Alora_The Wander-Jewel Read online

  “Mine, too—but it’s gone now. I think it was a migraine.”

  “What’s a migraine?” he asked.

  “Forget that!” Beth waved her hand in irritation. “How about, what’s a bearer? And who are you? And how did you get here?”

  “I’m so weak. I think I may have been unconscious for a long time.” Kaevin struggled to sit, still keeping his hand clasped tightly around Alora’s.

  “I’ll get you some water.” Wesley dashed off to the kitchen, returning with two glasses of water, passing one to each. Kaevin frowned, examining the glass in his hand.

  “What is this?”

  “It’s water,” said Beth. “What do you think? That we’re trying to poison you?”

  “No, I don’t mean to sound ungrateful. I’ve simply never seen a clear cup before. What kind of firing process do you use?”

  “I don’t know,” said Wesley. “We’ve always just bought them from the store. I’ve never thought about how they’re made.”

  “What’s a store?” asked Kaevin.

  “Where did you come from?” asked Beth. “I thought we were pretty remote in Montana, but if you’ve never even been to a store...”

  “Montana? Is that the name of this shire? Or is Montana the territory, with different shires in Montana?”

  “Uhmm, Montana is a state in the USA. What country are you from?”

  “My home is Laegenshire, in Tenavae Territory. That’s Alora’s home also. Or, at least, that’s where her mother lived and her grandmother still lives. I am Stone Clan, and Alora is Stone Clan and Water Clan.” His voice trailed off as he looked up to see them staring with open mouths.

  “I don’t even know what you’re talking about,” said Beth. “Alora, can you maybe shed some light on all this?”

  “You can make light?” Kaevin asked Alora with wide eyes. “How many gifts do you have?”

  “No, I didn’t ask her to make light,” said Beth. “I asked her to... Alora! What’s going on? Who is this guy, and what’s he talking about?”

  “Uhmm, I’m not really sure myself. We really only met one other time.” She purposely ignored their meeting in the bathroom, hoping desperately Kaevin didn’t notice her blushing at the thought.

  “Did you guys meet online? Some kind of online dating website?” asked Wesley. “I didn’t even know you had a boyfriend.”

  “He’s not my boyfriend,” Alora said, allowing a curtain of hair to shield her red face from view.

  “No.” Kaevin smiled as he squeezed her hand. “I’m fairly certain we’re soulmates, although no one in Laegenshire believes me.”

  “Well, whatever you are, you’re going to be in big trouble when your uncle gets home if you’re still holding hands,” said Beth.

  “Oh! I forgot about Uncle Charles.” She turned to Kaevin. “How old are you?”

  “I’m seventeen, and you’re fifteen.”

  “How do you know so much about her when she doesn’t know anything about you?” asked Beth.

  “We simply calculated the probable facts from what we knew. To be honest, the council reckoned the facts. As I told you, her grandmother lives in our shire, and she’s on the council. But when Alora returns, she’ll take Raelene’s place, since she’s an active bearer. She’ll be the youngest person ever to be on the council. Fifteen! Usually one must have thirty years.”

  Beth stared at him as if he had four eyes, shaking her head. “Alora, your uncle won’t let you date a seventeen-year-old.”

  “What does date mean?” asked Kaevin. “Is that like marriage?” He held out the empty glass to Wesley. “Could I perhaps have some more? And do you have any food? I’m suddenly quite hungry.”

  “You know, if you let go of her hand for a minute, you could probably go get it yourself.”

  Kaevin dropped his eyes. “I’m sorry. I won’t trouble you again.” He looked at their linked hands. “But I’m not sure we should release our handhold so quickly. I’m uncertain of the exact requirements of the soulmate bond. What I mean to say is, I don’t know how long it takes for one to recover from separation. I suppose we could try it for a blink... letting go.” He regarded Alora with his eyebrows raised in question.

  “Okay, let’s try it. Wait—what if you disappear again?”

  “I won’t go back unless you send me back.”

  “I never sent you back. You just left.”

  “No, Raelene explained you sent me back. But I don’t believe you’ll do it again. Shall we try?” He lifted their clasped hands.

