Rayne's Return (Hearts of ICARUS Book 3) (10 page)

“Wait,” Rayne said, tilting her head slightly.  A thought had flitted through her mind while Garen spoke, and she was waiting for it to return.  “
Ata
, will you please say that again?  That last sentence?”

“That we’ll search for people with Controllers?”

Rayne waited a few moments for the thought to return and was rewarded.  “Be very careful with your search,
Ata
.  Changes have been made to the Controllers that make them very dangerous.” 

“Dangerous how?” Trey asked. 

“If it realizes you intend to neutralize it, it’ll force the host to commit suicide.”  Rayne frowned.  “I see the words in front of my eyes.  It’s a new protocol that allows the device to remain intact, but inaccessible.  Once the host is dead and no longer being monitored, it will use stored electrical energy to send out a signal.  A return signal will activate a data transfer from the Controller to whoever controls them.”

“You read this somewhere?” Lariah asked quietly as she continued stroking Rayne’s head gently with the hair wand.

“Yes, I did.  There was…a list?  Yes, a list of names.”

“Names of people with Controllers?” Garen asked.

“No,” Rayne said, her forehead wrinkled as she struggled to see more, not even noticing when she began pressing her fingers to her temples.  “The names are…locations?”  She looked up, startled to see concern on the faces around her.  Landor moved first, grabbing a tissue and leaning over the bed to dab at her nose.

“Bleeding again?” Rayne asked, embarrassed.

“Just a little,” Landor said as he gently wiped the blood away.  “I think you’ve remembered enough for now.”

“I agree,” Garen said, unable to hide the worry in his eyes.  “I can see that you’re growing tired, Rayne, so we’ll cut this visit short so you can rest.  We’ll go back to the
Ugaztun
and begin telling everyone that you’re missing.”

“I wish there was another way,” Rayne said.  “I know it won’t be easy for any of you.”

“It’ll be far less difficult than what you must do,” Garen said.  He leaned forward in his chair and caught Rayne’s gaze with his own.  “Before you awoke we checked to be sure you didn’t have a Controller, and you don’t.  But, we saw enough to know that you desperately need to be healed.  Whatever it is that Fate has in store for you, beloved Daughter, it would be unwise to face it in your current condition.  One week is simply not enough time for you to regain your health unless you’re healed first.”

“
Ata
, I can’t interrupt Tani’s honeymoon, and we don’t have enough time to wait for her return.  A healing tank won’t work because it will prevent me from remembering those things that I have to remember before we get where we’re going.”

“I understand all of that, and I agree with your reasoning,” Garen said.  “But the Tigrens have not yet left for Jasan.”

“The Tigrens!” she said in surprise.  “I’d forgotten about them.”

“Will you allow them to heal you?”

“Yes, of course,” she said without a moment’s hesitation.  “Thank you,
Ata
.”

“Excuse me, Highness,” Landor said.  “There’s something you said that I don’t understand.”

“Yes?” Garen asked.

“You said one week wasn’t enough for her to regain her health
unless
she’s healed first.”  Garen nodded.  “Near starvation is obviously a big component of her overall poor health right now, and I don’t understand how that can be healed at all, let alone in a week.  It’ll take many weeks for her to regain the weight she’s lost, won’t it?”

“No, Landor, it won’t,” Garen replied.  “Rayne was born a Clan Jasani female, which affords her certain benefits that we’d forgotten about over the centuries.”

“Benefits?” Landor asked. 

“Yes,” Garen said, half smiling.  “She doesn’t have the ability to self-heal, but she does have a health baseline that her body maintains, and will seek to restore in the event she falls below it, as she obviously has.”

“How will it seek to restore that baseline?” Landor asked, intrigued.

“As long as she consumes enough of the right vitamins, minerals, protein and other nutrients, and as long as she gets enough rest, her body will work to restore her to her appropriate health baseline as fast as possible.  It’s much like what your own body would do if you were to get scratched.  The wound would begin healing instantly and take mere moments to complete.  The more severe the injury, the longer it would take you to heal, but it would still heal remarkably fast.  The same is true for Rayne’s physical baseline.  Given the right materials, it’ll return to its prior state of health and strength extraordinarily fast.

