Keeper: First Ordinance, Book 2 (18 page)

"Please stop—this disagreement is doing more harm than
good," Kaldill held up a hand after a swift glance in my direction. "If
you wish the troops moved, Daragar and I shall do it—with the Prince's permission.
I warn you, however, another debate will ensue, I think, over whether he should
allow this exodus."

He was right—I wasn't sure what Amlis might think of
relocation. It could take time for him to see what a dire state Fyris was in
before he realized that he would have no kingdom if the people were all dead.

Time was growing short. Whatever the wizard had done to the
planet's core was making the poison grow exponentially. I couldn't grasp the
how or why of it—I only knew that it was.

"Have any new soil samples been taken recently?" I
stood and blurted.

"No—they're working on what they already have,"
Berel said. Until now, he'd listened to the debate without comment. "Do
you think we should?" he asked.

"Yes. It's so much worse, now," I hugged myself. "Fyris
will die in a moon-turn if we don't get the people away from here."

Kaldill didn't bother to ask how I knew that. Daragar appeared
at his side—I'm sure he'd been listening to the conversation from elsewhere.
Someday, I hoped to understand how he did that.

"Tory and Korde are with the Prince—they carried rations
in so the troops wouldn't raid villages," Reah spoke to Kaldill.

"I'll bring them back," Kaldill nodded, standing and
drawing himself to his full height. At that moment, I saw the true Elf
King—stern and authoritative. Amlis would have a battle he couldn't win if he
disagreed with Kaldill in any way. A sigh escaped my lips the moment he and
Daragar disappeared.

* * *

"Three found dead in their tents this morning,"
Rodrik muttered as he settled on the makeshift stool inside Amlis' tent. "The
ones reported as sickly yesterday."

"They're dying of the poison, Rod," Amlis shook his
head. "They'd have died of starvation without the rations brought by
Torevik and Kordevik. Have there been any messages from Mother or Uncle Rath?"

"Nothing today," Rodrik shook his head. "What
has changed, Amlis? It's as if the poison quadrupled overnight."

"I know. I don't understand how it has no effect on Tory
or Korde, but whatever they have transfers to me when I'm near them—I can feel
it."

"Tory indicated that he has an immunity to all poisons,"
Rodrik began.

"I know. And the creature he becomes? The troops are
terrified of him, even when he appears normal. I pray that he isn't angered
enough to become the creature again."

"He is frightening, and I suspect Korde can also become
one of those creatures. I have never heard of such, although it serves to
protect us and ensures the troops follow our commands. Do you believe Tory and
Korde are wizards, too?"

"Not wizards," Tory lifted the tent flap and blinked
into the dimness. "Kaldill and Daragar are here. They say it is imperative
that we move you and the troops to Lironis now—a decision must be made before
all of Fyris dies."

* * *

Lironis

Quin

Amlis and his troops arrived and the ensuing debate went on
while Ordin (who'd stayed for now) and I did our best to heal the sick, whose
numbers had tripled overnight. Some of those we saw were troops from Amlis'
army.

Rodrik, who stopped by for a short time and asked for
something to cure Beatris' headache, let me know there was no clear winner yet
in the continuing argument. I merely shook my head at him as he accepted the
small bottle from Ordin and strode away.

Beatris had done her best to stay away from anyone who wore
wings once we arrived in Lironis—she felt embarrassed and inadequate around us.
Instead, she chose to keep close to Omina, who now had a circle of minor
noblewomen about her. Both Omina and Beatris were tended by Sophie, with Yissy
receiving much attention from all of them.

Except for Yissy, there were no other children in the castle.
Breaking away from that thought, I turned to my next patient, a man who should
be young and strong, but who'd broken his leg and contracted the wasting
disease. I hoped the decision to leave Fyris behind came soon.

Very soon
.

* * *

"Lironis is far better off than the lands between here
and Vhrist," Amlis argued. "I could feel it the moment I landed.
Leagues away, the ground beneath my feet groaned with the poison. I hear that
most of those who are waiting in the courtyard for treatment are from outlying
villages, not here."

