Mystic's Touch (13 page)

“Lead on then.”

She blinked in surprise then rallied herself and showed him
where to go. When they rounded the corner, she was surprised to find Hesina’s
son.

Danet turned to whisper to Gehiji over her shoulder. “It’s
Ptah. Was he supposed to be here?”

“Hesina said someone would come to drive the cart.” Gehiji
shrugged. “I guess he was chosen to do it.”

“How about if I go talk to him to verify this is where we’re
supposed to be and ensure no one else around?”

Gehiji frowned but finally nodded. Before she walked away,
he grabbed her arm. “If something looks wrong or you feel uncomfortable for any
reason, I want you to say something, anything, about the color red.
Understand?”

“Yes. The color red.” Danet squared her shoulders and headed
to Ptah. As quietly as possible, she walked closer.

When Ptah saw her approaching, he hopped off his perch on
the edge of the cart and greeted her. “Mistress Danet.” He took her hands in
his then bowed his head and brought their joined hands to his forehead in a
gesture of the deepest respect. Keeping his voice low, he said, “I’m glad you
made it.” He looked around. “You didn’t come alone did you?”

“No, Ptah. My friend is trailing nearby. I came to make sure
the coast was clear for them.”

“I haven’t seen anyone since the watch made its last round.
Won’t be much longer until the next pass.”

“How long have you been waiting?” she asked.

“I waited until little Ptah was abed. Apris tucked the
little ones in bed with her so it wasn’t a problem to be off.”

Danet smiled at the family picture his words created in her
mind. “How is little Ptah?”

“He’s a dandy. Getting taller and stronger every day. Won’t
be long now ’til he’s able to run on that foot again.”

“Good. I’m very glad to hear it. I know it’s tough to keep
little boys off their feet at that age.”

“Yes, but if it meant tying him to his bed so he didn’t lose
that foot, we’d have done it.”

Danet patted him on the shoulder. “I know you would have but
I’m glad you didn’t have to.” She chuckled. “And I’m sure little Ptah is too.”

“I know I’ve said it before, but I don’t know what we would
have done if you hadn’t helped him.”

“I’m just glad I was able to. And that we were able to save
his foot. I wouldn’t wish that on any child.” She looked around. “Do you think
it’s safe for my friend to come out and load our things in the cart?”

Ptah looked up at the moon then at the palace walls. “If he
can move quickly, we can get them into the cart before the next pass of the
watch. We’ll have to resettle things once the watch is past.”

“All right. Let me go tell him.”

“Hurry.”

She quickened her pace and darted around the corner, nearly
running into Gehiji. “He said he hadn’t seen anyone since the last pass of the
watch but that we’d need to hurry.”

“All right. Grab the basket.”

Danet did as instructed and followed Gehiji to the cart.
Ptah was holding the tarp up to allow them to climb in. If he was surprised by
their cargo, he didn’t indicate.

Once Danet and Gehiji climbed into the cart, Ptah handed
Ceros to Gehiji and their basket of supplies to Danet then pulled the tarp into
place. “I’ll leave the corner flipped back to let in some air. As soon as the
watch has passed out of sight, I will let you know.”

“Thank you, Ptah,” Danet said.

Under the canvas, Danet crawled next to Ceros. She kept her
movements slow so as to not rock the cart.

“Did he say something to you earlier?” Gehiji asked softly.

“Yes. But it was very brief and then he was gone.” She
placed her fingers on the pulse on Ceros’ neck to count his heartbeats. “And
no, I haven’t been able to reach him again.”

“From your expression, I guessed that was what happened but
I didn’t want to risk setting him down or asking questions just then.”

She looked to where Gehiji sat. She couldn’t see his expression,
but he had to be tired after carrying Ceros so far. “I know. And I know there
was little we could do right then. I don’t think it would have mattered even if
we had been in his room.” She shrugged. “The movement might have been what
brought him around. It’s hard to say either way.” Danet reached across and
patted Gehiji on the arm. “Why don’t you rest while you can? Ptah will warn us
if anyone comes near.”

He chuckled. “Shouldn’t I be telling you that?”

