Echoes of Fae: Book One of the Divine (11 page)

              “You do not often associate with our kind, do you?” Yirah asked kindly.

              “Not so close, or openly. Remaining Helacorn seem to hide what they are,” Melody said through her laughter, “Forgive me for staring.” The Helacorn guard shook her head.

              “Not at all, my lady, we love to be looked at. Helacorn males are so brutal that people assume that the females are as well. Issy likes to be admired, but not leered,” Yirah leaned toward Melody confidentially, “I like the leering, too.” Melody laughed loudly, gaining the attention of the rest of the group. Haroah walked toward them. Yirah and Issy inclined their heads to him and he returned the gesture. Melody saw Yirah wink at him and Haroah blushed.

              “Thank you for being here with us,” Haroah said bashfully to the tall guards. Issy nodded.

              “Of course, young one. We must help each other in these times of crisis,” Yirah said respectfully, “I heard you were joining the guard.”

              “I pledged myself to the Pramacretine,” Haroah stated simply. The Helacorn women glanced at each other meaningfully. Melody was a little confused. She did not know if they thought this a bad thing.

              “Issy says to tell you that we are not to judge, only that we are surprised at such an archaic tradition being practiced by a Half,” Yirah told Melody. She smiled at Haroah. “Not that we have a problem with a half, only that as most Halves are, you were also raised away from your heritage.” Yirah added. Haroah nodded.

              “Melody has been my friend for a long time,” Haroah replied reverently. “We all know what her future holds. I will be a brother to her and protect her through to the end, as she will likely be saving all of us.”

              “Haroah,” Melody began, hating to hear about her status as a savior. Haroah bowed respectfully to Melody in response. She laughed.

              “Our leader does not wish to hear about how she must lead,” Yirah said, laughing.

              “Not exactly,” Thane said as he intruded on their conversation, “Melody does not like to have reminders that she will have to do as she is told.” The group laughed.

              “Oh, nice,” Melody said, not enjoying the attention, “Sure, because as your savior I should be thoroughly mocked.” Melody stomped off toward the stream to check her horse. She could hear them continue to speak of her so she wandered far enough to be out of earshot. The Pramacretine sat atop a large stone that protruded near the spring. She watched the dragonflies dance around the water in the sunlight and tried to relax. Unfortunately, something stirred from the opposite side of the water. She watched before her, waiting to see what it would be. It did not emerge for a while so she stood and stalked toward the sound.

              “Hello?” She called out quietly. No one answered. Melody passed a thicket and felt a tug at her trousers. She cried out but muffled it with her hand to avoid alerting the rest of her group. Peering down Melody gasped. There in the brush lied Jax, his face bloody and his body bruised. He lacked a shirt and shoes. Melody knelt down beside him and tried to wake him. When she could not, she called out for Thane. The Healer came running with the rest of the group close on his heels.              

              “I found Jax and he is hurt,” Melody breathed. Thane knelt beside Melody and felt for Jax's pulse.

              “His pulse is weak,” Thane replied, taking Melody's hand, “I will heal him, but I need your help.” She nodded; her face pale and shocked. Thane held her hand against Jax's forehead. Melody could feel Thane use her Ether to thread Jax's muscles, bones and skin back together. She focused on his technique and mimicked it to help him. Very soon, Jax's eyes blinked open. They were unfocused and bloodshot.

              “Jax!” Melody cried. She did not move, for Thane was not finished so she whispered to the Conjurer, “Hold still.” Jax only stared at her. Finally, Thane released her hand and stood up. He walked back toward the group and led them away. Not too far away.

              “What are you doing out here? What happened to you?” Melody asked, aghast at his damaged appearance. Jax cringed but did not speak. Melody cringed, afraid and hurt, “Why will you not speak to me, Jaxon?”

              “Melody,” Jax croaked. He allowed her name to wash over them until he dropped his head back onto the dirt.

              “Jax, please! What happened?” Melody asked, her eyes welling up with tears. He looked at her face and froze. The Conjurer yanked the Pramacretine on top of him and held her there. When he released her, he kissed her cheek.

