Alora: The Wander-Jewel (Alora Series Book 1) (16 page)

Alora almost swooned at his declaration.
He’s so romantic; maybe I am in love with him.
As her concentration drifted, her feet tangled, and she tromped on his instep. This time, she caught him wincing, but he steadfastly refused to give up.
He seemed tireless, keeping her on the dance floor without a break, song after song. He mastered the new dance steps with ease, copying the motions of the teens around him. During one of the fast rock songs, Kaevin taught Alora to dance the Winged-Foot. Beth spotted them and squealed with excitement over the fun steps. Soon, the entire dance floor was scooting, swaying, and hopping in an attempt to duplicate the dance.

Then the music started for the Cotton-Eyed Joe. Kaevin and Alora linked arms with Beth and Wesley and started the feisty dance, humming and laughing.

*****

“We should keep moving,” Morvaen argued. “We can’t allow the other search group to overtake us.”

“Arista is ready to fall off her horse. She can’t continue without rest.” Graely nodded at the slim girl whose head bobbed forward as she rode.

“It was a mistake to take them with us,” said Nordamen.

“We had no choice,” said Graely. “We’ll rest now and leave early, before dawn.”

“Should we eat our cold stores tonight or set up cook fires?”

“Let’s use our available time to cook a meal, and save our cold stores for the next two nights. Perhaps, we can reach Selvenshire by the third night. We’ll make more rapid progress after we deposit Jireo and Arista with their relatives.”

Soon the cook fires were burning, and Jireo joined the camp with two rabbits in hand. “I’m sorry. It’s not much between so many, but at least it will give a flavor of meat to the stew.”

Craegon, the cook, gave him a gap-toothed grin. “Excellent, my boy! Fresh meat is always welcome. We would have none without your work.”

Exhausted, Jireo collapsed near the campfire, propping his head on a log. His sister was already sleeping soundly, lying on the ground out of the way, still wearing her green cloak, with the hood drawn over her head. He’d have to wake her to eat supper. He could never stay angry with his impulsive sister. She was no end of trouble, but he couldn’t help being proud of her boldness.

She complained often at having been born a girl, but she was growing into a beauty despite herself. Their mother wouldn’t allow her to cut her long locks, or she would have shorn them off to get them out of her way. She usually plaited her hair and tucked it away, but sometimes, like now, she forgot. Such times her hair became a tangled mess, and she would shed many tears as their mother worked out the knots.

Jireo was startled from his reverie as the sentry led two unknown men toward Graely. Both wore nondescript clothing and hats. He noted their eyes were green. Even so, he eyed them warily. Any stranger could be in league with Vindrake.

“These men asked permission to speak to you,” the sentry explained to Graely.

“We’re sorry to bother you,” said one, removing his hat and holding it in his hands. “We were traveling and saw your fires. We only ask if we could beg for the favor of some water. Our skins burst, and we’ve ridden some distance without drink.”

Graely kept his hand on the hilt of his knife. “From where do you hail, and what is your purpose on the road?”

“We are humble farmers,” the man said, bowing his head. “We come from Oustenshire, en route to Selvenshire. We’re only going to visit our kin. I am Blenden and this is Forsaethe.”

“Oustenshire?” Graely questioned. “Were you not hit heavily by the plague?”

“Aye, but we are not infected. My friend, Forsaethe, lost his wife.” The other man lowered his eyes.

“Very well. We will give you drink and see if we can spare a skin for you.”

He assigned one of his men to attend to the two men. Jireo stood, still uneasy with the presence of the strangers.

“I don’t like them,” Jireo told Graely. “We can’t afford to trust them.”

“I agree,” said Graely. “I don’t intend to leave them alone.”

“The horses are restless,” said Jireo. “Should I check on them?”

“No doubt these two have tethered their horses with ours. When they leave I’ll have two men accompany them to ensure they take only their own horses.” Graely frowned. “I’ll be glad when we’re rid of them. I feel inhospitable to not offer to share our dinner, but I want them on their way.”

