Alora_The Wander-Jewel Read online

  “But what about moving something like this log?”

  “I believe that objects are more difficult for some reason.”

  “What about animals? Maybe I could practice with one of the chickens.”

  He smiled. “I think animals are easier than objects, but it must be a specific animal you can identify in your mind. You couldn’t just wish for a horse and get one, but you could transport your own horse.” He stopped, frowning as he concentrated. “No. Perhaps a horse would weigh too much.”

  “Uhmm, I’d be afraid to practice on Willow, anyway. I might accidentally send her somewhere and not be able to find her.”

  “Then I’d appreciate it if you don’t practice on me either.” He flashed a dimple on his left cheek.

  Arriving at the horse barn, she said, “Shall we try letting go while we muck the stalls?”

  He agreed. “We won’t be far apart, anyway. Surely, we’ve mostly recovered by now.”

  They made quick work of the stalls and gave the horses a measure of feed to supplement the hay. Kaevin spent some time with the horses, brushing each one down and talking to them.

  “This is one of my gifts.”

  “You can talk to horses?”

  “They don’t actually talk to me, but I can communicate with most animals. I can sense fear or pain or contentment or excitement. I can tell if something is wrong. For instance, this one has a very small, irritating stone in her hoof. It’s not enough to make her lame, but she’d appreciate us removing it.”

  Alora immediately retrieved a hoof pick and cleaned the mud out to remove the stone. Kaevin said, “Your horses are happy and content, though, and well-cared for. I’d like to talk with Beth and see if her gift is similar to mine.”

  Alora felt a pang of jealousy. “I don’t know if she’ll have time to come visit.”

  “We could talk at the dance, if I went with you.” His enthusiastic smile made his deep green eyes sparkle.

  “Oh, uhmm, I don’t know if I could take you to the dance. I’m not sure how I would explain you. I mean... you dress kind of different.” In truth, she didn’t want him to meet any of the other girls from her school—other girls who were older and prettier.

  “I understand. I wouldn’t want to embarrass you.” The smile fell from his face as he examined his clothing.

  “I didn’t mean it that way. I just don’t want people to ask questions we can’t explain. I’m not really that great at dancing, anyway.”

  “But I am.” The hint of smile returned. “I can even do the Winged-Foot.”

  “I’m pretty sure none of the kids at school do the Winged-Foot. They do two-step, polkas, and the Cotton-Eyed Joe.”

  “I’m certain I could learn quickly.” His dimple danced with a partner on his other cheek.

  “I guess, if we could get you some clothes...”

  “After I go hunting with Wesley, I’ll have some pelts to trade. Perhaps I could borrow something from your uncle.”

  “Yeah, that ought to go over well.” She regretted her sarcasm as his smile faltered. “We’ll figure something out. Wesley’s older brother, Steven, might have left some clothes behind when he went to college. But meanwhile, I want to practice. I know just the thing to practice on.” She reached behind a hay bale to retrieve two frisky kittens. “This is Mittens, and this one with the black band on his tail is Ringo. And I know a great place to practice. There’s a frozen pond on the other side of those trees. I bet if I’m near that pond, I’ll have plenty of power.”

  They made their way through the woods to the edge of the pond. The wind had picked up considerably, so Alora had to tuck the kittens inside her coat to keep them warm while they walked. Though most of the snow had blown off the ice-covered pond, there was a small motte of trees on one side that provided some shelter. Alora set the kittens down at the pond’s edge.

  “I thought I’d let them wander off a little, and then see if I can bring them back to me,” she said.

  “Okay. What do you do? How did you make it happen when you brought me here?”

  “I’m not sure. I think clearing my mind has something to do with it. Yesterday, I didn’t even know what I was doing, really. I just knew I needed to be with you. Maybe I need to have some kind of deep longing.” She smiled at the kittens as they pranced out onto the frozen ice. “I’ll try to long for one kitten at a time. Mittens first.”

  “I’m going to hold your hand, just in case you accidentally move yourself somewhere. I don’t want you going anywhere I can’t find you within a day.” Kaevin grinned as if he were joking, but his words reminded her how badly her head had hurt when they were separated.

