Dark Wood: Legends of the Guardians (22 page)

Not
sure what to say she stepped back and sheathed both blades. The adrenaline that
had coursed through her blood was gone. Again he directed her to move by laying
a hand on her shoulder. Turning her for the main hall, they walked side by side
as a cold rain began to fall.

Stopping
in their tracks, together they looked up at the midnight sky. The shockingly
cold large wet drops struck their faces, washing away the drying blood of the
dead with each splatter. After a moment’s hesitation they continued on.
Aryaunna’s feet drug so slowly that she nearly stumbled over them.

Inside
was spectacularly well lit. Torches and candles burned everywhere. They lined
the halls. Lamps hung, burning brightly above head. The further in they walked,
the louder everything was. Walking into the main hall they came across the
source. Wounded men, women, and children alike were filling the room. Many
tables were being used as beds for the badly injured. The hall was filled with
the smell of burning grass and herbs to aid the wounded.

If
she hadn’t been looking for her sister, Aryaunna would have fallen to her knees
at the painful sight. As it was, she braced herself against a table of supplies
so that she could be steady as she looked across the room for Elizabeth.

Soot
covered Elizabeth from head to toe in her black button up night dress. Matched
by her pale lily skin and shocking crimson hair she was hard to miss. Her hair
was hung down, but she’d tied a long white napkin over it to keep it out of her
face.

Elizabeth
was caring for a wounded little girl. The child looked barely more than a
toddler. Tears stained Elizabeth’s cheeks as she worked, treating the girl’s
burn wounds.

“Elizabeth,”
Aryaunna said as she walked. Her voice not much stronger than a whisper after
her throat had been stripped by the inhalation of too much smoke. “Elizabeth!”
she called again with more urgency though little more volume.

The
sound of her name being called drew her quick response. Elizabeth looked up to
Aryaunna and began crying from relief. Sobs took her as Aryaunna ran up and hugged
her sister tightly. “Oh thank the Guardians you’re alive,” Elizabeth let out in
a rush between breaths.

Aryaunna
pulled back and took Elizabeth by the shoulders. “Tell me you’re all right,”
Aryaunna begged as she looked over her sister intently, looking for injuries.

“What?
Yes, I’m okay. Allos was with me. He got us out in time. I’m fine,” Elizabeth
let out in a gust as she looked Aryaunna over in turn. She balked at the sight
of so much blood.

“It’s
not my blood, sister,” Aryaunna assured her quickly. Elizabeth caught a deep
breath and let out a quick sigh. “Where is Mayla?” Aryaunna stepped back and
pulled off her cloak, handing it back to Allos who stood behind her. “Take this
for me and have it put somewhere. I have to help Elizabeth,” she spoke directly
to him.

Taking
it he directed back at her sternly, “You need to get checked out. Help your
sister, but you have to be looked at as well.”

“I
will,” she agreed almost too easily.

Doubtful
of her truthfulness he pushed again. “I mean it, Aryaunna. I was never far from
you. I know how many you fought. You need to be tended to as well.” Allos spoke
to Aryaunna but his gaze was on Elizabeth, asking for her support in this.

“I
will see to her myself as soon as the burned are treated,” she agreed vehemently.
Aryaunna was walking. Her hands worked fine. She knew this medicine. She had to
help.

Elizabeth
directed Aryaunna to which tables had what supplies. Korena helped Aryaunna
with one severely injured young man. A burning limb had fallen on him as he’d
been trying to help his mother and sister escape the flames. His mother had
died. His sister was being treated by Elizabeth.

Korena
let Mayla have her place and continued on to care for the less critical
patients, of which there were many. Smoke inhalation. Burns, broken bones, and
small wounds.

The
boy had to remain on his stomach. His shoulder had been broken and burned very
badly by the massive limb that had fallen. “Go on, Mayla. Check in on everyone
again, I can finish this,” Aryaunna insisted. She was finishing the poultice
for his shoulder.

