Jeanne G'Fellers - No Sister of Mine (31 page)

“Just the same—”

“Hush.” Firman covered her mouth with his fingers. “You’re overanalyzing.” She quieted to his request, smiled, and hugged him back.

“FIRMAN!” Krell barreled out of the fog. “I’ve found her. I’ve found her!”

“Where?” Tatra stepped away from Firman but continued to grip his warm hand.

“Thousand paces from here, about twenty or so down.”

“You can’t see that far in this soup.” Firman’s fingers closed around Tatra’s. “You sure?”

“Positive. There’s a Hiding Cave down there and someone’s burning marker lights in the mouth. Come on!”

Trazar was cleaning LaRenna’s fevered face when he heard the first skittering of pebbles in the cave entrance. He dashed to the archway where their chamber joined the main corridor and peered around the corner, dagger in hand. One, two, and then three silhouettes slid down a rope into the cave mouth. He couldn’t see them clearly against the glow of markers, but he could recognize two figures as Taelach from the reflections off their hair.

“LaRenna!” The largest of the shadows called out in a definitive Taelach drawl. Trazar sheathed his dagger and stepped out.

“She’s in here!” The figure blew by him at alarming speed followed closely by a mud-splattered second. The third approached with slower, calmer strides and extended his hand.

“I’m Firman Middle. The two whirlwinds that just blew past you are First Kimshee Krell Middle and Healer Tatra Wileyse.” Firman clasped Trazar’s shoulder. “Who did you say you were again?”

“Sentry Commander Trazar Laiman.” Trazar’s attention was fixed on those tending his sister. “You said one of them is a healer?”

“The skinny one. I’ll have her check your hand later. The other one’s been looking for LaRenna for days.”

“I know her,” replied Trazar. “First Officer Middle posted on Langus, same as I.” He watched Tatra examine LaRenna’s foot. She checked the bandages to ensure the drainage ran clear and gave Krell a satisfied nod. Then she adjusted the finger splint and began to untie the bindings on her ribcage.

“They’re broken,” called Trazar.

“I know.” Tatra glanced over her shoulder at him. “I’m loosening them to promote her breathing. Did you tend to her foot?”

“I did what I could.”

“Good work,” she replied. “You saved it from amputation.”

“What about the ankle? I didn’t know what to do about it.”

“It’s past full repair, but thanks to you she’ll still have it.” Tatra smiled sympathetically at Krell, knowing the information was painful. “A brace will help. She’ll adjust.” LaRenna’s low fluidic cough prompted Tatra to hold her ear to her chest. She listened and gave several experimental thumps but no amount of physician’s training was able to disguise the diagnosis when she looked up. “She has pneumonia.”

“Fix it,” said Krell.

“I can’t. Not here. There’s not a remedy in my pack or in a Hiding Cave’s medical stores. Taelachs just don’t get illnesses of this nature.” Tatra glanced up at Firman. “We’ll have to send one of you to the Training Grounds medical compound for what I need.”

“Can’t we carry her there?” suggested Trazar.

“No.” Krell cradled LaRenna’s head. “She wouldn’t make it off the cliffs and wouldn’t last the time it took to go for medicines. She’s dying. Tatra, for love of the Mother, please help her.”

Tatra placed her hand over Krell’s. “There’s little I can do. She’s simply too weak. Draining the fluid from her lungs might make her more comfortable, but”—she looked to Firman—“it’s out of our hands.”

“No, it’s not.” Krell couldn’t hold back her tears. “There is something I can do and you know it.”

“No!” Tatra’s eyes grew large. “It’s far too early.”

“I’ll do it with or without your help. I can’t let her slip away from me again.” Krell removed the cloth from LaRenna’s forehead. “Hold on, wren bird. I’ll be there soon.”

LaRenna’s eyes briefly fluttered in response.

“Krell?”

“Yes, I’m here. Open your eyes for me.”

LaRenna’s lids slowly parted.

“Krell.”

“There you are, wren bird. I’ve been looking for you. You know what I’m going to do, don’t you?”

