Gloria Oliver (21 page)

Talia knew they were wrong.

“Come, child, the healer will fix everything.” The woman who’d been checking on her gently tugged on her to get up.

Though she didn’t want to go, wanted to tell them nothing was wrong with her which she hadn’t brought on herself, she also knew she couldn’t stay. More and more students were turning in her direction to see what the commotion was about. It was the last thing she wanted.

She tried to stand, but immediately doubled over as her stomach cramped harder than before. “Ughn.”

“Mala, help me!” The watcher held on to her, keeping her from falling to the floor.

Talia didn’t resist as she felt herself being picked up by the other watcher. The two women quickly rushed her out of the room. She closed her eyes, and concentrated on keeping the shooting pain at bay.

The noise and scents of the dining hall were left behind as the women exited out into the hallway.

Without slowing, they headed for a nearby set of stairs leading down.

Talia opened her eyes, but could barely see, tears clouding her vision. She tried to make the tears stop, but the more she did the faster they came. The whole situation scared her. She’d not reacted to anything in this way before. But then again, she’d never almost been responsible for the death of someone before, either.

The watchers set her down on a soft bed in a small, cozy room. A cool cloth touched her face and wiped away her tears. “Just relax, the healer will be here soon.”

Talia looked away, knowing the healer would be able to do nothing to help her. Desperate, she studied the room, trying to distract herself. Shelves covered all the walls and were filled with all manner and size of jars and bottles. Each was clearly labeled, though she didn’t recognize most of the names. A plain desk, containing a large assortment of bowls and glasses, stood in one corner of the room. It reminded her a little of her village’s own healer. All the kids loved him, especially for the sweets he’d always kept to give them when they visited.

When she’d been very young, she remembered stretching her illness a time or two just so her mother would take her back to him again for more jokes and sweets. Thinking of Hale, his kindness, and how he normally was able to make her feel better, she actually relaxed a little. The cramping in her stomach eased a bit, but didn’t go away.

“My, my, what have we here?”

The watcher stood up, even as Talia’s gaze shifted toward the doorway. Her eyes grew wide as she noticed the small, gnarled form standing there—it was the cackling old woman from the armory.

LaSeren stepped inside with the help of her cane, followed closely by a handsome young man in green.

Grinning her gap-toothed smile, the old woman made her way to the bed. “Ah, I know you,” she said as she got a good look at Talia’s face, “you’re the gutsy girl from Helyn’s class.” Her eyes were bright.

“What seems to be the problem?”

Talia looked away from her penetrating gaze. She forced herself to speak. “It’s just a stomach ache.

I—I’m all right. Really.”

“Her friends told us she’s been sick since this morning,” one of the two watchers interjected. Talia really wished she hadn’t. “She doubled over in pain at the dining hall before we brought her here.”

“Is that so?” LaSeren said. “Come dear, show me where it hurts.”

She hesitantly pointed at her stomach, not thrilled at the attention she was getting. She wasn’t sick.

The old woman nodded. “Lift up your shirt please.”

“Really, this isn’t—”

LaSeren poked her in the side with her cane.

Talia gasped in pain and moved to comply before the old woman could do it again.

“Now tell me when it hurts,” LaSeren instructed her.

She closed her eyes as the healer’s gnarled, wrinkled fingers moved to touch her. Her touch was gentler than Talia expected, as LaSeren probed over her stomach and abdomen. She grimaced occasionally as the muscles cramped beneath the healer’s touch, but said nothing.

“Did you eat lunch?” LaSeren asked her.

Talia opened her eyes at the unexpected question. “A—a little.”

“Any breakfast?”

She looked away. “No.” She wondered what it had to do with anything.

“Mala, Leen, I think I can take it from here.” LaSeren gave the watchers a gap-toothed smile. “But, if you wouldn’t mind, could you ask Tula to send some broth? Maybe a little mild cheese, too, and cut fruit.”

“We’ll bring it right away.” Both women gave Talia a reassuring smile before leaving.

The young man in green stayed, but stood in the back of the room out of the way, observing them. Yet though they weren’t alone, Talia still felt uneasy having the old woman so close. After the games she and her son had played with them at the armory, she wasn’t entirely sure what she could expect.