  Opening their fingers, they slid their hands apart. Kaevin smiled at Alora, and she smiled back. For about five seconds. Then his eyes rolled back into his head as he keeled over onto the floor. And someone stabbed a hot knife into Alora’s head. Frantically, she grappled for his hand, sighing with relief when their fingers connected. Kaevin’s eyes blinked open.

  “Ugh! That wasn’t pleasant at all. I think it would be simpler if we were married. It probably takes longer since we aren’t able to... since we can only hold hands.” His face reddened.

  “Married?” exclaimed Alora. “I can’t get married—I’m only fifteen. I’m just a sophomore in high school.”

  “Well, I wasn’t planning to marry, either. It’s not my fault we’re soulmates.”

  “Wait a minute,” said Beth. “Just back up a minute and explain this soulmate thing.”

  “I don’t have a great deal of knowledge concerning soulmates,” said Kaevin, pushing up on his elbows. “It’s a rather rare occurrence in Tenavae in recent generations. I’m only aware of two other couples who were soulmates in my lifetime, and they were killed by Water Clan in the Leeward Battle. There haven’t been any new soulmates in this generation.”

  “They were killed because they were soulmates?” asked Wesley.

  “No, they were killed in battle. But soulmates tend to enhance one another’s gifts, so they’re more powerful and have extremely valuable roles in wars.”

  Beth said, “This sounds great. You have to hold hands for the rest of your life or until one of you gets killed on the front line in battle.”

  “Oh no,” said Kaevin. “If one dies, the other dies as well. But soulmates don’t have to hold hands all the time. They only have to touch each other once a day, I think, to prevent separation sickness. Only, after you’ve been separated, you must be in contact to recover. And it’s easier and faster if you... you’re supposed to be married.”

  “So why did you decide to be soulmates?” asked Wesley. “It doesn’t seem like a great idea.”

  “We didn’t. At least I didn’t,” Alora protested.

  “I didn’t choose it either. It simply happens. But...” His gaze was tender. “But I think it’s great.”

  “You do?” asked Alora. “Why would a guy like you want to be soulmates with me?” Her insides contracted at the thought that he liked her. He was so cute. She felt his warm fingers squeeze hers.

  “I’ve never met another girl I’d rather be with.”

  “Don’t get sappy,” Beth complained. “I might throw up.”

  “Oh no,” Alora gasped as her face turned ashen. “How long has Uncle Charles been gone?”

  “We passed him going out when we drove in,” said Wesley. “He’s been gone about an hour.”

  “What’s an hour?” asked Kaevin.

  “Never mind, Kaevin. We’ll have to explain stuff later. Right now, we’ve got to make a plan. How am I going to explain you to my uncle?”

  “He could be a friend from school who came with Wesley,” Beth suggested.

  “But his clothes are weird,” Wesley protested.

  “We could say he’s in costume. Practicing for the school play,” said Beth.

  “Okay, and how are we going to explain the hand-holding thing?” said Alora.

  “Why can’t we simply tell your uncle the truth?” asked Kaevin.

  “Okay,” Beth said, “let’s hear it. What are you going to say?”

  “I’m Kaevin BarGraely of L
aegenshire, next clan leader of Stone Clan. Alora will be the next bearer of the Stone Clan. We are now soulmates, and we can’t be separated for more than a day.”

  Beth looked at him with a flat expression. “Nope. That’ll never work. Let’s come up with something slightly believable.”

  *****

  Vindrake paced in his council room. “We must find her. I can’t believe Wendelle hid the child from me. How could Wendelle have the power to hide my own child from my detection? All these years, I could not even sense her presence!” He spun around to glare at his shaman. “You! You were supposed to have Wendelle warded. She shouldn’t have been able to leave at all, much less leave with the child and install wards to prevent my detection.”

  “But my wards worked,” he protested. “When she forced her way through, it resulted in her death. She couldn’t possibly have safely transported the child. We know she sacrificed the child in her escape.”

  “Then how do you explain the fact my fifteen-year-old daughter attempted to transport me to her? So powerful was her call I saw her with my own eyes and spoke with her, despite the protective wards you installed yourself.”