  Closing her eyes, Alora attempted to relax. She tried to clear her mind of everything except Mittens. In her head, she saw a detailed image of the cute kitten, with black fur and white front paws. Then she pictured Mittens on the ground in front of her and opened her eyes expectantly.

  “Awww, it didn’t work.”

  “Keep trying. I’m certain it takes a great deal of practice. It’s supposed to be really difficult.”

  “Okay, I’ll try again.” Alora clamped her eyes shut and concentrated, trying not to think about how cold she was. Occasionally, she peeked at the little kittens, worried they were getting too cold. But both seemed mindless of the chill wind, chasing each other farther and farther onto the ice.

  “I hope you can transport them,” Kaevin remarked, squeezing her hand playfully. “I don’t want to walk out on the ice to retrieve them.”

  “They’ll come back eventually,” she replied. “Or we can walk all the way around to pick them up on the other side. You can’t walk too far out there in December. It’s still got thin spots in the ice.”

  “What’s December?”

  “You know... October, November, December? It’s the last month in the year.”

  “What’s a month?”

  “You don’t have months in Laegenshire?”

  Kaevin shrugged, shaking his head.

  “A month is about thirty days long. Some are longer and some are shorter; February has twenty-eight days.”

  “Ah.” A pleased smile slid onto Kaevin’s face. “You’re talking about a moon. There are thirteen moons in a year.”

  “Uhmm, yeah... I think it takes about a month for the moon to go through all the phases. I was never that great at science, but we could ask Wesley.”

  “Is it always so cold here? We usually don’t get this much snow in Laegenshire. Only the very shallow ponds will freeze hard enough to walk on them. Unless we go to the mountains—it’s much colder there.”

  “It stays pretty cold in Montana in the winter—this is fairly typical. It’s usually cloudy like this in the winter months. The other day when you came to me in the snow... even though the sun came out, it was still below freezing.” Alora looked back at the two playful kittens. “I should try again to move Mittens. They’re practically in the middle of the ice now.” She closed her eyes to concentrate, occasionally cracking open one eye to see if anything had happened.

  “I’m sorry it’s taking so long,” she said. “Maybe we should give up and try to call them to us.”

  Kaevin rubbed his thumb on her hand in gentle circles. “I don’t mind if it takes a while. I enjoy holding your hand without your uncle glaring at us. We can stay out here all afternoon if that’s your desire.”

  His sweet words and the soft caress of his thumb settled over Alora like a soft, warm blanket. A small mewling sound came from her feet, and she glanced down to find Mittens on the ground in front of her. “Look! I did it!” she cried, scooping up the confused kitten and placing her in Kaevin’s free hand.

  “Incredible! How did you do it?”

  “I have no idea,” she admitted, “but I’m gonna try for Ringo now.”

  She imagined Ringo on the ground in front of her. Though she attempted to relax and repeat what she’d done with Mittens, nothing seemed to work. Eyes open. Eyes closed. Nothing seemed to help. Meanwhile, the fri
ghtened kitten let out a pitiful wail as he sat alone in the middle of the frozen pond.

  Alora startled as the scream of a hawk pierced the air. She spotted the predatory bird diving toward the kitten at the center of the ice-covered pond. “Oh, no!” She dropped Kaevin’s hand, dashing onto the ice. “He’s going after Ringo!”

  “No, Alora!” Kaevin cried. “It’s not safe! Come back!”

  She rushed toward the kitten, yelling to frighten the hawk away. As the bird abandoned his quest in the wake of her assault, she stopped running, suddenly recognizing her precarious situation. What was she thinking? This was the stupidest thing she’d ever done. The kitten was several yards away, but she knew better than to venture farther.

  “Alora!” Kaevin called. “Don’t take another step! Can you lie down gently and spread your weight out?”

  She nodded, slowly bending her knees, gradually lowering herself to the ice. At the sound of a loud crack, she froze. Kaevin’s horrified gaze was the last thing she saw before the ice gave way beneath her.