“Have you ever had these types of pains before?” LaSeren’s yellow-tinted dark eyes watched her expectantly.

“I—I don’t think so, ma’am.”

The old woman cackled, though the sound seemed of true amusement and definitely more natural than those she made at the armory. “Did you hear this, Wulan? You could learn something from her.” She threw a look at the young man, who just shrugged. LaSeren smiled broadly looking back at a confused Talia. “There’s no need to be so formal, child, just call me La.” The old woman chuckled. “Wulan, mix me some Beltia root and Sorum for me, won’t you?”

“Yes, La.” The youth took up one of the many bowls on the desk and then reached up to the shelves on the wall searching for the things LaSeren had requested.

“Now child, tell the truth. You’re very worried about something, are you not?”

Talia stared into her shrewd eyes and gasped. How could she know?

LaSeren smiled. “That’s what I thought.” Her face softened. “It must be pretty serious, too. Or at least more serious than thinking you’re about to be eaten by a crone and her giant son.” She cackled again.

Talia didn’t dare say anything and so looked away. She almost jumped when the old woman patted her unexpectedly on the shoulder.

“Don’t worry. I won’t pry,” she told her. “But do drink this down for me.” LaSeren held out the bowl had Wulan picked up earlier from the desk.

She didn’t reach for it, even as the old woman helped her sit up. “Wh—what is it?”

“Some herbs to help settle your stomach enough so you can eat.” Talia stared at it suspiciously. “It will help you relax,” LaSeren insisted. “No harm will come of it.”

Hesitating only a moment longer, she finally reached out for the offered bowl. Not expecting it to taste pleasant, which it didn’t, she gulped the contents down.

“Slow down,” LaSeren cautioned. “I know it’s not delicious, but don’t forget your insides are already unhappy. We don’t want to antagonize them any more than they are already, do we?”

Talia made a face, not really wanting to taste the foul concoction any longer than necessary, but complied with LaSeren’s instructions. The liquid felt very heavy inside her.

The old woman tapped the side of the bed with her cane. “You just sit and relax and let the medicine do its work. When the food comes, I want you to eat as much of it as you can.” She gave her a hard look.

“I have a meeting I have to go back to, but I’ll check back on you in a little while. I’ll send Wulan here to Helyn to let her know you’re all right and you’re to be excused from classes for the rest of the day.”

Talia tensed. “I don’t really think I need—”

“Ah!” LaSeren raised her cane and pointed it at her. “I’m the healer here. Just be a nice girl and do as you’re told.”

She sighed, actually relieved she wasn’t going to have to go back. Though she already felt a little better, she wasn’t really ready to face the others again. She’d worry about having to catch up on her studies later. “Yes, ma’am.”

The old woman cackled. “Me, a ma’am! Who’d a thought it.” She cackled some more as Wulan opened the door for her, a fond smile on his face. “Now don’t forget what I told you—eat and rest.”

Talia nodded and watched them go. Over the next several minutes, the pain inside her stomach lessened until it was almost gone. Her body, which previously felt so tight and coiled, finally started to relax. She pondered over the old woman’s words and wondered if worry was really what was causing her to be ill.

She didn’t know it could do such a thing. And there was guilt to add to it as well. She sighed again.

The door to the room opened, and she looked up. Mala was there, holding a tray with lunch. The young watcher smiled as she came in. “Feeling any better?”

“Yes, thank you. I’m sorry for all the trouble.” She wouldn’t meet the watcher’s eyes, knowing the fault was all her own and not from a true illness.

“Don’t worry about it.” Her smile was friendly. “Just do what LaSeren says and you’ll be fine.” Mala set the tray on the desk and then unfolded a small table from where it was hidden beneath the bed. She moved the tray and table close enough for Talia to reach them.

“Would you like some company while you eat?” Mala asked kindly.

Talia still wouldn’t meet her gaze. “I’m all right, thank you. I’ve already inconvenienced everybody enough.”

“Are you sure? I’m a good listener,” Mala insisted.

She tried hard to smile, “Yes, thank you.”