  “Perhaps...” Beads of sweat broke out on the shaman’s forehead. “Perhaps you were mistaken. Perhaps the girl who contacted you—”

  Vindrake’s rage grew. “You are suggesting my judgment is not sound? You think I cannot recognize my own daughter?”

  “No, Sire. I only think perhaps there is another plausible explanation. I will strengthen your wards. We can install iron shields on the walls.”

  “Will that help me locate my daughter, who should never have been taken from me fifteen years ago? A daughter who should now be serving as the most powerful bearer in history at the age of fifteen years? A bearer serving Water Clan, when all the other clans are weakened by the absence of an active bearer? Will your wards put back into my hands the victory that should already be mine?”

  “No, Sire... Ahhkkk!” The shaman’s eyes bulged and his face turned red. He tugged at his throat in an attempt to remove the invisible hands that choked him as Vindrake squeezed his fist, extended toward the unfortunate shaman. When he collapsed to the floor, Vindrake opened his hand and waved toward the door.

  “Take him out of my sight,” he said to no one in particular. The shaken council members leapt to do his bidding, probably anxious to leave the council room lest his fury be directed their way. “And bring shaman Abaddon to me.”

  *****

  “Yes, Uncle Charles,” Alora said, “I feel much better. My headache is completely gone. I’m just a little weak from not eating. I hope it’s okay I invited everyone to stay for dinner.”

  Charles was astounded at the change in Alora. A few hours earlier she’d been in so much pain she could barely move. But he was so relieved at her recovery he was happy to feed her friends. “Sure. We’re just having spaghetti. I’m glad for your friends to stay for a while. Now, tell me your names again. Of course, I know you, Beth.”

  The lanky boy with a brown crew cut and blue eyes held out his right hand. “I’m Wesley, sir.” Charles shook his hand, appreciating the firm grip. He couldn’t help glancing toward Wesley’s left hand, clasped in Beth’s.

  The other boy with the long hair and strange clothes reached out with his left hand, his right being clasped with Alora’s. “My name is Kaevin, sir.”

  Charles shook his left hand awkwardly. “Now, tell me again... what is the point of this hand-holding game?”

  “We’re competing to see who can hold hands the longest. And the winners get to pick which movie we’re going to watch.” Beth smiled with her usual enthusiasm. But he didn’t much care for a game that involved Alora holding hands with a boy, especially one he didn’t know.

  “So, does this mean you’re dating?”

  “Oh no, sir,” said Wesley. “We’re just friends.”

  “And how old did you say you were, Kaevin?”

  “He’s sixteen, Uncle Charles. He’s a junior, like Wesley.”

  Sixteen. Technically he wasn’t too old for Alora, but he still didn’t like the idea. He forced a smile onto his face.

  “I suppose you’ve got your driver’s license then, Kaevin?”

  “Uhmm...”

  “Kaevin doesn’t drive, Uncle Charles. He prefers to ride a horse.”

  Kaevin gave a vigorous nod.

  “Even in the winter?”

  “Uhmm...”

  “I’m sure you’ll get your license soon. Right, Kaevin?” asked Beth.

  “Uhmm... right.”

  The boy kept his eyes averted. Charles didn’t trust anyone who wouldn’t meet your eyes.

  “And where do you boys live? I’m sure I’ve met your fathers.”

  “My dad is Brian Franks. We live out on CR 304,” said Wesley.

  “Right. I know Brian—good man,” said Charles.

  “Kaevin’s family just moved into town,” said Beth. “His dad is a truck driver.”

  “Really?” said Charles. “But you prefer horses to driving?”

  “Uhmm...”

  “Uncle Charles, you’re making him feel uncomfortable. Be nice. He’s new to Montana. We don’t want to give him a bad impression.”

  Alora was right. The boy didn’t deserve to be interrogated when he was obviously nervous already. He flashed an apologetic smile at Alora. But he fully intended to find out more about this longhaired boy who was holding his baby girl’s hand.

  “Sorry, Kaevin. It’s okay. I prefer horses to driving, myself.”

  “Can we help get dinner ready?” Beth offered.

  “Sure, if you can do it with one hand.” Charles laughed.