Sighing
with weariness, Mayla agreed. “Yes. Give him another dose of the black oil and
then I will take it around to the other patients.” Taking the length of the
moment for Aryaunna to get a dab of the thick black oil onto a small medicine
spoon Mayla rested on the bench. Aryaunna pushed on the boys jaw as one might a
dog. She didn’t have the best bedside manner but she was very thorough and
careful about tending to them.

The
oil was so thick she was able to swipe it against his tongue as if it were a
paste. With that she handed the bowl and spoon to Mayla so she could continue
with the poultice. Mayla was exhausted, but stood to her feet to continue on.

Allos
had gone to Mayla’s in multiple trips to bring supplies to the main hall. Once
him and two other men had gotten everything here possible, he stopped for a
sparse minute. His hands braced on a table, leaning over it for just a moment
to catch his breath.

Elizabeth
came up to stand behind him, placing her small cool hand gently against his
back. Beneath her hand a dark bruise was forming rapidly. The surrounding skin
was already swollen and red. “Your ribs are cracked,” the sound of her voice
was a gentle hush upon a storming sea.

Turning
his head he looked back at her. “I’m all right.” His assurance was the smile
reserved only for her.

“You
made Aryaunna promise to be looked over, but you must care for yourself as
well, Allos.”

As
he turned to face her, the touch of her fingers gently brushed over his skin.
He took a moment to consider as he looked down at his soot covered love. Blood
stained her fingertips. Her red hair was a flurry of ringlets, the handkerchief
around her hair having fallen back low. “Looking at you is medicine enough.
Your beauty is so deep that it radiates,” he whispered low enough that only she
could hear. Her hand fell down and held to her other behind her back. As if she
had to keep herself from touching him.

“Let
me treat you, Allos.” Their eyes caught as the quiet hung between them.

“Lena
is missing,” he said after a moment to explain. “I’ve seen to it our people
have what they need to be treated properly. Now I must go find my sister.”

“Why
hadn’t you said anything?” She stepped back stunned. Lena and her had spent a
good deal of time together when obligations didn’t require them elsewhere. Lena
was her friend.

The
only response he needed to give was a nod of his head at the open room filled
with tables of the injured. “Go. Good speed, Allos. Stay safe.” He’d acquired
his belt, and boots. Aside from that he’d bothered with nothing else.

To
her intense surprise, his hand reached out and clutched to her side. Stepping
close, his lips brushed her forehead. In such a small kiss was all the love and
need he held for her. His knuckles brushed along her jaw as he lifted her chin
gently. “I’ll be back soon. I love you, Eli.”

Leaning
down, his lips pressed against her cheek tenderly. Her brows were lifted high,
surprised he’d show such affection in front of not just anyone, but everyone.
“I don’t care what they say. I intend to make you my wife. They should get used
to it.” Hugging her tightly, she held her hands against his arms so not to hurt
his back.

As
he pulled back to leave, she stopped him. “I love you, too.” His lips brushed
hers softly before he took leave.

Raising
her hand, her fingers touched over her lips after he’d gone. She’d have sworn
she could still feel his kiss, as if it had lingered. Suddenly realizing she
wasn’t alone, she turned her gaze to those around her. Many looked away as if
suddenly aware they’d been caught gawking. Some continued to gawk. One of those
someones was her sister.

Aryaunna
was grinning. “I knew it,” she said aloud to herself as she turned back to a
large pot of boiling water. Korena and her stood grinding herbs into the water.

Korena
was smashing the ginger root into mushy pulp, completely oblivious Allos and
Elizabeth. “Knew what?” the girl looked up curiously, though exhaustion marked
her eyes.

“Allos
and Elizabeth”

“Oh,
I knew that already.” Korena looked happy with herself.

“Oh
did you now?”

“They’re
always staring at each other, sneaking touches. People don’t notice me cause
I’m small. I know lots of things.”