“Perhaps it’s good advice for both of us.”

Danet let her head fall back against the side of the cart.
For safe measure, she took Ceros’ hand into hers. As she listened to the sounds
of the night she let her eyes fall shut. It would be for just a moment, she
promised herself.

The jolting of the cart startled Danet awake.

“It’s all right,” Gehiji reassured her. “Ptah is hitching a
couple of eligari to the cart.”

“So we’ll be off soon?”

“Yes.”

She rubbed her eyes. “How long did I sleep?”

“An hour or two, I would guess.”

It didn’t feel as if it had been that long. But then again,
given the stiffness in her neck and backside, it was possible. “Apparently the
watch passed without incident.”

“Umhmm. I heard Ptah speaking to someone from the stables a
little while ago but he didn’t let on we were here. That’s how he was able to
get the eligari.”

Ptah appeared at the back of the cart. “It’s time. I’m going
to put the tarp back in place to cover you. I know it’ll be dark and maybe even
warm, but as soon as we clear the gates I’ll stop and loosen the corner again.
Okay?”

Danet and Gehiji spoke at the same time. “We understand.”
“Do what you need to do.”

“I recommend not speaking again until we’re past the gates,”
Ptah added.

“Agreed,” Gehiji answered for both of them.

The flap of the tarp flipped closed, throwing the cart into
total darkness. Danet didn’t realize how helpful the little light they’d had
before had been.

When the wagon lurched forward, her heart raced. The
possibility of being discovered at the gate buzzed through her mind. Worry for
her father, Gehiji and Ptah threatened to send her into a panic as she sat in
the dark, enclosed cart.

Danet…

Her name whispered through her mind.

Ceros. I’m here. We’re taking you someplace safe.
She
waited for him to say something else.
Can you hear me?

When he didn’t respond, she wondered if she was hearing
things. She turned his hand and touched the pulse at his wrist. It beat slower
than she liked but was steady. Somehow it calmed her. She intertwined her
fingers with his and forced her mind to brighter things.

An image of the oasis she frequently saw in her dreams
floated though her thoughts. She concentrated on the flowers and trees she
usually saw there. The colors and scents and sounds. Before she knew it, the
cart slowed then stopped.

She held her breath and listened for voices.

One corner of the tarp was lifted, letting in a hint of
light along with a wave of fresh, cool air. Danet filled her lungs.

“To the address you told me?” Ptah asked.

“Yes. No problem at the gate then?” Gehiji asked.

“Not even a second look,” Ptah said.

“Good.”

Danet felt the cart dip as Ptah climbed back onto his seat.
“Where are we going?” she asked Gehiji.

“I made arrangements for an alternate place to stay as soon
as I saw there was trouble with Ceros.”

“Just in case?”

He shrugged. “One can never be too careful.”

“I suppose not.”

“Now we need to figure out how to get Ceros inside without
drawing attention.”

“It’s still early, isn’t it?” she asked.

“Yes, but as soon as the first sun breaks there will be
people about. We’ll need to move quickly when we arrive.”

“All right.”

Gehiji cocked his head to one side and stared at Danet.
“You’ve done very well tonight, Danet. I’m impressed. And that’s not an easy
thing to do.”

“Thanks,” she said, somewhat puzzled.

“Most of the women we’ve been around over the last few years
are either war-weary cast-outs or pampered court birds. You are neither.”

“What kind of birds?”

“Court birds. Women who flock to court to see and be seen by
those they believe to be important enough for their attentions.”

“Ah.” She nodded. She’d seen enough during her years with
the queen to avoid them. “I never had the time or the patience for such
nonsense.”

“Not even if meant a chance at snaring a brave warrior to
care for you? Or perhaps even a prince?”

“I know my station and my place.” She relaxed her grip on
Ceros’ hand and let it fall back onto his thigh. “My work fills a very large
place in my life. Father and the people who come to the clinic need me. I have
no need to sit before a dressing table for hours on end, waiting for a servant
to make me beautiful in hopes that someone will ask me to dance or expect me to
fill their bed. Only to have them move on to the next pretty face. That life is
not for me.”

