here. Really.”

  Despite the assurance, Lyra suddenly seemed completely preoccupied the rest of the evening. Kade's invitation to play cards after dinner was met with halfhearted enthusiasm, even when he let her win. Then she retired to bed early in Joslie's room. Kade retired shortly thereafter. He had an early start in the morning.

  At half past five, Kade was surprised to wake to the smell of breakfast. He threw on some clothes and met Lyra in the kitchen. “You did no' have to get up this early for me.”

  “Just back on duty today, keeping my promise to Lord Mejhisk,” Lyra said with a smile as she whisked eggs. She was already fully dressed, hair pulled back in its usual fashion.

  “Oh,” Kade yawned, “well, thank you.”

  By the time he returned from the lavatory everything was ready at the table. They sat down together and Kade proceeded to watch Lyra wolf down her meal. “I take it you are anxious to get started on the day. Are you hoping to finish quickly for more leisure time later?”

  Her chewing and swallowing slowed. “Yes, as a matter of fact, if that's okay.”

  “That sounds fine. This is delicious, by the way.”

  She was nervous.

  A little later at his wardrobe, Kade regarded the reflection of the man in the dress uniform with some chagrin. The last time he had been called him in was two years ago—a two day stint at the end of which time Colonel Thyks was hinting strongly of his desire that Kade to stay on as an instructor. Kade had declined and fortunately, the Colonel had chosen not to force the issue like he could have.

  Stepping to the yard and with officer issue hat on his head, Kade greeted the infant sunrise. He wanted to say goodbye to Lyra and found her in the rabbit barn refilling feed and water bowls. He watched her a moment from the doorway.

  “The taxi is almost here,” he said.

  Turning, Lyra started in surprise at the sight of him. “Oh, it's you!” she said. “I didn't realize this was official business. I thought you were retired.”

  Kade smiled. “One is never fully retired from the 'club'. They call on me from time to time for special consultations.”

  “Do you have any last minute instructions?” she said, putting the feed tin down and walking to him. There was an odd catch to her voice.

  “No. Do you have any last minute questions?”

  Lyra shook her head. Then, cautiously, she reached up to adjust his sash he was always getting crooked. Kade held still, eyeing her. Something was off.

  “Lyra, are you okay?”

  Her hands dropped to her sides. “Oh, I was just thinking that I might end up … missing you today.”

  Henna's bosom! Did she actually say what he thought she just said?

  “Then I will conduct my business speedily and return home as quickly as possible.”

  “I wish you a good journey, sir,” she answered.

  “Kade,” he corrected.

  But with a pensive smile, Lyra only returned to feeding the rabbits. Taxi wheels rattled over the bumps in his driveway and an impulse seized at Kade. It urged him to go to her and say goodbye in a different way. Impossible as it seemed, Lyra was acting like she might want that.

  He resisted, though, knowing that more than once he'd been wrong about her, and plopping onto the taxi's creaky leather seat he wondered at Lyra's perpetually shifting moods. She likes him. She doesn't.

  She is enjoying her space. She will miss him ….

  Women! The greatest mystery of all time.

  The carriage sped up and the roadside began to pass in a blur as Kade's brain lazily reviewed his list of things to bring today: his watch, the summons letter, briefcase, wallet …

  # # #

  Don't hyperventilate! Just settle down for a second and think clearly!

  Lyra was sure J'Kor had never finished the usual morning livestock feeding chores so quickly. Now she was in the kitchen, feverishly stashing food items in her bag, the thrill of her recent spiritual experience and enlightenment taking a backseat to the sudden here and now.

  She had almost sliced her finger off yesterday when J'Kor declared his need for a long day trip to the city. THE day was here!

  Bread! Where's the bread? Some hard fruit. I know I saw dr
ied meat in the root cellar—Holy Creator be with me today!

  Last night was spent mentally reviewing the route and plan. Then Lyra had retired to bed early and got up extra early to perform her last services for J'Kor. Her conscience wouldn't let her leave before making sure all the animals had feed enough before the farm was left unattended for a day or two.

  The Tohmu'vah was carefully nestled into the backpack once more along with all the food she could carry and Lyra donned her boots and wrapped her star band securely over her arm. It was when Ahskr trotted up in curiosity that she felt her first real pang of guilt. She paused to kneel and scratch him behind his ears. “I'm sorry, boy. But I have to do this. I have to get back home.”

  Ahskr whined, whipping his tail back and forth a little, sensing her anxiety, but with a final kiss of his head, Lyra turned for J'Kor's office. It had been a long debate in bed last night about whether or not to leave him a note. She still wasn't sure what she wanted to say.

  A surprising emotion hit her like a brick wall at the opening of the door. The room was filled with him—his scent, his habits, his life work. Lyra shook it off and resolutely seated herself at his desk where paper and a quill pen sat right on top. She began.

  My Lord J'Kor,

  By the time you read this I will be long gone

  No. That was stupid.

  Dear sir,

  I know you will be disappointed

  No again.

  Dear J'Kor,

  Words can't express my regret

  Dumb, dumb, dumb!!

  She had better hurry up if she was going to do this. Lyra crumpled up another sheet and threw it in the wastebasket with the others. What did she really want him to know?

  The first rays of morning had been streaming in behind him when he'd startled her with his appearance in the rabbit barn. The shock of J'Kor dressed to the chin in that hated official Caldreen'n uniform, while at the same time noting how well it suited the man whom she had to admit she had grown rather fond, had caught Lyra quite off guard. This was goodbye to the man who had become her friend and protector. She would probably never see him again.