"How do you explain that?" Justis asked, his voice
frosty and his dark eyes narrowed in speculation.

"I can't, I just feel it—the difference," Amlis shrugged.

"How long will that remain true?" Gurnil asked. "You
don't know, and neither do any of us. All your people cannot live in
Lironis—and without sufficient crop harvests and healthy animals, they will
starve if the poison doesn't kill them first."

"This is our land. My concern is that we will not be
allowed to return, once we leave it."

"It may never be safe to return," Gurnil exploded. "Need
I remind you of the reason we stand here today, debating your exodus? Queen
Elabeth kept the poison at bay, yet she died here, with none to come to her
aid." His wings snapped out, indicating the depth of his anger.

"Fold your wings, Master Librarian," Justis said
quietly. "The Prince realizes he has no choice. He merely doesn't want to
say it."

"My Prince," Rodrik interrupted.

"What is it?" Amlis turned toward his man-at-arms.

"Do you recall the old physician's words?"

"What?" Amlis was confused by Rodrik's question.

"Do you remember when I went to him, asking about Quin?
When we believed that she was Lady Rinda's child after I spoke with the old
man?"

"Yes," Amlis shook his head. "But what bearing
does that have on this?"

"He said 'have you asked yourself why the deaths and
deformities affecting Fyris have failed to touch Lironis?' He told me to ponder
that question, before telling me that you and I should leave Lironis behind. He
also said that your father believed he sent Lady Rinda's child to the kitchen.
I realize now that the old physician knew better."

"Are you suggesting that Quin is Elabeth and Camryn's
daughter?" Amlis grasped Rodrik's meaning quickly.

"I don't know," Rodrik began.

"We don't have a clear answer either," Gurnil began.
"We had her DNA tested by scientists in Kondar. Their response was that
the tests were inconclusive. We have no concrete evidence as to whom Quin may
be."

"I have asked the ships' technicians to do a test on the child's
remains sent to Avii Castle," Justis announced. "I believe we will
know soon whether Lirin, Elabeth and Camryn's daughter, died here or lives,
still."

"Either way, do you think Quin has something to do with
holding the poison at bay here in Lironis? If she goes to Vhrist or elsewhere,
will that also hold true?" Berel asked. He had his tab-vid set on the
meeting table, recording the debate for his father.

That's when the call came. "Son?" High President
Charkisul began.

"Father, what is it?" Berel asked.

"I also have a confession to make. Tell those people to
leave Fyris behind. We've already done DNA testing on Quin, and the tests were
not inconclusive as we said. At the time, I only thought to save her life and
spare her pain—from those who could do harm. Quin has no connection to anyone
on this planet."

* * *

Quin

Something was different—I could feel it. Since it concerned
me, however, I had no idea what it might be. Forcing those thoughts away, as
worrying as they were, I went back to healing the sick.

* * *

"My question is this—does this change how you feel about
her?" Kaldill demanded. He and Daragar asked for a few moments with Justis
when the meeting broke for the midday meal.

Kaldill knew the attendees would break into groups—he'd
already seen Rath, Omina, Amlis and Rodrik leave together.

"No. At least—no." Justis scrubbed his face with a
hand before turning back to Kaldill and the Larentii who stood behind him. "I
know not what my brother will think, however."

"At least he'll know she's not the half-blood he thought
she was," Kaldill muttered and turned away. "You heard the High
President's words—he's made her a citizen of Kondar. She is welcome there if
not with the Avii she resembles."

"I worried that she'd leave with you," Justis
sighed.

"She is welcome to go anywhere with me, and welcome to
stay wherever I am. She feels responsible for helping Siriaa, or have you not
realized it, yet? I'm not sure you could pry her away unless there is no hope
left at all. Yes, I can take her away for short trips, but I cannot and will
not interfere with her choices."

"I will send a message to my brother when the results
come back from the tests on the remains. I know not what his reaction may be to
the fact that Quin does not belong to us in any way."

"Why do you say that?" Daragar spoke for the first
time. "Perhaps you should consider that she may belong to all." He
disappeared with a disgusted sniff.