  Chapter Five

  Vindrake took the flask from Abaddon, removing the lid to sniff the contents. He cringed—it was disgusting.

  “Only a small amount is required, Sire. Merely a thimbleful.”

  “I’ll take a sip after you have done so.” Vindrake handed the flask back to his shaman.

  “Very well, you can see the transformation for yourself.” Abaddon put his lips to the flask and lifted it quickly, swallowing a small amount of liquid. He smiled in an obvious attempt to mask his reaction to the taste. Vindrake never saw the change take place. He was simply looking at Abaddon one moment and looking at someone else the next. The new man had green eyes rather than blue. His hair and build were similar to Abaddon’s, but his facial features were unrecognizable. Vindrake searched his aura for a sign of the bondmark. He could not detect the bloodbond, but some giftedness seemed apparent.

  “Your gift is not totally masked, Abaddon,” Vindrake remarked. “Perhaps you did not drink enough.”

  The man who no longer looked like Abaddon answered in a voice that sounded different as well. “As there are so few people who have no gift whatsoever, I designed the potion to mimic a peasant’s power. Otherwise you would be suspect, simply by appearing devoid of gift.”

  “I see,” said Vindrake with grudging respect. “Perhaps the potion will work as planned. As you predicted, your bondmark is not apparent. You are certain the bond is still effective? I would not like to start this expedition without the guarantee of fealty from my companions.”

  “Sire, I assure you, no small potion of my making can counter the powerful bond you have designed for your kingdom’s citizens. You have nothing to fear.”

  Vindrake took the flask back and handed it to his weapons master. “You will be next to sample the potion.” One by one, the men and women sipped the awful potion that changed their entire appearances and auras, while Vindrake gave out final instructions for the expedition.

  “We will start with the large group of thirty, fanning out into the countryside to question all the small farms and shires of southern Stone Clan. Tonight, we will come back together here.” He indicated a small lake to the east of the main road. “Each morning we will repeat the process, until we have accomplished a thorough search and are certain the girl is not anywhere in Stone Clan. Then we will search the other small clans along the way to the mountain pass.”

  The flask came back around to Vindrake, who quickly sipped the liquid, wiping his mouth on his sleeve and ignoring the foul taste. “Be certain you are well armed with sword and knife, as your gifts are no longer effective. We will remain masked until we have located the girl. It is imperative we not alert the Stone Clan of our expedition. Whether or not they are aware of Lena’s existence, they must not guess we have that knowledge.”

  Vindrake’s voice sounded strange to his ear. He stretched out a strand of his hair with his hand. The texture felt the same as always, but to his eyes the hair appeared brown and curled. Satisfied, he dropped the hair and held up his hand, indicating the copper ring on his middle finger. “Do not forget to wear your ring at all times so we can recognize one another.”

  *****

  Alora’s breath left her with the shock of the ice water enveloping her body. The frigid water burned her skin with intense pain, such that she could hardly breathe. Struggling against the sodden clothes that weighed her down, her hands fumbled on the edge of the ice. In a heartbeat, strong hands grasped hers, pulling upward. Lying flat on the thin ice near her, Kaevin grappled to lift her toward him.

  “Alora,” Kaevin urged, “you need to transport us. Somewhere. Anywhere.” Another crack sounded. Kaevin cried out. Alora dipped lower, the icy water splashing over her head.

  “I can’t,” Alora sputtered, her face barely above the freezing surface.

  “You can!” he said. “I know you can! Transport us somewhere.” More ice crumbled near the edge. Kaevin’s elbows splashed into the water and Alora felt his grip slacken on one arm.

  “Just l-let m-me g-go.” Alora spoke through chattering teeth.

  “I’m not leaving you! Either way, we’ll die together.” His hold shifted underneath her arms, and he pulled her closer.

  “Can you put your hands around my neck?” he asked.

  She attempted to comply, but her hands, numb with the cold, couldn’t grasp anything.

  “Alora.” Her name tore from Kaevin’s throat in a desperate cry as a snap sounded from the ice ledge beneath him. “I love you.”

