Healer (30 page)

Wisdom felt the presence of gathering
Simpletons.

“You have no idea,” the prince said.

With those words, he felt a flow of mental
waves
streak around him. As the Simpletons unleashed
their full opinions concerning the horn, Wisdom could not help but return the
smile.

The alchemist never knew what hit him.
Voices swarmed his mind, first coming in contact with the horn, which instantly
withdrew in the dark confines of the protective crystal. With no guidance from
its master, the plant unicorn lost its form and withdrew back into the earth.

Temporarily free of the horn’s control,
Jenario was left to deal with the unknown clutter of shouts drowning out his
own thoughts. Confused, he swiped at the air, to no avail.

Mididus was first to realize two minds
were just one again. A single thought directed his clan away, leaving Jenario
to himself.

“That looks painful,” Abraham said, to
which Wisdom nodded.

“Oh, trust me. You don’t want the pleasure
of them greeting you the same way.”

“I take it you have.”

“Not to be repeated any time soon.”

‘
Tis
clear!
the
two heard from retreating voices.

“Now’s your chance, Abraham,” Wisdom said.
“Talk to him before the horn returns.”

Jenario was hunched over with hands on his
either side of his head when his son approached. His incoherent mutterings
about multiple voices solely captured his attention. All else went ignored,
even when his son stood directly in front of him.

“Father?”
Abraham carefully reached up and placed his hands
over Jenario’s. Hoping a gentle touch might help, he kept trying. “Can you hear
me?”

“That’s not it. Not him. It can’t be!
Where are they?” Jenario’s gaze finally focused on a familiar face.
“Where...are they?”

“They’re gone now. It’s just me. Abraham.
Your son, remember?”

“Abraham?” Jenario’s eyes darted back and
forth over his son’s features while his thoughts tried to recollect the name’s
meaning. “Abraham...”
 
There was a hint
of recognition when he suddenly thrust himself away. “No! Stay back. You
mustn’t be here!” When his eyes locked with the prince not more than a few
yards away, Jenario’s face twisted in fear.
“The horn!
It desires what I cannot provide. Why did you come knowing what it
wants!
”

“He didn’t,” Abraham answered for the
prince. “You came to
him.”

His father blinked. For the first time,
Jenario took a look around. This was not the castle setting he was accustomed
to in Sapphire. There were people, more than he was willing to admit, standing in
close proximity. Yet it was the ears of one particular group that confused him.

“
Lo-ans’rel
...”
he whispered coldly, then checked the other group of humans. “
The war.
It’s started.”

“I take it the horn has been masking quite
a few people’s memories,” they heard the prince say.

“Except the war is over,” Abraham said.
“We know who the real enemy is now.”

“
Which is exactly why
you shouldn’t be this close!
” Jenario clenched his teeth in anger. “I
was a fool to believe I could possess such power. Don’t you see? It would feed
off your abilities!”

Grasping the crimson stone in one hand,
Jenario yanked the chain from around his neck with a loud
snap!

“I will not have my son taken! I will not
be used for that!
Never!”

He lifted the stone to slam it over a
metal shield
laying
at his feet. Just as his hand
reached the climatic point of toss, the stone flashed a brilliant red.

Time slowed to a crawl. In that moment,
those nearby shielded their eyes from the light. Jenario himself was locked in
place, hand ready to smash the very thing he had created to house his newfound
power. Instead, it held him while a voice resonated from the stone, loud enough
to be heard across the field.

“Know
that this is just the beginning.”
The
light dimmed a mere moment before bursting in a burning, red-hot ball of light.

“Let go of it, Jenario!” Wisdom shouted
over the man’s agonizing scream.

If Jenario had heard, it did little good.
Unable to even move, he was forced to endure the horn sucking its presence from
his body. Once the light finally dimmed, the stone fell from his unmoving
fingers and landed in the ashen field.

Jenario poised a moment more, the shock of
it reflected in the dying light of his eyes.

“Father!”
Abraham rushed to his side as Jenario finally
crumpled into his son’s arms. He pulled his father close, his breath no more
than a wheezing whimper.

Deep, brown irises opened to his son’s
soothing voice. For once, there was no red taint in them. The horn, it seemed,
had abandoned its host.

“I’m here. It’ll be all right.” Abraham
wanted to believe his own words, even as he could see the paleness of death
stealing his father’s features.