* * *

Quin

Midday had arrived, bringing Dena with a sandwich. She offered
to sit with me while I ate, but I hugged her and told her I needed time alone.

With a nod, she watched me walk out of the healer's quarters,
and before anyone else could touch me, I lifted my wings and flew upward,
toward a high turret.

If I were lucky, I could eat while I walked down steps to
Justis' old quarters, retrieve the metal box and fly it to the research
building with few noticing. It would involve sneaking through the royal wing to
do it, but I felt I could—everyone should be eating elsewhere.

The upper levels of the palace were almost deserted—I could
hear a maid and a servant coupling in one room as I passed by. When I thought
the rest of my journey through wide, stone halls would be uneventful, I heard
voices coming from Omina's suite.

Stopping short, I held my breath as I listened, making sure
they hadn't heard my footsteps. They hadn't—because they were talking too
loudly to hear them. When I stopped, however, it ensured that I'd hear them
clearly enough.

"We don't know who or what Quin is," Amlis snapped. "What
difference does it make? She's saving lives. Tell me those people wouldn't be
dead or nearly so that she's helped."

"I'm not sure I want her here—not after what I heard,"
Omina's voice was cold.

"All you heard, Mother, was that she bears no connection
to anyone on Siriaa."

"We thought she was half Avii, at least," Omina
huffed. "Even that's not true. She could be a monster, for all we know,
and turn on us."

"A monster? That's ludicrous," Rodrik's voice
intervened. "I've seen nothing of the kind from her."

"Go tell the people in the courtyard that you don't know
what she is, then," Omina shouted.

"Mother, there are servants everywhere. By now, they may
already know what you've been shouting since we've come to your quarters. Is
that what you want? She saved your life, for Liron's sake. Have you forgotten
that?"

"That's another thing," Omina snapped. "Who on
this planet holds that kind of power? Nobody. Why didn't I see this before?"

I'd heard enough. Wiping tears away, I ran as softly as I
could for the nearest window and flew away from the castle.

* * *

"Lord Justis?" A castle servant tugged on his arm.
He'd been deep in conversation with Ardis and hadn't noticed the man's
approach.

"Yes?"

"We've moved everything out of your quarters—and out of
Finder—er—Quin's quarters. Except the box beneath her bed."

"There's a box there?" Justis offered the man his
complete attention.

"Yes. It's a strange box and I wasn't sure I should touch
it."

"Show me," Justis growled. The man almost ran while
Justis strode purposely behind him. Ardis followed Justis as they made their
way through the castle and up steps leading to the royal wing.

* * *

"Quin is missing," Ordin said. "That's why I
sent for you. I don't think she'd shirk her duties or refuse to heal the sick
on a whim," he added.

"Quin is missing?" Gurnil's heart increased its
rhythm. "Has anyone seen her?"

"I've asked everyone here; nobody knows where she is."
Ordin jerked his head toward the door of the healer's quarters, indicating he'd
already asked the ships' healers and castle staff in the courtyard.

"This isn't good," Gurnil muttered. "We were
discussing her in the meeting earlier, where, ah, certain things came to light.
I hope someone hasn't let that slip—without proper explanation, it could prove emotionally
devastating."

"We have problems," Justis shouldered his way inside
the door of Ordin's cubicle. "A servant saw Quin flying northward away
from Lironis, and a strange box was found beneath her bed in the castle."

* * *

"Daragar, have you seen anything like this before?"
Kaldill tapped the lid. The metal box lay on a table inside his suite, after he
asked Justis to leave it there.

"The hair inside is hers," Daragar sighed. "This
frightens me. Shall I go looking for her?"

"We can't find her by the usual methods—I recognized that
in her when I saw her the first time," Kaldill pointed out. "I don't
know what to do. This has weighed on her—I can see it now. Likely, either
someone told her that she was a topic of discussion at the meeting or she
overheard it afterward, somehow. Dena spoke to her last when she brought Quin's
meal—she reports that Quin wished to be alone."

"I will send mindspeech," Daragar said.

"I hope it works," Kaldill replied.

* * *

Quin, Lara'Kayan, where are you? Kaldill, Justis and I are
worried
.