Unbound (7 page)

After pouring one into the outdoor pot and adding soap, he brought in more water for the cottage to make breakfast. He decided eggs would be nice and gentle on the stomach for his hurt guests. He headed back to the house, almost tripping over the cat.

“What?”
he asked in frustration. “I’m doing my best. It’s not my fault the girl won’t stay in bed and heal.”

The cat howled in anger, flipping his tail before stalking off, disappearing as he went.

“Screw you, too,” Gannon said, fed up with the whole mess. “I’ll be glad when this is over and I can get back to my experiments.” Ducking into the cottage, he let his eyes adjust before looking to the bed to make sure the woman was where he’d left her. The steady rise and fall of her chest told him she really slept this time.

Setting the water on the table, he got the kettle and poured in water for tea. He put the kettle on the fire and then set about preparing breakfast. He thought both the girl and dog were ready for another dose of medicine. He did that as well while he took the infusions to the girl. He shook her and, when she didn’t respond, he lifted her head and poured some into her mouth.

She woke up sputtering. “What is that crap?” she asked, wiping off her mouth.

“Something to make you feel better. You need to drink it, to bring down your fever and help with the pain.”

“Okay…that crap tastes vile.” She made a face and shook her head, lifting her nose. “Something smells good.”

“If you’re a good girl and drink the rest of your medicine, you can have some.”

He went to the dog’s head and gave him a dose with the syringe.

“Ready for breakfast now, boy?” he asked as he ruffled the dog’s ears.

Roo’s woof sounded hopeful.

“Okay then, two Gannon specials coming right up.” He laughed and went to fetch the meal.

“Be careful now, it’s hot,” he said, handing them their dishes and watched in amazement as Roo downed his in two bites, then woofed for more. While Kayla nibbled at hers, he handed her another cup of tea, at which she wrinkled her nose.

“I promise this one won’t taste bad. How do you like your meal?” he asked.

“It’s good,” she said around a mouthful of food.

He patted her leg. “I’ve got some chores to tend to outside. I want you to lie down and get some rest. You’ve had a rough night and we need to talk when I get back.”

Getting up to leave, he looked back at the girl, trying to decide how much he should reveal and wondering where her darn cat was.

“Keep her in bed this time, okay?” he instructed. Roo nodded. Then Gannon left the cottage in search of the blasted cat.

9

 “Jubi!” Gannon hollered
as soon as he was some distance from the cottage. He hoped the girl couldn’t hear him. “Jubi, get your scrawny arse out here. I need to talk to you.” He heard a high-pitched hum coming at high speed, and sighed, glad he wouldn’t have to continue hollering. He turned to watch the Sprite come in for a landing.

“What do you want, you great lumbering ox? You’re disturbing my nap,” Jubi’s golden-brown wings folded behind him, lined with soft emerald veins that sparkled when they caught the light. Dark brown hair covered his head in a shaggy mess. He wore a cocoa brown vest which covered his well defined, but otherwise bare, chest. Moss green britches tucked into calf-high boots. Jubi’s skin shimmered in the sunlight. His inner luminescence dimmed, unable to compete with its brilliance. Olive eyes, normally ready to laugh, now stared at Gannon with irritation. The Wood Sprites’ clan leader crossed his arms and tapped one foot, waiting for an explanation.

“I’ll be away for a few days. I want to ask the clan to look after the valley.”

The tiny Sprite perked up, darting around Gannon’s head. Watching Jubi made him woozy.

“What happened last night? I heard a disturbance in the T’ween, but couldn’t find the source.”

“A hurt woman and her dog hit the ward. Aren’t you supposed to be doing something?”

“Sure thing, boss man. Next time, leave me a note so I don’t have to wake up from my nap.” Jubi saluted as he flew away.

Gannon walked down to the large willow beside the best fishing spot on the pond. He settled in for some quiet meditation while he waited for the Guardian.

He knew he’d chosen the right spot when the cat materialized like the gathering of fog next to the bank. He nodded once in Gannon’s direction before turning back to fishing.

“Anything you think I should know? What’s your name?” Gannon asked.

All will be revealed in time...Nyx

Gannon heard in his mind. He got up and dusted off his leggings, disturbed more every time the cat did that. He looked back at Nyx in time to see his tail disappear from view.

Gannon stopped, finding clean bandages folded on the table. The Sprites must have thought he meant for them to start the chores now. Gannon felt thankful that there was one thing less on his to-do list.

Heading back into the cottage with the late afternoon sun at his back, he thought that Kayla might like another meal and more medicine.

“Are you feeling hungry?” A twinkle filled his eye when she grabbed her stomach at the mention of food. He went to the larder and got out cheese wrapped in several layers of cheesecloth, glad he still had some left. He took the bread down from the shelf and carved off a slice.

It was tough, but he didn’t have much else to offer. He carried the plate back to the girl. He’d just set it down when he heard a sharp whistle from outside, and he frowned. “I’ll be back in a minute.” He ducked through the cottage door to find Jubi and several Sprites fluttering around, holding a skinned rabbit aloft.