Jenario’s chest heaved as he tried to take
in a breath. “Don’t...ever...use it,” he managed before his eyes lost all
shimmer. Slowly, his head tilted back, the last of his breath exhausted.

Abraham continued to hold his father’s
lifeless body even when he felt the hand of the prince on his shoulder.

“He’s finally free,” Wisdom said in a
solemn tone.

“It...
sucked
out
his life.”

“The price of using a
unicorn’s power.
I’d be bound to
the same fate if I attempted it with the one I have.”

“The horn...told me all those things.”
Abraham cast his gaze up at the prince.
“About the
Purification.”

“And now we have a chance to make it right.”

He peered over his shoulder to notice a
lax in tension between the clansmen. People were spanning the fields, checking
for more wounded. Chronicles had even ordered his people to start healing some
of the humans. That brought a slight smile to the prince. How long since the
Lo-ans’rel
had allowed human connection?

He caught his father’s prying gaze, not
that harsh look he was accustomed to. There was a touch of softness, one that
read,
“Are you okay?”
 

After so long, the task of building back
relationships was lifted from his shoulders. With one burden gone, Wisdom
viewed the remaining obstacle with ease. To Chronicles, he nodded with tears
welling in his own eyes for a father’s love he had never known.

We’ll
talk later,
Chronicles signaled as he
continued assisting humans.

When the prince returned his attention to
Abraham, the young man had buried his face into his father’s velvety robes. Now
and then his shoulders shook with silent sobs.

“I’m sorry, Abraham.” Wisdom knelt by his
side. “We’ll hold a service him. For everyone...who passed during the horn’s
reign.
”

A tear-streaked face lifted slightly in
order to say, “Thank you.”

As Wisdom rose to check on others, his
gaze fell to the necklace halfway hidden in the dirt where Jenario had dropped
it. For a moment, he thought he saw a flicker of fading light. Perhaps it was
his remaining soul fighting not to be devoured by the horn. Either way, one
question remained.

“What to do with you now?” He let his
words lose themselves on an incoming breeze. It was northbound, a reminder to
inquire about Lexington’s status, as well as his brother’s travels. Thoughts
dwelled on Glory, the Elite family’s beautiful daughter, and the Thieves’
Guild.

Had
any of them been spared?

CHAPTER 6

“The city was in shambles when I left.”
Chanté let his wings spread to enjoy the warmth of evening sunlight.
Accompanied by the prince and his father, the three stood on the docks to wait
on the ships carrying many of the townspeople and Simpletons. “I’m sure they’ll
be glad to hear of the war’s end.”

Looking out over the calm water, they
could see clear skies to the north where once foreboding clouds covered the sea
cliffs. Further out, several ships could be seen heading inland. They were slow
sailing back, allowing time to savor the present peace of laughing gulls
overhead and a salty breeze whisking briefly along the coastline.

Simpletons
waste no time with communications,
Wisdom thought. “Which part?
That Healers
aren’t to
blame, or the fact that Jenario was finally stopped?”

Chanté crinkled his feathered brow in
thought. “Should’t it be that...thing? That’s what caused all of this in the
first place, wasn’t it?”

“Generally speaking, yes,” Chronicles
said. “However, it might not have gotten far without a host. Jenario just made
himself…
less useful.”

“Speaking of Jenario…” Wisdom turned to
his father, a fresh breeze catching a few wisps of hair around his face. “How
did you know that name?”

“It’s been years, I’ll admit. But when I
finally saw him, it just came to me – one of four humans Windchester introduced
to the clan. I was...still trying to understand a few things at the time. Why
my father picked another to lead the clan.
Half-breed
relationships.
Then, there was your mother.”

The ships had made some progress. They
were just able to make out movement along the deck when Chanté broke the uneasy
silence between the two.

“By the way, I did come across your
brother while in Lexington. He wanted you to know that Glory was safe.”

Wisdom could have shouted for joy. As he
closed his eyes, imagining her playful smile, his relief that she would soon
return released a long sigh. “Thank goodness.”

Chronicles cast his son a quizzical look.
“Someone you’re quite fond of, I take it.” When he saw those ears lay back in
guilt, the Healer gave a chuckle. “Yes, you probably did right to keep
that
from my previous state of mind.
Especially being human.”

“Wait ‘til you meet her!” Chanté piped,
his wings fluttering with enthusiasm. “I’m not much into humans myself, but her
beauty is top quality. Even her touch is golden!”