  *****

  “So,” Abaddon mused, stroking his neatly trimmed beard with his fingers, “the girl tried to transport you?”

  “Yes. And she almost succeeded, despite Carrion’s protective wards.” Vindrake’s lips contorted in a sneer. “She managed to open a speaking channel. She could see my face as I could see hers. I hope you have more skill than your predecessor demonstrated.”

  “Yes, I think you will discover my talents are quite impressive, since I’ve finally been given the opportunity I deserve. You said the girl told you her name?”

  “Yes, Wendelle left before the fortnight naming ceremony could take place. So, I was fortunate my daughter confessed her name to me. Lena... an odd name. But perhaps it is fitting for a girl with such extraordinary power to have a singular name.”

  “The knowledge of her name could be useful to us. I must do some research in the scrolls.”

  “Can you strengthen the wards placed by Carrion? Or should we shield the house with iron as he suggested?”

  “On the contrary,” Abaddon replied. “We should remove Carrion’s wards. If the girl attempts to transport you again, you should go to her. Then you can simply bring her back here. If she is untrained, as you say she must be, she will be defenseless against you.”

  “True.” Vindrake stroked his beard. “She would be no match for me, but she was speaking with someone she called ‘uncle.’ Of course he’s not really an uncle—Wendelle had no siblings. But this man must have placed some powerful wards around her to shield her from my detection. If so, this uncle could be quite gifted, and perhaps not so easy to overcome.”

  “Perhaps,” agreed Abaddon. “But I think it is more likely the protective wards were placed by Wendelle before she died. Only a power such as hers could accomplish such a feat.”

  “Wendelle was a powerful bearer, but she was no shaman. She wouldn’t have been able to ward the child from my sight.”

  “But she did possess a red-heart wander-jewel. No one really knows all the secrets of such a stone. And even as powerful a shaman as I am, I know of no ward that would have protected the child from your discovery.”

  “Perhaps. Your argument has some merit,” Vindrake conceded.

  “It’s a shame about Wendelle’s escape and subsequent death—such a waste of extraordinary talent. I wouldn’t hav
e left killing wards on Wendelle to prevent her escape had I been chief shaman fifteen years ago. Once the child was born, one only needed to move the killing wards to the baby to guarantee Wendelle’s continued presence. She would never have left the caverns knowing it meant her child would die.” He gazed skyward and spoke with dramatic flare, “But alas... I was not consulted at the time.”

  Vindrake pinned him with cold blue eyes. “I sincerely hope you aren’t criticizing my decisions.” The air crackled with power as Vindrake’s ire rose.

  “No, Sire. Of course not. I would never question your judgment.” He’d pushed his point too far. Vindrake was known for lashing out in anger. He tried to hide the tremor in his voice. “I should have worked harder to make you aware of my talents.”

  “Why did you not speak if you recognized a fault in Carrion’s plan?” The blood pulsed visibly in Vindrake’s temple.

  “Sire, I apologize—I was totally unaware of the danger at that time. I wasn’t privy to the entirety of Carrion’s work. He was jealous of my superior power and intellect, and purposely kept me on the outside.”

  Vindrake huffed and turned away, but the sizzle drained from the atmosphere. Abaddon released the breath he’d been holding.

  “No matter... I am here now, and you will be very pleased with my work. I can assure you.”

  “Yes. I had best be pleased.”

  *****

  Alora eyed her uncle as she fought to eat her spaghetti with one hand. He seemed to be amused at their struggles, especially Kaevin and Beth, who were both forced to grapple their forks with their left hands.

  “You could call a temporary time-out during dinner,” Uncle Charles suggested. “Or perhaps the four of you could simply agree on which movie to watch.”

  “Oh no,” Beth insisted. “It’s a matter of honor now. We have to prove we can do it.”

  “Okay.” Charles stood up quickly, the legs of his chair scraping against the oak floor. “Would anyone like something else to drink? We’ve got more iced tea, or I could get you a soda.”

  “I’d love a Coke if you have one,” said Beth.

  “Me too,” said Wesley.

  “Me too,” echoed Alora.

  He turned expectant eyes toward Kaevin. “Would you like one as well?”