“You are a remarkable woman, Danet.”

“No, I am just a woman, Gehiji. But thank you for the
thought.”

They fell silent. Danet felt the cart make several turns
through the streets. She guessed they were in the heart of the city but
couldn’t tell where exactly. Finally the cart stopped.

Ptah pulled the flap over the cart open more. “This is where
you said to bring you.”

“Is there anyone about?” Gehiji asked.

“Not that I see on the street in either direction.”

“Stay hidden until either I or Ptah tells you to come out,”
Gehiji said to Danet then he climbed out of the cart. He laughed as he stumbled
then slapped Ptah on the shoulder.

From his suddenly slurred speech and his mannerisms, she
guessed he was pretending to be drunk. When they reached in to pull Ceros out,
she slid farther into the shadows on the other side of the cart.

Danet waited for Ptah’s return. Every creak of the cart and
flutter of the tarp was amplified louder than normal. They were close to
removing Ceros from danger and she was anxious to attempt the healing.

It would be both scary and exciting. She’d never attempted
it before but felt certain it would work. Particularly if she and Ceros were
destined mates.

What she was uncertain of was how much deeper their
connection would be afterward. It was a very intimate form of healing that
required her to merge their souls. It would be hard to force them apart later.

She simply couldn’t think of later right now. He needed her
and this was the best way to heal him in such a short span of time.
Consequences would have to be dealt with.

“Mistress?” Ptah asked when he finally returned.

“I’m here, Ptah.”

“I’m to drive to the end of the street then return on the
other side of the building. Master Gehiji said when I stop, you need to climb
out as if you’ve done this a hundred times before.”

“I can do that,” she reassured him.

A few minutes later, Ptah stopped the cart and rapped on the
side.

With as much grace as she could summon, she crawled out of
the back of the cart with the basket. “Thank you,” she said politely.

Ptah grunted and pulled away.

Danet scanned the nearby dwellings. She found Gehiji
standing at the entrance of a darkened alley not far away.

When she reached his side, he took her arm. “This way.”

He led her to a small courtyard then to a tidy home with a
brightly painted door. Gehiji held the door open and allowed her to enter
first.

It was a simple place. The furniture was plain but
functional and there were few decorative items.

Gehiji led her to a bedroom at the far end of the hallway.
Ceros was lying on one side of the bed. She went to him and felt his skin then
found his heartbeat. Steady but still a little slow.

Ceros?
she instinctively called to him, but received
no response.

“Is he awake yet?” Gehiji asked.

“No,” she said, shaking her head.

He had taken the basket from her as soon as they entered the
house. He sat it on the small table next to the bed. A pitcher of water and a
basin along with linens waited in the corner.

“What will you need while we are here?”

“For now, rest.” She removed her bag and set it next to the
table. “There is a healing that I want to try on Ceros that I haven’t done
before. I need to be able to focus so I need some rest and then some quiet time
with him.”

“I sent messages to a few friends of ours. I expect them
before luncheon. Until then, I will stand guard. You rest and then let me know
what you need to do this healing.”

“Gehiji, I need you to understand something.” She rubbed the
side of her face as she thought about how to explain. “It’s not traditional
healing.”

“Okay.”

“It is something that most people would have trouble
believing in even if they saw it happening.”

“And?”

“And I don’t want to worry or alarm you.”

“Unless you’re planning to drain all of his blood or hang
him upside down, I doubt anything you do is going to worry me.” He put his hand
on her shoulder. “Obviously you and Ceros have some kind of connection if you
can talk to each other in your heads. And I can see that you care about him and
are trying to help. I don’t think you’ll do anything to deliberately harm him.”

“By doing this, I will be revealing to the next king the
extent of my gifts. Once he’s well, he will have to send me away or order my
execution.”

“Ceros wouldn’t do that.”

“He’ll have no choice. As king, he cannot ignore royal
decrees.”

“Believe me when I tell you he will find a way to make it
work out for everyone.” Gehiji stopped her pacing by reaching for her arm.
“Trust me.” With a jerk of his chin in Ceros’ direction he added, “Trust him.”