Wisdom purposely cleared his throat. “And
what would you know of
that?”
His
gaze held a hint of challenge, one the harpy returned with a mischievous grin.

Feigning an apologetic gesture, Chanté
held his wings in close and puffed out his facial feathers. “Well, when you’ve
got a pair of warm wings to sleep with, it kind of knocks off the chill at
night.” He then pulled those feathers flat against his cheeks. It was as
human-looking as he could get.
“So yeah.
She may have
slept with me, but she rode your brother all the way from Lexington.”

“Do what?” Chronicles cocked his head
curiously at the White Wing, who burst out laughing. The image in his mind
showed a young woman riding a white horse, but his words created a whole new
meaning that suggested otherwise.

“You little!”
The prince lunged for Chanté, who easily lifted
himself into flight by jumping off the dock. “I’ll have your wings for that!”

“Hey, you should thank us for keeping her
safe – and warm!” Chanté hovered just above them while Chronicles just shook
his head at their little game.

“Since we’re discussing Wings,” he said,
“where did those dark
‘Keyarx
come
from?”

After recomposing himself, Wisdom returned
with a slight pant, “Friends I made along the way. I believe they’re at the
clan.” He then pointed at Chanté. “
Which is where you should
probably be headed!
We’ll meet you there.”

“Yeah.
I guess I should be getting back. With father’s
death, well...I need to send word to my clan.”

“I’ve already heard from Windchester. He’s
informed them of your safe arrival!” Chronicles called up to him. “Now they
just wait for your return...and orders.”

Dipping low enough so that his wings
skimmed the top of the water, Chanté
raised
back up
over the docks and headed in the direction of the Eastern Clan.

“Naturally!”

“He’s nervous.” Wisdom watched him leave.
“But who can blame him? When family is wiped out literally in front of you,
what can you do except move on?”

“Was that your experience?” Chronicles did
not make contact, but continued to watch the wind gently
wavering
the white sails of the approaching ships.

“Please...” Wisdom shut his eyes against
the memories. “Don’t make me relive that moment.” When he felt his father’s
hand upon his shoulder, his body felt ready to break.

“I won’t try to read your thoughts,” he
said. “Not ‘til you’re ready. But I at least owe you for that mark branded on
your shoulder, and get you some suitable clothing. Clothing a
prince
should wear.”

Wisdom placed his hand over his father’s,
unable to hold back a weak grin. Abraham’s abandoned robe made for a quick
cover after his own clothing had been shredded, exposing his shoulder tattoo
and adding lightning marks across part of his back.

“I wouldn’t put the full blame on
yourself
, not when the horn planned the majority of it.” The
prince managed to lift his head up and blink back tears. He needed to at least
look the part of a prince until his clansmen were back on the mainland.

“Which I cannot understand why anyone
would want to be around it, knowing what it’s capable of,” Chronicles said
sternly.

Wisdom did not immediately reply, and felt
his father’s hand remove itself from his shoulder. His thoughts traveled in the
direction of Sapphire, where Abraham had agreed to take the horn. Though not
alone, as a band of Healers accompanied for safe-guard, the idea he would be
left to himself afterwards bothered the prince. He thought back to Jenario’s
final moment.

The
horn wanted Abraham trained,
he
thought as the ships neared the docks. He nodded in returned greeting to a crew
member.

“I hope your friend understands the risk
he’s taking,” Chronicles said, having followed his thought patterns.

“I’m sure he does. Will the others be
traveling to Lexington once they’ve finished in Sapphire?”

A nod.
“They’ll be joining others near the city to help heal
any wounded.” He glanced over at his son. “You know, half-breeds can’t access
Nature. They still need us to cover that part.”

“And what of yourself?
Any plans after returning?”

There was a moment’s hesitation while the
first of the arriving ships docked before simply saying, “Rectify.”

The two watched as a loading plank was
secured for crewmen to hop off with ropes ready to secure the large vessel in
place. Amongst the giddy cries of children, happy to race each other down the
walkway, and excited chatter about the war’s end, there was one voice that
brought an instant smile. It was not long before a young man peered over the
ship’s railing at the waiting Healers.

“Ahoy, there!”
Josephine’s high-pitched shout and frantic wave
greeted them.

“See you made it back safely!” Wisdom
called up to him.

“‘Course!
I sail just as well as my
grandfather did!”

“You?
Sailed this?” Wisdom gestured to the large ship. “And
your grandfather let you?”