LaRenna turned her face away.

“No.”

Krell eased LaRenna’s face around until she looked up again. “I’m not going to argue with you, darlin’. Just know that I love you and I’ll be with you in a little while.”

“I’m not strong enough to fight anymore.”

“Close those eyes, wren bird, before they close themselves. I’ll be out here making ready while you rest up for me.”

No, let me go.
LaRenna’s heavy lids collapsed together despite her resistance.

I’m far too stubborn for that. Stop wasting your energy by arguing.
Krell pushed a light pleasure phase that forced LaRenna back to sleep.

“Krell, you can’t!” wailed Tatra. “A soul phase between new lovers is unheard of. It’ll kill you both.”

“Life won’t be worth living if I lose her.” LaRenna began to convulse in Krell’s arms, gasping short wheezing breaths that returned little air to her inflamed lungs. “Please, Tatra, it has to be now.”

“Firman?” Tatra turned to him. “We can’t let this happen.”

“The decision isn’t yours to make.” He pulled her to him. “If their faith in each other is strong enough, it will work. If not, then at least they’ll be together. Help Krell into the soul phase then let things happen as they may.”

Tatra sighed a deep, tearful breath, then looked back to examine the determination in Krell’s face. She was in deep meditative prayer, preparing her mind and body for what was LaRenna’s last hope. Such dedication, such self-sacrifice could not be ignored. Firman turned Tatra’s face to his and nodded, releasing her of all guilt, any notion of another choice. “Your help is crucial.”

“Why do I always find myself a part of the Middle clan’s impossibilities?” She sighed. “All right, let’s do it.” Tatra set about preparing a space in an adjoining room.

Firman enlisted Trazar’s assistance in removing all the store crates from the space, explaining the precarious situation to his fellow Autlach as they added the supplies to those of the front chamber. “That’s the gist.” Firman wiped his brow. “They both survive or they both die.”

“And if Krell doesn’t attempt the soul phase?” asked Trazar.

“This far away from the proper medicines, if Krell doesn’t try this, LaRenna will die for sure.”

Tatra passed them sweepers and ushered them back into the room. “Give that floor a good raking. I want it as clean as possible.”

“How clean can one get a cave floor?” Firman leered in her direction.

Tatra winked at him. “Just do it and stop overanalyzing everything I say.” She giggled at her own retort then returned to the main chamber and the expanded mound of crates. “How do you want things arranged in there, Krell?” She rifled through the contents of the nearest box.

Krell sat cross-legged on LaRenna’s bedroll. “Stack the bedding as high and as thick as you can. I want her comfortable.”

“Anything else?” She heaped bedding and pillows beside the door.

“No, just that. Please hurry, she’s slipping away.” The urgency of Krell’s request startled everyone into doubling their pace. They unfolded sleep platforms into a double thick, triple width frame and spread an abundance of rolls on top. Tatra disassembled two rolls and laid the blankets to the side for use as top covers. The men piled pillows high at one end of the arrangement.

“Not that way, you lugs, surround the—ah, let me do it.” She snatched the pillows and tossed them around the perimeter of the platform, creating the effect of a padded nest. “Done. Go get Krell.”

Firman turned just as his sibling appeared in the doorway, LaRenna cradled in her arms. She faced Trazar, letting LaRenna’s warm thoughts speak for her. “I’ll do everything I can for your sister, Trazar Laiman.”

“I never told—”

Krell nodded toward LaRenna. “She did, in her fever dreams. You and Firman must leave. There’s nothing else you can do.”

Trazar departed after a quick kiss to his sister’s forehead, but Firman lingered momentarily. “See you when you return, Krell Tanchana.” He pressed the lost amulet into Krell’s palm. “Tatra gave it to me,” he whispered. “Said she had a copy made when you two were together and gave you back the dummy. She was wearing it when we fled Langus. Now you have everything you were missing. Don’t lose yourself.” Without another word, he walked away and closed the door. Tatra stood by the bedside while Krell eased LaRenna into its softness then slid the amulet over her head. The healer checked all the bandages then eased LaRenna out of her sweat-drenched clothing and under a light blanket. Krell undressed as well, then took a spot next to LaRenna.