              “My father passed through,” Jax said, his voice husky from abuse. Melody stared at him. She knew she felt uneasy about Ziodin and anyone who could do this to his or her own son was clearly very evil. Melody shook her head, anger replacing worry. The Conjurer placed his hand against her face, as he said, “No. Please do not try to take on my perils. He passed through. He is gone now.”

              “No, he is not,” Melody replied forcefully, “He is at my home.” Jax's face dropped.

              “We must go there,” Jax said, very serious. Melody shook her head.

              “We certainly shall not,” Melody countered. Jax looked at her with confusion as she continued, “He will hurt you and right now he does not know we know he is evil. He is my father’s guest. Father will monitor him until he acts. Nothing can be done until he does something, so my father is happy to handle it behind closed doors when necessary.”

              “Melody, he is a very powerful Conjurer. He will kill your father,” Jax said, “He will kill all of you.”

              “No, he will not. He may be a powerful conjurer, but he has a weakness. I saw it. Besides, I am vastly more powerful. I think,” Melody offered. Jax laughed, and then cringed. Melody soothed, “you may be sore for a while. Your muscles must regenerate from the quick healing and abuse.”

              “Where are you going?” Jax asked suddenly. Melody laughed.

              “I probably should have explained that. We are helping a friend. His family home burned with his mother inside. His sister is missing. We are going to put his mother to rest and try to find his sister,” Melody explained. Jax gaped which invited Melody to ask, “What?”

              “N-nothing,” Jax stammered. Melody gave him a withering look so he finished, “It may have been my father.” The Conjurer admitted his father's deed shamefacedly. Melody touched his cheek.

              “You are not the same as he is,” Melody said reassuringly. Jax merely stared at the ground. Melody stood and helped her friend off the ground. He hugged her again.

              “I missed you,” Jax said softly.

              Melody stared up at him, a little surprised at his words. Finally, she answered, “I missed you, too.” The Pramacretine took Jax by the hand and led him back to their group. Thane tossed Jax a new tunic and apologetically handed him some wool socks.

The Retrieval

             
Haroah rode ahead with the Helacorn Guard; they were searching for a place to spend the night. The company had been following the tracks closely from the ruins of Haroah’s family home. They did not tarry at the burned down house as it had upset Haroah deeply. They found his mother and buried her properly; the Helacorn guards did a small ritual with blood that Haroah seemed to appreciate. They left soon thereafter and kept riding. The group finally dismounted at a juncture, Jax helped Melody untangle her grubby riding cloak from her saddle.

              Jax began brushing the pretty stallion he was sharing with Melody. The Pramacretine frowned to herself. She could tell she had lost control of the situation involving her emotions for Jax. Seeing him injured had altered her sense of skepticism in his favor. Haroah returned on his horse, his face solemn. Melody looked for the two Helacorn guards questioningly.

              “Where are the Helacorn women?” Jennifer asked. Melody eyed Haroah with the same question flooding her face.

              “They are looking for an inn ahead of us. They are currently sweeping the place, looking for a girl and,” he paused with a look of amusement on his countenance. “They are scaring the drunkards with questions,” Haroah laughed, “Of course; they are so used to the smell of ale and stale vomit that the place hardly touches their stomachs. They get right close to their faces, with angry stares,” Haroah said. Melody looked slightly distressed. “Oh but Pramacretine, they are not hurting anyone, just scaring them. These are tough men, they will be fine, pride in hand through drunkenness,” he assured her. Melody chuckled.

              “You do not think the bar patrons will hurt the Helacorn, do you?” She asked Haroah. He laughed and shook his head.

              “No, not unless they want to die. I think it is virtually impossible to hurt a female Helacorn without Ether and believe me; those men have little to no Ether. Particularly when they cannot even form a sentence without falling hard on their noses,” Haroah finished. Melody smiled. She looked at Thane, who looked to be thinking the same thing. He turned to her, wonderingly, with a wide smile across his face. Jax and Jennifer, being between Melody and Thane saw the look exchanged and laughed, not really sure what was flying past them. Jennifer jumped very suddenly, her cat ears standing at attention, her tail still, wrapped around one leg. The whole company was looking at her. Her eyes were wide with alarm.