“Unfortunately, she’s been starved for so long that many of her organs are weak, and a few have shut down altogether.  Her bones aren’t in good shape, and her muscles and tendons are severely atrophied.  Her body cannot rebuild itself in its current condition.  She must be healed first.  Once she is, the rest will take very little time.”

“I’ve never heard of this before,” Landor said.

“Few of us had,” Garen said.  “The Tigrens told us about it some years ago.   Since it only applies to females born as Clan Jasani, and only before they’re linked, we know of only a handful of cases where the phenomenon has occurred.  It was included in a report that was posted for all to read on the Council’s announcement board.”

“I suppose we missed it,” Landor said.

“Don’t feel bad,” Rayne said to Landor.  “I didn’t know about this either and it’s my body.”

“I’m sorry, Rayne,” Garen said.  “It never occurred to us to tell you since your health was never at issue.”

“It’s all right,
Ata
,” Rayne whispered tiredly.  “I’m just happy to know about it now since seeing my own skeleton when I look in the mirror really freaks me out.”

“I would imagine so,” Lariah said softly.

“I’ll go get the Tigrens,” Trey said, standing up and walking to the side of the bed.  He bent down and wrapped his arms around Rayne, taking care not to hug her too tightly.  “I love you so much, Rayne, and I could not be more proud of you.”

“Thank you,
Dede
, I love you, too,” Rayne replied, tears stinging her eyes.  Trey kissed her forehead, released her and straightened up.  Then he stepped sideways, and vanished before his own tears could fall.

***

“Now that all the men are gone, how do you feel, really?” Lariah asked while she helped Rayne rearrange the pillows behind her so she could sit up after the Tigrens left.

“Tired, but otherwise much better than I did before the healing,” Rayne said.  “It’s really nice to have a voice again.”

Lariah smiled and reached for the hair wand.  “It’ll only take a few more minutes to finish this.  When I’m done, I’ll leave this with you so you can use it again if you decide to restore your hair to what it was.”

“How do I return my hair its natural color?”

“Just set the dials to
Natural
,” Lariah said.  “Now, tell me about the Bearen-Hirus, please.”

Rayne’s eyebrows rose.  “What do you want to know?”

“Let’s start with how long you’ve known that you’re their
berezi
?”

“A couple of hours.”

Lariah bent to look into her daughter’s eyes, then frowned.  “What have they done to upset you?”

“Nothing,” Rayne replied.  “Why do you ask that?”

“Because you, my lovely daughter, have dreamed of finding your Rami since you were old enough to know what the word meant,” Lariah said, returning to her task.  “That, and having lots of children of your own.  I’d have thought it would make you the happiest young woman in the Thousand Worlds to find them, no matter the circumstances.  But you’re not happy at all, and that worries me a great deal.”

“I don’t know, Mom,” Rayne said.  “It’s just…when I finally realized they were treating me a little like the Dads treat you, I asked them if I was their
berezi
.  When they admitted that they were it made me sad, and I can’t figure out why.”

“They didn’t tell you until after you asked them?” Lariah asked, hiding her displeasure.

“They said that with everything else I was dealing with, they didn’t want to add to it.”

“Well, that makes sense,” Lariah conceded.  She ran the hair wand slowly over Rayne’s scalp twice before giving in to the urge to ask the question burning in her mind.  “You said they
admitted
that you were their
berezi
.  Does that mean they aren’t happy about it?”

“We haven’t really talked about it yet,” Rayne hedged.

“And you don’t know why you’re sad?”

“No,” she replied, then looked up at her mother with hope in her eyes.  “Do you know if something happened between me and them?”

“I thought you had all of your memories up to the night before Tani’s wedding,” Lariah said, frowning. 

“I think I do,” Rayne said, “but how would I know if I don’t?”

“Good point,” Lariah replied. 

“So, is there anything you can think of?  Any incident at all?”

Lariah took a few moments to think about her answer, knowing how important it was.  “I’m sorry, honey, but I can’t think of anything.  What do you remember about them?”

“Not very much,” Rayne said.  “The last time I remember seeing them I was about fourteen years old.  They were always quiet and reserved, but they were also kind and seemed to really enjoy being around kids.  We never knew them all that well, but I don’t remember anything negative about them.”

“You don’t remember being at Tani’s wedding, or anything else about yesterday at all?”

“No, nothing.”