She searched his eyes and found nothing but sincerity. She
nodded. “Do you think he’ll see me as an oddity later, when this is all over?”

“Ceros is able to shift into some kind of animal. I’ve seen
one of our friends walk through and control a raging fire with only his
thoughts. Another friend has an uncanny knack for finding water, even in the
middle of the desert. And I can sense a lie before it leaves a person’s lips.”
He smiled. “No, I don’t think he’ll see you as an oddity later.”

The knot in her chest eased. “Thank you.”

He stood. “Get some rest. The alarm will be raised soon and
they will start looking for Ceros in earnest.”

“All right.” Danet smiled. “I won’t need much. Just enough
to clear my head.”

“Take whatever time you need.” He approached the door then
paused and looked back. “I’m assuming you’d feel better staying here with
Ceros. However, if you want a room to yourself, you may use one of the others.”

“No, you’re right.” She blushed. “I’ll rest easier here.
Thank you though.”

He nodded once then shut the door behind him as he left.

Danet extinguished the lamp. Traces of yellow from the first
sun’s rising rimmed the bottom of the window.

Exhaustion set in as she climbed up onto the bed. She curled
onto her side, facing Ceros, then laid her hand over his heart. The last thing
she remembered before she fell asleep was counting his heartbeats.

She dreamed of the oasis. Everything was the same except her
beast was missing. She sensed he was there somewhere but couldn’t find him even
after making her way around the spring.

With a sigh, she sat on a rock next to the water and dipped
her toes into the cool liquid. Her beast’s reflection shimmered on the surface.
She looked up, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Her heart ached.

In the distance, she heard his roar. She gathered her skirt
and ran in that direction. She still couldn’t find him.

Frustrated, she called out. “Ceros? Are you there?”

A growl sounded nearby. She spun around but couldn’t see
through the thick foliage.

“Ceros?”

She jerked awake. It took a moment to remember where she
was. Seeing Ceros next to her calmed her.

The urge to touch him was becoming a powerful thing. She
gave in and stroked his cheek then took a deep breath and sat up on the bed.

It was time. She needed to prepare.

From the basket of supplies, she removed her special tea and
set it aside. She’d have Gehiji boil some water while she was conducting the
healing.

Using water from the pitcher in the corner, she washed her
face and hands then climbed up onto the bed next to Ceros. Gehiji had removed
the robe they had put on him before leaving the palace, making it easier for
her to bathe his face and neck. She pulled the sheet down and washed his chest
and arms too.

It was a cleansing process but also served to prepare her to
connect with Ceros.

She returned the bowl of water to the table and set the
dirty linens aside. Before she returned to the bed, the door burst open. A
large, dark-headed man stepped in. He had a sword strapped to his side and some
kind of weapon in his hand. Something about him warned Danet he was a trained
killer.

Without hesitation, she put herself between Ceros and the
stranger and called on every form of protection she could remember. She raised
a magical shield between them then aimed a burst of wind toward the stranger.
He staggered backward but steadied himself at the door.

“I won’t let you harm him,” Danet shouted.

“Who are you?” The man’s voice thundered in the small room.

Danet prepared herself to summon a heat flare when Gehiji
pushed his way into the room.

“What’s going on?” Gehiji looked from one to the other.
“What’s all the shouting?”

“What is she doing?” the stranger demanded.

Danet felt the heat in her hand surge.

“Danet. Stop.” Gehiji held both hands up, palms facing her.
“This is Runihura. He’s a friend.”

Danet glanced at Gehiji. “A friend?”

“Of mine and Ceros,” Gehiji reassured her.

She struggled to calm herself and bank the fire she had
stirred inside. Finally she lowered the shield.

Gehiji stepped closer and gestured to Danet. “Runihura, this
is Danet. She’s a healer and a close friend of Ceros’ family.”

“If she’s such a close friend, why did Ceros never tell us
about her?”

“Because we never actually met until he returned.” She
tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “I served the queen and Ceros’
sisters.”

Runihura grunted. “And you are loyal to him as well?”

“I am,” she said with a lift of her chin.

“Are you ready to do your healing then?” Gehiji asked.