After Mala reluctantly left, she tried her best to eat though she didn’t feel hungry. She ate slowly, giving the broth, cheese, and fruit plenty of time to settle into her stomach. When she was finished, she was feeling more normal than she’d felt most of the day. She lay back to rest for a moment, and almost immediately fell asleep.

Her eyes snapped open at the unfamiliar voice. She found herself staring up into the face of LaSeren’s handsome assistant.

“Sorry to wake you,” he said. “But I was sent to fetch you.”

She sat up slowly, her mind muddled from sleep. “Fetch me?”

“Yes,” he answered. “The Administrator wants to see you.”

Her heart jumped into her throat. “Oh.” She could feel her insides trying to tense up again.

“Are you up to it?” he asked her quietly.

“Y—yes, I want to see her.” This would be her chance. She’d now be able to confess her part in all of this and maybe help Kel and Clarence.

Wulan nodded. “This way then.”

The young assistant led her out of the room and down the passage on the right. Talia followed, feeling her nervousness rising with every step. As they took a set of stairs and reached the fourth landing, she quickly ran her hands through her short curly hair and straightened her slept-in clothes. She tried to keep her mind clear, even as she almost shook as they approached the golden door. To her surprise, besides the four watchers from before, a fifth had been added, one who waited quietly with a boy about her age.

She was sure she’d seen him before. He was one of the boys in Mandee and Yllin’s class. What was he doing here?

As soon as she and Wulan came close, the watchers opened the gold door and let them through. The boy and the waiting watcher followed in after them. Once they’d gone in, the door closed behind them with a resonating clang.

Wulan led them all down to the Administrator’s office on the right.

As they entered, Talia immediately noticed it was changed from when she saw it last. Lareen’s desk was pushed almost to the wall, and a number of chairs had been added. Two sat on either side of the desk.

The rest were scattered about the room, but they faced forward toward the desk.

Lareen was not sitting, but stood, looking and acting in no way like her usual self. Instead of the provocative dresses which were her habitual attire, she wore a formal black robe without adornment.

Her normally bright face was grim and deadly serious.

Two others were wearing black robes identical to the Administrator’s. To her surprise, one of them was Nertak, who sat on the right side of the desk. To make her astonishment grow even more, she found the other to be LaSeren, who sat to the left of the desk.

Still, her surprise and notice of these details was fleeting, for as soon as she spotted him, only Kel occupied all of her attention.

The squire sat on a chair set off to the side and was facing the Administrator’s desk. He wore a simple tan tunic and pants. His feet were bare on the cold marble floor. Weighing down his wrists and ankles were large iron manacles connected to one another by large heavy chains. He didn’t glance toward the door as they came in, but faced forward, his expression sad yet at the same time almost serene, as if he’d already come to accept his fate whatever it might be.

Talia’s heart pounded in her chest as she studied him, even as Wulan steered her to one of the chairs in the back of the room.

Lareen spoke up as she spotted them. “Thank you for joining us.” She nodded in their direction. “I’ll try to keep you no longer than necessary.” She stepped away from the desk. “As you have no doubt heard by now, we had a major altercation take place this morning. This council has been convened to review the matter and pass judgment.” Her hard gaze stabbed at Talia for a moment and then at the boy who came in with her. “You’ve been called here to give statements which will help shed light on this matter. It would be in the best interest of everyone concerned if you tell us all you know.”

Lareen moved away from them and returned to the desk before slowly turning around to face them again. Her eyes locked with Talia’s own. “We will begin with you—Talia.”

Her gaze snapped from Lareen to Kel as she saw him react to the mention of her name. He stiffened in his chair and his head half turned to look back before he abruptly stopped himself and forced his head to stare forward as before. She felt her stomach cramp as she went cold all over. She hoped the old woman’s medicine would hold out until this was done.

Lareen’s gaze homed in on her again. “It is my understanding you tend to arrive in the dining hall early every morning. Did you happen to do so today?”

“Y—yes, I did,” she answered.

Lareen nodded in acknowledgment and then continued. “Did you happen to see Kel there today?”

She swallowed hard. “Yes, I did.” She then plunged on, not waiting for the next question before her courage might desert her. “But, but what happened wasn’t his fault. It was mine.”