“Well...yes! I mean, I turned the wheel a
bit.”

“Josephine! Quit yer jabbering!”
came
the familiar, crabby voice of his grandfather from
somewhere on deck. “Help me with these ropes, will ya!”

Wisdom caught that quizzical stare from
Chronicles upon hearing the odd-sounding name. With a shake of his head, the
prince explained.

“Last name’s Phine.”

“So...Joseph is..?” When he received a
nod, Chronicles just shook his head. “Interesting friends you’ve made.”

“All shapes and sizes.”

“I suppose that’s a good thing.”

A chuckle.
“You have no idea!”

An array of grandfatherly insults rang
from deck. There came the slap to the back of one’s head before Mr. Phine
stepped to the ship’s railing.

“Don’t suppose he mentioned any stowaways
on board, did he?” When he saw their blank expressions, Mr. Phine let loose a
string of mumbled curses. “Well, ya got company!
So look
around, Healer!”

Wisdom heard his father grumble something
as soon as the old man had stepped from view. Curious who might have come on
board while at sea, Wisdom’s eyes darted between the ships, then around the
boardwalk.
People crowded around, still waiting for family
members to disembark. He saw a small band of Simpletons collected at one end of
the dock. Now and then a few thoughts sifted his way when he opened his mind to
sight-read.

They’re
on the last ship,
one caught on to
his thought patterns.

With so many people to wade through, it
was difficult reaching the last vessel. Everyone wanted explanations on the
war’s progress, or else stopped to greet him as they came off the ramps. At one
point, he ran into Master Nemmerl and Nickademis, both relieved to be back on
dry land.

“You may be wanted near the borders,”
Wisdom suggested to the doctor. “There were a lot of wounded, and I’m sure
they’ll want counseling for those they’ve lost during the battle.”

“I suspected as much.” Nickademis frowned.

“But is it true?” Nemmerel said. “The war
is over?”

“At least between my
kind
.”
Wisdom gave a reassuring smile. “You’ll probably be seeing them more often now
that our misunderstandings have been put to rest.”

Nickademis rubbed his chin in thought.
“And what of Jenario?
Did he show like you wanted?”

“He did. If not for him, we’d all be
lost.”

“And what of him now?”

“He finally realized his mistake with the
horn.”

Nickademis sucked in a quick breath.
Beside him, the Mystic leader watched his expression change to one of
eagerness. “Did he destroy
it?”

“No.” The answer brought a wave of
disappointment over their faces. “It destroyed him; however, without a host it
cannot play its little war games.
So Abraham has taken it
back to Sapphire for safekeeping.”

“What a fool!” Nickademis huffed past the
prince. “We should be getting to the border, then.”

Nemmerel just shook his head, his gray
beard swishing across his chest. “I suppose there was nothing anyone could do
at that point.”

Wisdom shrugged. “It is what it is.”

They had just said their farewells when
Wisdom’s name was called. The prince pricked his ears forward, tuning in a
young female’s voice over the crowd. Amidst dark clothing and moving bodies, a
white dress lured his gaze to the final ship just pulling into port.

“Glory...” The way the setting sun bathed
her face in a soft glow made his heart melt at her beauty. She was as lovely as
ever he could remember.
Even more now that she had returned
home safe.
“Glory!”

He shifted before thinking, frightening
those nearby when he unfurled large, dark wings in his
‘Keyarx
form. That brought a smile, even a laugh when small
children ran along the docks after his unusual form. After circling overhead
once, he hovered overtop crew members struggling to connect a loading plank to
the dock. With growing impatience to be with his love, Wisdom gestured with
outstretched fingers toward the scene. In an instant, the plank was gently
removed from their grasps and locked in place. Ropes secured themselves to
surrounding posts before crew could even get a foot on land.

While Glory was accustomed to his random
shifts, the rest were eager to be out of his way. It was not long before
mothers hurried their children from his landing path and men, though attempting
to keep calm, still watched in fascination before disembarking.

“I couldn’t wait any longer.” Wisdom
laughed, letting his wings fold into an illusionary fade. Even before he had
finished shifting, she was in his arms. The smell of her hair beneath his chin
as he held her close stirred emotions. He felt elated to be with her again, the
same for the others who had accompanied.

Holding her close, Wisdom acknowledged his
brother with a thankful gaze. He was vaguely aware of Katherine and Glory’s
stepmother, as his attention focused solely on the one thing he treasured most.
Why did she leave?