“I was preparing when he came in.” She gestured to Runihura.

“Did you think of anything you need?” Gehiji asked.

“Not for the healing.” She retrieved her tea and handed it
to Gehiji. “But can you make a pot of this tea? I’ll need it afterward.”

“I can do that,” he assured her.

“Thank you.”

“We will leave you to your work then,” Gehiji said as he
pushed Runihura to the door.

Runihura gave her a slight bow and followed Gehiji.

One of them closed the door, leaving her alone with Ceros
once more. She took a deep breath, shaken but determined to at least connect
with Ceros even if she couldn’t complete the healing.

Thinking it might help, she climbed up onto the bed and
knelt beside Ceros. She placed one hand on his chest and another on his
forehead then closed her eyes.

Ceros? Can you hear me?

In the scattered debris that was their consciousness, she
searched for the thread of their connection. It was gold and sparkled with tiny
fragments of light. When she found it, she reached for it and held tight.

Ceros? Are you there?

The thread began to dissolve and she fought to hang on. She
remembered the fire she had been forced to bank when Runihura had startled her.
Drawing on the warmth and passion of her feelings, she pushed energy through to
Ceros.

His consciousness flickered.

Come on, Ceros. Help me find you.

Here.

She heard his faint response but it gave her hope. She
pushed more energy to Ceros and the connection snapped into place.

Danet.

There you are.
She sighed in relief.

What’s going on?
Even in her head, he sounded weak.

You’ve been unconscious for most of a day. I haven’t been
able reach you. We’ve all been very worried. Do you remember anything?

Not really. The last thing I clearly remember is you
talking to me. You said you were going home to see your father.

That’s right. I left and while I was gone someone came in
and stuck you with two more thorns. We didn’t find one of them for hours. I’m
sorry.

It’s not your fault, Danet.

I shouldn’t have left.

It’s not for you to guard me.
He sighed.
I assume
Mother has increased the security around my room.

Well…

Danet.
His tone held all kinds of warning.
What
did she do?

Your mother did nothing, really, just let Gehiji and me
do what we felt was best.

And that was?

We kidnapped you.

He fell silent.

Are you still there?
she asked.

You and Gehiji kidnapped me, the prince, from the palace
while I was unconscious.

Yes.

You realize they will send all of the guards after you,
don’t you?

Gehiji is aware of that.

And your plan is what exactly?
He sounded more tired
than angry.

I’m to heal you. Gehiji has asked some friends of yours
to come help. Some big, scary-looking man named Runi-something showed up a few
minutes ago.

If he sent for the people I suspect, I won’t worry nearly
as much. The palace guards will never get near you if they’re here.

Are the others as intimidating as this one?

They will be skilled in their own way, but Runihura is a
bit frightening at first glance.

Just a bit. Okay. While we are connected and before any
more big, scary men show up, I want to try something. A healing. But it isn’t a
traditional healing method. It’s something my mother wrote about.

Some of your mystic abilities?

Yes.

All right.

You’re okay with trying it?

Will it harm either of us or anyone around us?

Not if everything goes the way it should.

Then what’s the problem?

It’s a very intimate form of healing. I have to merge our
life forces in order to push the poison from your body. The connection we share
now will probably intensify after this healing. You need to be sure that you
want that. That you can handle knowing I’ve glimpsed into your very soul.

If you had been unable to reach me to ask me what I would
want, what would you have done?

I would have attempted to do it anyway.

Then why do you ask now?

Because I see it as the ultimate invasion of your
privacy. I won’t do it if you tell me no. If I hadn’t been able to reach you
very soon, I would have taken it as a sign that you were too far gone and
possibly in a life-threatening situation.

I’m not seeing where the situation is all that different.
Do whatever you think is best to heal me. I trust you, Danet.

Thank you. I just hope you remember that when you can
hear my thoughts from across the city and know that I can hear yours.

We’ll deal with that later.

She took a deep breath.
Okay. Let’s see about pushing
that poison out then. I need you to relax and let me in. All of your defenses
must come down, Ceros. I give you my word that I won’t pry or dig into
memories. But I need to be able to come all the way in.