“We thought the noble dog would like something to eat that was fresh, so he could recover faster,” Jubi said with his hands on his hips. Gannon flushed, realizing in his concern for Kayla he’d forgotten all about Roo.

“Thanks, Jubi, I owe you one.”

“Damn right you do.”

“What do you want in return?” Gannon asked, defeated. He knew he would have to give the little Sprite what he wanted, or risk offending the clan.

Jubi fluttered around, gloating for a moment before telling Gannon. “I want to go with you when you leave. I want to help the young princess learn her place.” His wings changed from golden-brown to copper in his excitement.

Gannon focused on him, wondering what he meant.

“Fine, Jubi. You can come, but who will take your place guarding the Gate while I’m away?”

“I’ll ask the Urisk. He’ll be pleased to have something to do.” Jubi bounced through the air. “He gets so lonesome out there by the waterfall. By himself day and night, night and day…”

“Alright, Jubi.” He wanted to distract the little man before they stood there for hours, listening to all the reasons that the Urisk would like to do the job.

“Jubi? Jubi!”

“Sheesh, boss, you don’t have to yell.”

“Okay, why don’t you all come in and present your gift to the noble dog? The girl is a bit tired, but I think we need to start somewhere and you guys are about as gentle as they come.”

* * *

Kayla lay against the pillows. Her wounds had started hurting when the man left and she had no idea when he would be coming back. She feared he’d forgotten her, and dreaded getting up to find him. The day’s exertions had already been too much. She blushed with shame at her behavior, knowing he’d only been trying to help her.

Then she heard the twittering of high-pitched voices, and incandescent bodies fluttered into view. A skinned rabbit floated into the room, suspended by luminous colored lights that wavered this way and that before drifting to the floor next to a bowl of water the man left for Roo.

The tall, dark man knelt by the bed and put a cool hand to her head. Cursing, he got to his feet.

“Let me get Roo settled into his dinner and I’ll bring you something for the pain.”

She barely heard him as she watched the lights dancing. Entranced, she tried to touch one, only to have it dance away, giggling. The man lifted Roo out of bed. Not sure if he said something, she looked back at the lights coming closer to her. Then the man appeared again, blocking her view. She tried to push him away, but her limbs felt leaden and refused to move.

“Sorry, it’s going to taste bad.” He handed her another cup of that despicable brew he’d been forcing down her all day. She tried to push it away.

“Lights,” she mumbled, tossing her head in her delirium. “I want lights.”

* * *

“You
must
drink,” he pleaded, unable to get the rest of the willow tea down her. He feared for her when she slumped into a fitful sleep, her skin burning.

He pulled down the quilt. Then unwrapped her bandages, swearing at the thick, angry, red lines around the claw marks on her stomach and arm. Cleaning the infected wounds, he realized she needed more help than he could give her. He rewrapped her in the freshly laundered bandages and laid her back on the pillows.

He sat on the side of the bed with his head in his hands, wondering what to do. Someone tugged on his arm.

“Boss, we can help if you bring her to the waterfall, to our ring. We’ve magic that can heal,” Jubi said.

Gannon looked up. “What?”

“Bring her and follow us.” Jubi turned to go.

Gannon gathered Kayla in his arms, where she hung, her limbs like a rag doll.

“Gannon, we must hurry,” he heard ahead of him. He stumbled after the twinkling lights as they led him through the woods. The sound of the rushing waterfall made him grateful that he neared their destination. He heard a faint whimper behind him. He’d forgotten about Roo, but was glad he’d followed.

When they reached the clearing near the base of the falls, he set the girl in a small ring of standing stones on the bank of the pond. Sprites from all parts of the woods gathered around the stones, spinning faster and faster until the brightness made him look away.

The dog leapt through the radiance, into the center of the stone ring. Holding his hand over his eyes to block out the light, Gannon saw Roo lie protectively over his mistress.

He heard singing. A burst of light exploded into the night before darkness fell back into place. It took his eyes several minutes to adjust, and when they did, he saw the small, thin forms of the Sprites lying here and there.

Worried, he tiptoed through the grass, studying the ground and stopping to pick up the fragile bodies. The light seemed drained from them. They fluttered, barely holding onto life. He heard a low groan from the waterfall and a splash as the Urisk rushed forward to help.

“What did they do? The foolish little ones?” the Urisk asked. “They know it’s forbidden to do the healing on a mortal. Too large they are, too large.” He rambled on, his words deep from his chest. Gathering up the tiny bodies, he put them in a large basket lined with thistle down and covered each with tiny blankets made of spider’s silk. From a tiny dropper, he gave each a taste of something.

Gannon searched the ground for Jubi, but couldn’t see the Sprite anywhere. He took those he’d gathered to the Urisk who laid them in with the rest.

“Jubi, what have we done?” he said, dropping to his knees, shaking at the thought of losing one of his oldest friends. Off in the distance, on the far side of the ring, he heard a tiny noise.