A scream rent the air.

“Arista!” shouted Jireo. He turned to run toward her, and froze in shock. The two men were standing together, knives drawn. The one called Forsaethe was holding a squirming Arista with a knife pressed to her throat.

She managed to land a solid kick, but the man responded by pressing the knife harder so the tip drew blood. Arista cried out in pain, but stopped her thrashing.

“Make no sudden moves. We don’t want to hurt the girl.” Blenden leered as they backed away. Two more men appeared behind them, brandishing swords.

“We have money. We’ll give it all to you.” Graely took a step. “Leave the girl alone. She’s an innocent.”

“Our master needs her,” said Blenden.

Jireo whispered, “They believe Arista is Alora.” Graely nodded, but his gaze never left Blenden and Forsaethe.

“There’s no reason we couldn’t take their money as well,” reasoned Forsaethe.

“Don’t be a fool,” Blenden said between his teeth. “The Master would never allow you to keep the money for yourself. We’re only charged with bringing the girl.” He called over his shoulder, “Disperse the horses!”

At once, the two men brandishing swords ran back to the place where the horses were tethered. Jireo heard shouts in the forest and the whinnies of frightened horses as they scattered in all directions.

Graely continued to advance toward the men. “Let’s be reasonable. You must be aware you will never strike a fair deal with Vindrake. He hasn’t yet forced you to take his bloodbond—it’s not too late for you to escape his deadly hold. Return the girl to us, and we will not prosecute you.”

“Stop right there. Take another step, and Forsaethe will add more force to his knifepoint. The Master prefers we bring her alive, but he would rather have her dead than in your hands.” Blenden’s face contorted in a vicious sneer. “And you should know I willingly took the bondmark you cannot see and serve my master faithfully.”

Graely gasped, but continued to edge forward as the men moved back toward their waiting horses. The other two men appeared behind them, now mounted and leading the horses for Forsaethe and Blenden. When Forsaethe handed Arista to one of the mounted riders, Graely’s hand blurred, sending his knife blade through the air into the man’s throat. But the mounted rider had Arista in his grasp and kicked his horse away, followed closely by the other rider. Blenden aimed his knife at Graely and without waiting to see if he made his mark, drew his sword to quickly hamstring Forsaethe’s horse before mounting his own.

Graely sank to his knees as the knife lodged in his shoulder, but he made no sound. The air was filled with the screams of the maimed horse. Jireo had already flung himself to the ground to retrieve his bow. Rolling up to run after Blenden while nocking an arrow, he let it fly, and Blenden cried out as the arrow embedded in his back. He tumbled off the horse, which continued to gallop riderless through the woods. Jireo ran after the kidnappers, blindly pushing though the brush that tore at his clothes. Finally realizing his efforts were futile, he dropped to his knees and keened with his face to the heavens, “
A-ris-ta
!” He collapsed to the ground, sobbing into his arms.

*****

Alora felt totally relaxed as she reveled in the pure fun of the energetic dance. With Kaevin on one side and Beth on the other, she flung her feet joyfully to the beat of the Cotton-Eyed Joe. Abruptly, Kaevin stiffened and cried out. She felt a terrible pain emanating from him. Acting on instinct she tried to search his mind for the source of the pain.

“Jireo!” he shouted with anguish.

In a flash, Alora was in a dark forest watching a young man on the ground before her, sobbing in agony. She felt thorns biting into her flesh. She lost her balance, sucking in air in total surprise.
Where am I?

Before she could understand what she was seeing, she was back in the dance hall, with the music of the Cotton-eyed Joe blaring. She stumbled, along with her three dance partners, and they tumbled to the floor.

“What just happened? That was crazy!” cried Beth, as they scrambled to escape the onslaught of the other dancers.

“What was that?” asked Wesley. “Did I pass out or something?”

“I think I accidentally transported,” said Alora. “And then when I came back I made you guys fall down.”