Aryaunna
let out a weak laugh. “I bet you do. I’m going to go check a few of the deeper wounds.
Make sure the bleeding has stopped. Where’s the castor oil?” She asked while
picking up a small pile of clean bandages.

“Next
to the dried sunroot.” Korena returned to her task, making a special healing
tea for the wounded.

Turning
for the table Korena had indicated Elizabeth ran up to her. “Why, Elizabeth,
you certainly look flushed. Everything all right?” She smirked. But Elizabeth
wasn’t smiling. “What’s wrong?” The humor in Aryaunna’s eyes deflated.

“Lena’s
missing. Allos is going to look for her.” Before she could finish the second
sentence, Aryaunna had shoved an arm full of towels into her sister’s and was
aiming for the door. “Stay safe!” Elizabeth called at her sister’s back.

“You
weren’t going to tell me?” Aryaunna asked as she came up alongside Allos.

“You
were busy tending to our wounded. Even I had to wait to see to our people.
Besides, have you been checked over yet?”

“I’m
bruised. Nothing more. No cuts, no scrapes, no breaks. Which is more than I can
say for you.”

A
small voice called to them from behind. Korena was bringing them their cloaks,
a satchel hung over her shoulder and a large bota hung from her neck. “Wait,”
she let out a panting breath as she slowed to a stop as she caught up to them.
“You need these.” Shoving their heavy cloaks into their arms, she handed the
bota off to Allos before holding the satchel out to Aryaunna. “Black oil,
eleuthero nectar, and there’s tea in the bota.”

“Thank
you, Kore.” Aryaunna smiled to her. “Do me a favor?” Though the girl looked
tired she looked more than willing. “See to it that Mayla, Elizabeth, and
yourself get some rest. We’ll be back soon, but I need you well rested if
you’re to help me when I return.”

The
girl looked eager and nodded with a sleepy sag. “You have my word.” She
promised as if taking on a grave task.

Allos’
brow was high as he donned the cloak. It hurt him to do so but he no more than
grunted as he adjusted it. Aryaunna took the bota and hung it over her back.
From inside the satchel she pulled out the eleuthero. Taking a heavy drink of it,
she offered it to Allos. “I’ll not be sleeping this day. This might give you
another wind,” she offered.

“How
long have you’ve been taking this stuff?” he inquired as he took the flask and
took swig after her. It was a powerful tonic that would make you more alert.
Not only would it help your mental focus but physically you would feel
stronger.

“Only
when Mayla is lecturing about plant origin.” At that they snickered. Tucking
the flask back into the satchel, she tied it onto her belt securely. “When was she
last seen?” As they’d been speaking, they’d been walking through the village.
They would do a quick check of the area before going into the wood.

“I
hadn’t seen her since midday,” he spoke as he watched the ground. Neither
wanted to directly acknowledge what they were doing out here. The idea wasn’t a
pleasant one.

“I
saw her as I was leaving just this night. She was speaking to me as I was
saddling Sita.” She’d not worried about Sita despite not seeing her. She was
with Veyn. He would keep her safe, as she would keep him safe in turn.

“How
far did you go with her?”

“One
of the fields near Brisheer.”

“How
long were you there?”

“A
few hours at least. I fell asleep, but Sita always comes back before dawn when
I fall asleep. She had just reached close to the woodland when she woke me.”

They
walked on without another word. Too anxious in thought to speak light, too
beaten to speak of what had taken place this night. Nerves eating at them, they
walked with their hands braced upon the hilts of their weapons.

Brisheer
was a stretch of hills, called home by farmers. The last hill in the rolling
dominion was home to the pagans. The hills were sparse of trees. In early
summer they were a glorious sight, especially at sunset when the sky looked to
be on fire.