“You ready then?” Tatra asked.

Krell snuggled into LaRenna and nodded. Tatra placed their arms above the blanket then lashed LaRenna’s right to Krell’s left, immediately above the wrist. “The binding of arms symbolizes the joining of your spirits before, during, and after the soul phase takes place.” Tatra’s expression lost some of its reverence. “Never thought I’d be putting you to bed with another woman.”

“Never thought I’d be letting you. Take care of Firman for me, will you?”

“You can do it yourself when you return.” Tatra patted Krell’s arm and turned to her medical pack. She opened a small packet of powders into a vial of sterile water, capped it tightly, and shook it vigorously. It reacted chemically, producing an orange smoke that threatened to burst the container. Rag to her face, Tatra released the top of the jittering vial and a thick vapor spewed into the room—a Taelach pain reliever used in large areas where the injured outnumbered those capable of phasing relief. In the chamber’s confined space, the effect was compounded, making Krell lightheaded in the first few breaths. Tatra mumbled something unintelligible through the cloth then looked down, removing the cloth to repeat what she’d said. “Bring her back in your soul phase, Krell. We need you both.” She covered her mouth again before the sweet-smelling gas could overtake her and backed out of the room.

In the relaxed depths of the drugged haze, Krell pushed a heavy pleasure phase, praying LaRenna had enough remaining strength to accept it. She did. Pure light energy encased them both, bringing them together in a form beyond the physical. Where one ended, the other began. LaRenna’s pain was Krell’s, Krell’s strength LaRenna’s. They drifted somewhere between life and death as LaRenna’s body began to fail. Krell breathed for them both, sustaining LaRenna’s existence. Concepts of time and space, Autlach and Taelach faded from their reality. All that remained was their one spirit, their one being, one voice, one heart. They were soul phased.

Painful memories, though deeply suppressed, are never truly forgotten.

—Taelach wisdom

They floated between realities, Krell’s entire being wrapping LaRenna’s, shielding her from the consuming cold of Death.

Wren bird?
Krell’s thoughts rang inside their common existence, warming them both. LaRenna pushed at the black as she struggled to respond.

Krell?

Darlin’ mine, let me hold you safe while we fight this.

I . . . I can’t see you.

I’m all around you. We’re soul phased. Can’t you feel me?

Silence.
I hurt.

I’m here, Wren bird. Let me take away some of the pain. Give me the weight in your chest.

No, you’ll hurt too . . . I won’t lose you, can’t lose you.

And I won’t lose you either. Give me the weight.
LaRenna’s smothering pain became manageable.
Better, sweetheart?

No. You hurt now.

I’m fine. We’ve divided the pain. Push away from the blackness. Give it a phase to force it out.

Silence. A weaker, pleading call.
Kkrreell.

Darlin’, what’s wrong?

They won’t leave me alone . . . the more I fight, the stronger they become . . . help me.

They?

They’re crushing me.

I’m taking some of the weight from you. Breathe, LaRenna, breathe.
Again, the pain released.
Better?

Yes . . .
Silence.
No.

Wren bird?

Not again.

LaRenna?

Silence.

LARENNA, SPEAK TO ME!

LaRenna managed a tiny hollow hole of a whisper.
Why, Krell, why?

Share with me, Renna. I’ll make them go.

It’s too much.

No! Let me in!

Silence, deafening silence punctuated by a single sob.

LARENNA! HOLD ON!

Krell’s grip slipped and LaRenna began to fade. Instinctively, she focused a phase that reached far beyond the limits of their joining. Krell’s energy entered LaRenna’s mind, braced for a struggle but unprepared for what she found—vivid images of the Creiloff twins that had been imbedded by the prock. Their images overwhelmed LaRenna’s psyche, crowding her until little of her strength remained.