“Jireo! It was Jireo!” said Kaevin, visibly shaken by more than their fall.

“I saw it, too,” said Wesley. “Did I just see it? Or did we actually go?”

“I think we all went,” said Beth. “That was so weird. Who was that guy? Why was he crying?”

“You went with me?” asked Alora. “Did all of you see that guy on the ground?”

“I’m telling you, that was Jireo. My friend. Something terrible must have happened.” Kaevin sat down and held his head in his hands.

“I’m bleeding,” said Alora. “I think I landed in a thorn bush.”

“Yep, it got me, too,” said Beth, examining her arm.

“Do you think anyone noticed we were gone?” Wesley asked.

“I need to go back,” Kaevin told Alora. “You need to send me back.”

“Okay, but I’m going with you,” she said. “I’m not risking being separated from you. I’m not good enough at this stuff to know I could get you back.”

“No, that won’t work.” Kaevin stood up, pacing back and forth. “I can’t take you with me. I have to know I can keep you safe from Vindrake.”

“Maybe you should talk to Raelene,” suggested Beth. “She might know what to do.”

“Let’s talk it through on the way home,” said Wesley, shaking his head to clear the fog away. “I think the dance is over for us.”

*****

“We’re gathering the horses,” Morvaen reported to Graely, who sat propped against a tree, a bloody rag tied around his shoulder. “And we put the injured horse out of her misery.”

“And Jireo?”

“We’ve convinced him not to chase them on his own. For now. But he’s frantic—we won’t be able to hold him long. Do you have a plan?”

“My biggest fear,” said Graely, “is they will kill her or worse once they realize she’s not Alora. I don’t believe we can wait long to act.”

“What do you make of his statement about the bloodbond?” asked Nordamen. “I detected no bondmark, and his eyes were green, not blue.”

“Alora could see it.” Jireo pushed his way past Morvaen. “The remaining council members were discussing it. She could see through their disguises. She could even see their eyes were blue, but no one believed her.”

“It’s hard to fathom how they could all mask so thoroughly. This is dark magick indeed,” said Nordamen.

“We’ll have to abandon the expedition,” said Graely. “At least we can be certain Vindrake hasn’t located Alora. She’ll simply have to stay hidden where she is until we can find a way to reach her and train her. Kaevin will advise her to stay away from Laegenshire. After we rescue Arista, we can try again to reach Alora.”

“It’s too bad Alora can’t help us. If only she could control her gift,” said Morvaen.

“She has only fifteen years. It will be years more before she can control the power of her wander-jewel,” said Nordamen. “Until she has complete control, she’ll only be a liability.”

“All I know is Alora has cost me my best friend and, now, my sister. I wish she had simply stayed hidden wherever she was and left us alone.” Jireo cursed as he stomped away.

*****

“I really think Jireo needs me,” said Kaevin. “I think Stone Clan needs me. I’m afraid someone may have been killed. Vindrake must have attacked again.”

“Then you should go,” reasoned Wesley. “Do they let you fight at age seventeen?”

“I can’t be a true warrior at this age, but I’ve engaged in many battles. When the fight comes to your home, you have no choice.”

“Could you go without Alora?” Beth asked. “She seems to be pretty good at fetching you. And maybe Raelene would help her if she got stuck.”

“I’m fairly certain Raelene wouldn’t favor any interference from us. Her generation doesn’t hold with teens in battle. My father has had many arguments with her about teaching the young people. In her day, weapons training didn’t begin until age nineteen.”

“But wouldn’t it be more dangerous if the young people can’t even defend themselves?” asked Wesley. “Especially if you get attacked at your home?”

“Exactly!” Kaevin said. “My father believes you should grow up knowing how to handle a weapon safely and effectively. He still doesn’t use children or young teens in battle, but at least they’re not defenseless.”

“So, if Grandmother won’t help us, we’ll go around her,” declared Alora. “I feel fairly certain I could bring both of us back here if I needed to.”