              “Uh oh,” Jennifer whispered. “I hear wolves, or wild dogs,” she said, unsure. “They are encased in Ether.”

              “That has become less unusual,” Thane whispered. He turned suddenly to his horse and pulled out some sort of flask. He walked around the group, forcing them to drink. Jennifer refused, but the Healer gently coerced her. “I came across these creatures on my way back from my healing journey. They are not wolves anymore. A force of strong Ether took over their bodies, which drained them of life. According to my master, they are the work of Rovingae,” Jennifer rolled her eyes at Thane's words.

              “That woman is all in little tricks; it will be simple to bring her down,” Jennifer scoffed. Thane’s look of dismay held fast. He mounted his horse.

              “She is making her way slowly,” Thane said - his voice husky with trepidation. “She has something big in mind, I can feel it. I can smell it in the air.” The Healer pulled the hood of his cloak over his black hair and pushed forward, the rest mounting and following close behind him and Haroah. Melody looked at Jennifer, who rode beside her. Jennifer felt her gaze and looked at her warily.

              “What is wrong, Melody?” Jennifer asked, her voice straining control.

              “I can feel it, too,” Melody said quietly, “And it says I have to die.” Jennifer looked at the pretty, brown haired Pramacretine beside her for a long moment. Her gaze was searching. She shook her head.

              “A prophecy is not a promise,” Jennifer said, her mouth was set in a tight line, “What is it, Melody? What do you and your brother feel?” Melody hesitated, searching for the right words.

              “It is like a buzzing under the skin. It happens every time someone uses or is using big Ether. That is not all,” Melody steered her steed tactfully closer to Jennifer’s horse. She leaned in to finish confidentially. “I have been having dreams, as well. I have dreams of Rovingae; I can see a forest of dead trees. Everywhere is death. In my dream, at least, she has cast some sort of deadly incantation on the world. I do not know how it helps her but she intends to use it to her advantage. I hear her whispering, sometimes. She says she is going to be Macretine, soon. Not a measly little Macretine, like Genewen, she will be the Macretine of the world, she will make all who live on it serve her,” Melody hissed. Jax tactfully pretended not to hear as he held onto the Pramacretine.

              “That would be very hard,” Jennifer said, her face was dark and unreadable, “Do you know what the incantation is, Melody?” Jennifer asked. Melody nodded, carefully.

              “I have heard her say it, and I know it is real because it is not like my other dreams,” Melody replied.

              A few moments passed before Jennifer replied, almost happily, “This is wonderful! You really are the Divine, you are Divine, dear Pramacretine of Agoura!” the Infeline chanted. Melody lowered her head as Jennifer continued, “Do not speak the incantation, Melody. Keep it in your mind and avoid commanding it to reality. I want you to do what you can with Thane and see if you can find a way to counter the incantation, or merely to keep it from affecting us.” Melody nodded. Her face had receded behind her cloak and the darkness hid her expression. Jennifer touched her arm consolingly and rode ahead, leaving Melody alone in the darkness.

              Jax tried to peer around the Pramacretine to look at her face. Melody looked up, allowing the moonlight to flood under her hood. Tears streamed down her pale face. Jax carefully turned her around and pulled her against him as he took the reins. Her hood fell and Jax could smell her hair. He allowed the horses to follow the convoy and pressed his lips against her neck. She was warm and smelled of lavender. She rested her head on his other shoulder, leaving her neck for him to touch. Melody felt reassured, her mind consumed by the comfort his face, eyes and lips brought her. The thought of his kiss consumed her. She knew in her heart that he was one person, at least, that her life could save and make the sacrifice worthwhile. She hoped she could trust him because her walls were crumbling and if she let him in, he could destroy her.