On
that particular dawn, the sky was a grey fog. Perhaps it was the lingering
smoke from the Hollow. Perhaps it was the precursor to the day to come. Neither
noticed, for neither were looking to the dawn. One would have had to search
hard for the east, as the sky was so muddled that the sun breaking through the
night was nowhere to be seen, despite that the sky had lightened significantly.

They’d
gone afoot without thought of looking for Sita. But when they reached the field
Aryaunna had journeyed from hours before, with no sign or site of Lena or
anyone other than the horse’s worn path, they turned back to the Hollow.

“Call
for Sita, she’ll come for you before we reach the Hollow. You can go on without
me until I can get a horse. We would cover more ground if we split up,” he
corrected after a second’s thought.

“Of
course we would. But we won’t. Not this night. I will call for Sita. She can
take us back to the Hollow where we will get you a horse.”

Allos
had no energy for argument. Or perhaps it was that Aryaunna was stepping
further into her role, allowing Allos to step into his at her side rather than
as her lead.

It
wasn’t long after Aryaunna’s high whistle that the thunder of hooves sounded
through the wood. Sita was still saddled. But she wasn’t alone. Veyn rode
behind them on his own Fell pony, Reins of another held in his grasp, keeping a
brisk pace at their side.

“I
thought you might call for her. With Allos with you, I thought it best we have another
ready,” Veyn explained as he handed the reins off to Allos.

“Good
man, Veyn. You’re all right to ride back on your own?”

The
boy gave Allos a baneful expression in response. “Please, JoHan is the second
fastest steed this side of the dark sea.” Leaning forward, the boy covered his
horse’s ears. “Second to Sita. But I don’t like rubbing that in,” he mock
whispered as he sat back up.

Allos
nodded to him upon settling into the saddle. “You’ve saved us precious time.”

“More
than that, Kolin, Zane, and Raif have taken to the woodland in search for more
of the Church’s guard as well as our sister. Nadegia and Ollin have taken
charge of the prisoner. They wait for your return, but are questioning him as
we sit here now.”

“Ride
hard, Veyn. They’ll need you back in the Hollow.” Allos gave him an
appreciative nod as he dismissed the boy. Veyn seemed pleased to be of service
but was still too hardened by the events in the night to show it. With a click
of his tongue as he tossed the reins over, he urged JoHan to return them from
whence they’d came.

“That
was lucky,” Aryaunna seemed wearily surprised by the boy coming all this way to
deliver the horses and information.

“Luck,
or is it that the Guardians hold our Emissary in their good graces?” Her eyes
rolled. “I pray it so, Aryaunna. For Lena’s sake if not else.”

Their
pace was steady as they rode on. Some time had passed before either spoke
again. In doing so, she was very hesitant. “Allos…” When she didn’t immediately
continue he turned his head to look at her.

“Ary?”
he prompted.

“We’re
riding in the direction of Kenan.”

“We
are,” he agreed with an edge to his tone.

“So
we believe Lena is at Kenan. Do you agree with that summary of things?”

He
paused a moment to consider. “Aye.” It was clear he didn’t like where this was
going.

“This
is going to be ugly,” she stated with a heavily burdened sigh.

“Aye,
Aryaunna. Our day shall see no soon end, and I have a feeling that we may see
it worsen far sooner than we care to.”

“Glad
we’re on the same page then,” her voice dripped in sarcasm as she gave him a
dark look.

The
only noise came to be the huff of their four legged companions, the steady drum
of their hooves as their pace quickened. The horses raced down the gentle slope
of a large hill that coasted into a lesser hill before reaching the valley road
to Kenan.

Going
forward, one of two things were bound to happen.

They
would reach Kenan. Find Lena; perhaps with Amelia’s help. Aryaunna had last
seen the women as promised two weeks ago, loaded with thick warm cloaks, medicine
and food. They would take down all the guards, just the two of them. Lena might
be hurt, but she’d be alive. They’d get her out safely, like they did with the
Nymph.

The
alternative option was simply that they wouldn’t.