“Maybe something happened yesterday that you haven’t remembered yet.”

“Maybe.”  

“Rayne,” Lariah said, sitting down again so she could look into her daughter’s face.  “Everything else aside, the Bearen-Hirus are your Rami, and they are good men.  If I didn’t believe that, if your fathers didn’t believe that, and if we didn’t know that this is your destiny, not ours, we would never stand aside and let you make this journey without us.  But, if you want us to remain with you, then all you have to do is say so and we will.”

“Thanks, Mom,” Rayne said.  “I appreciate that more than I can say.  But no, I don’t want you to come.  For one thing, your absence would raise too much curiosity and suspicion.  For another, I don’t know where this is going to lead me, but as you said, it’s my destiny.  Mine, and the Bearen-Hirus’.”

Lariah nodded, then leaned forward to hug Rayne tightly.  After releasing her she turned the hair wand off and set it on the bedside table.  “I think you need to ask the Bearen-Hirus if something happened yesterday that could account for your feelings.”

“Yes, I think you’re right,” Rayne said with a sigh.  “But maybe not today.”

“I agree, today has been busy enough for you.  I think the best thing you can do right now is lay down and rest.”

“That sounds really good,” Rayne said.  “Thank you Mom, for everything.  I wish we could spend more time together.”

Lariah heard Rayne’s unspoken words, and understood her fears.  She sat back and, ignoring her daughter’s too thin body, the scars, and the pale complexion, she stared into her eyes.  After a few moments she smiled.  “You are so strong, Rayne.  Far stronger than you know.  Whatever it is you have yet to face, you’ll face it with courage and dignity.  I know this.”

“How?” Rayne asked curiously.

“I see it in your soul,” Lariah said, brushing back a lock of straight brown hair.  “All you have to do is continue to believe in yourself.  It’s gotten you this far.”

“I suppose,” Rayne said doubtfully.  “I just wish I could remember it.”

“You don’t remember learning to walk, but what difference does that make?  You can still do it.”

Lariah’s heart lightened when Rayne grinned at her.  “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you too, so very much,” Lariah said, hugging her again.  “Rest now, and try not to worry.  All will be well.”

***

“How is she, Kyerion?” Landor asked when the Tigrens joined them in an empty guest room a few doors down from the master suite.

“She’s better,” Kyerion said, his calm voice belying the signs of strain around his mouth and eyes.  Kirk and Cade bore the same marks of stress and exhaustion, which immediately cranked up the Bearen-Hirus’ worry.

“Relax, please,” Kyerion said, holding up one hand when he sensed their distress.  “Rayne truly is better.”

“Is she alone?” Con asked, already moving toward the door. 

“No.  Princess Lariah is with her.”  Con nodded and sat back down.  “I apologize for allowing our own feelings to show so clearly, but it was a difficult session for us,” Kyerion continued.”  I cannot imagine what it must be like for the three of you to see your
berezi
in such a state, but Rayne Dracon is much tougher than she appears.”

“So we are learning,” Landor said.  “Can you tell us what you found?”

“Yes, but it would be wise for you to prepare yourselves first.”

“We’ve been taking turns running off our anger and frustration in the Roar Room since last night,” Landor said.  “We’ll be fine.”

Kyerion studied the Bearen-Hirus for a long moment, then nodded his agreement.  “The wounds on her body range from healed scars about a year old, to those that appear to be a week old, at most, with the exception of a fresh wound on her forearm.  Those you know about.”  The Bearen-Hirus nodded.  “What you don’t know is that beneath the external scars are corresponding internal scars on her organs, muscles, even her bones in a few places.  In several places we found the beginnings of organ death, which we were able to heal completely.  Her ovaries are also scarred, which is troubling, but they are fully functional.”  Kyerion paused to evaluate the Bearen-Hirus’ emotional state, impressed with how well they were holding up. 

“In addition, her entire body is weak, and
all
of her muscles are atrophied, indicating a long period of time with very little exercise.  We healed and strengthened them as much as possible, and we did the same with her bones, organs, and digestive system.  Everywhere we found weakness or damage, we corrected it to the best of our ability.  The nose bleeds were caused by a vitamin deficiency combined with episodes of distress and unstable blood pressure, which is easily corrected.  Now that she’s fully healed, her biggest problem is her weight, which is severely below her baseline.”