  Staring close into his fear-filled eyes, Alora knew it was hopeless. His face lowered until their mouths touched. He kissed her frozen lips as the ice collapsed and their bodies tumbled down into the dark frigid waters.

  *****

  Charles looked up expectantly at the sound of the door opening. “Oh. Hi, Beth. Wesley. Are you guys out of school early today?”

  “Yep,” said Beth. “Bad storm coming this afternoon. The wind’s already picked up a lot. Where are Alora and Kaevin?”

  “They went out to tend the horses two hours ago. Should be back any time.”

  “We’ll go find them,” said Beth. “And Wesley’s got some clothes that might fit Kaevin. His brother, Steven, left some clothes behind when he moved away. Can we pile them here on the table?”

  “Sure. That’s real thoughtful, Wesley.”

  “Uhmm, yes sir. I mean, thank you, sir. I mean, you’re welcome, sir.”

  “Wesley, I can’t accuse you of not being polite.”

  Beth and Wesley followed the tracks in the snow from the house to the stable to the barn and into the woods. As they walked, the snowfall thickened, the heavy flakes affecting visibility.

  “Where on earth did they go?” asked Beth.

  “Hunting, maybe?” Wesley suggested, as they traipsed through the woods, grateful to be out of the blowing wind.

  “Isn’t it too cold to go hunting?”

  “There’s no such thing as too cold to go hunting.”

  Emerging from the woods, it seemed the new snow had obliterated Kaevin and Alora’s tracks.

  “Does it look like they went out on the ice?” asked Wesley, straining his eyes to see through the blowing snow.

  “Surely not,” said Beth. “Alora knows better than that.”

  “The way the wind has blown the snow, it’s really hard to tell. And with this storm coming in, we should get home. Hopefully, they’re back at the house, and we just missed them somehow.”

  A pitiful mewling caught Beth’s ears. “Awww, look at these little kittens. I think these are the same ones that were in Alora’s barn.” She bent down to pick them up, handing one to Wesley. “Hey, sweetheart. How did you get all the way out here? Huh?”

  “Let’s drop them off at the barn on the way.” Wesley tucked the squirming kitten inside the warmth of his coat.

  With one last glance behind her at the snow-covered lake, Beth turned to trek back toward the house. And warmth. And safety.


  *****

  “But I feel like I’m missing all the action,” Bardamen complained to Laethan, who was checking on his patients in the healing house. “Obviously, I know all the reasons I had to stay, but in some ways, don’t you wish you could have joined the expedition? I’ve never been to the other side of the mountains. I wonder if the women look different over there. I need to find a wife, and there are no single women of appropriate age anywhere near Stone Clan. At least, there are none I haven’t already met and rejected. I’ve been thinking ever since Raelene told us she married someone from Forest Clan. Perhaps I might marry a woman from Forest Clan as well. Or even perhaps one from Air Clan.”

  “Hmmm,” Laethan muttered, holding a healing draught to a patient’s lips and gently lowering his head back to the bed. He moved to the next bed, examining the patient’s wrists and testing for fever with the back of his hand.

  Bardamen followed him and sat on the edge of the patient’s bed, by his feet. “And they’ll probably encounter all manner of attacks along the way. I would wager it won’t be long before Vindrake gets word we are searching for Alora. And when he does, he’ll be searching for her as well, even if he doesn’t know why we’re attempting to locate her. He’ll most certainly attempt to find her first, simply because he’ll recognize her importance. And I would wager he puzzles out her identity when he sees her, since she looks exactly like Wendelle.”

  “Hmmm,” Laethan muttered, moving to the next bed, where a young child of six lay sleeping.

  This time Bardamen sat on the empty bed next to the child. “Don’t you agree?” he asked.

  “Hmmm?” muttered Laethan.

  “Laethan! Are you listening to me?” asked Bardamen.

  Laethan’s patience, which had been wearing thin, snapped to pieces.

  “Actually, no. I’m not listening. I have work to do. Too much work. And yes, I would have enjoyed taking part in that expedition, because I think I might have gotten more rest than I will here. But if you’re bored and you’d like to help instead of complaining about...”