Into the Fray: Volume 1 of The Sorcerers of Jhanvia Series (27 page)

Dikaylia had seen this used before and screamed out, “Stop, please! Kidreyli, I beg you, agree to what they want. I don’t want to lose you too.”

Satreka came up behind Kaitra and asked, “How is it progressing?”

“Slowly. These Valtyr are resilient.”

“We must meet with Zakrell. He has news.”

Satreka turned to leave and Kaitra touched his elbow, requesting a moment. She walked over near Kidreyli. The Valtyr was covered in her own sweat and blood. Through Kidreyli’s eyes, she could see blood flowing down her arms
from the metal shackles, mixing with her sweat and streaking her blond hair red.

Kaitra looked her over and found a small patch of skin on the back of her leg that was not so bloody. She said with a most cynical smile, “Klur.”

“Yes, my lady.”

“You missed a spot,” she said so matter-of-factly.

Satreka could be heard in the background laughing.

Kidreyli awakened abruptly when two fingers gently touched her shoulder.

“How is she?” Nidreyka asked.

Kidreyli wiped her eyes with her fingers and took a few moments to observe and touch Kaitra’s face. She reported, “Her breathing is better. She’s not quite as hot as before.”

“That’s good. It means she’s getting past it. How are you faring?”

“I’ll be all right.”

Nidreyka took note of her friend’s flushed cheeks, “You’ve been crying. What’s wrong?”

Kidreyli couldn’t bring herself to look at her. “It’s nothing. Really.”

She chose to drop it for now and took a good look at the sorceress as Kidreyli gently caressed her face with a cloth. The places on her face where she had taken the fists of the soldier were now very colorful shades of red and purple. Seeing beyond the wounds, she noted, “She’s very beautiful.”

“Yes, she is. And strong too. I just need to show her how to get out of the way of sharp objects.”

Nidreyka laughed, “I’ll go and get you some food.”

As she left, Dubhni entered and stated, “I thought I would look in on her.”

Kidreyli stood to get out of her way. “She looks better.”

The healer took a seat on the stool and felt the girl’s face with her hand. Then she closed her eyes and floated her hands over her.
“She is much improved. I would like to change the bandaging on her wound.”

She nodded her approval and stepped back to give her some space.

Nidreyka returned a minute or so later with a handful of bread and a fruit and stood next to her friend who began ravenously devouring it.

“I just realized that we hadn’t eaten in over a day,” she said with her mouth full.

The healer pulled back the wrappings and ever-so gently wiped the blood away with a wet cloth. She pushed Kaitra’s hip up a bit to get to the wound in her back.

Nidreyka cringed, “Oh my. I didn’t realize that it went through her. It’s painful when it goes in, but it’s an entirely different level of pain when it comes out the other side. It must have been excruciating for her.”

Dubhni repacked the dressing and put new bandages over the wounds. “That should be good for a while,” she said. “I will look in on her again later.”

Kidreyli thanked her. That was becoming a habit. She reclaimed her seat on the stool and took a bite from her fruit. She placed her right hand on Kaitra’s belly so she could feel her breathe.

Nidreyka watched for a few moments. She could feel the depth of the anxiety riding the back of her friend, even though it seemed apparent that the girl would soon recover. She moved up against Kidreyli and cradled her head with both hands against her belly. She felt her friend wrap her left arm around her and pull tightly.

She will be well, my love,” Nidreyka spoke softly as she stroked Kidreyli’s hair back over her ears. “Just close your eyes and rest. All will be well.”

Many minutes passed as Nidreyka fed Kidreyli’s spirit with her energy. Kidreyli was ever so grateful that her friend would do this for her. If ever there was a time this was needed, it was now. She relaxed and let her spirit soar within Nidreyka’s realm.

Several minutes later, Kaitra drew in a deep breath and woke. “Kidreyli?” she called out with a scratchy voice. She was groggy and incoherent.

“I’m here,” she answered.

“They shot me,” the sorceress frantically stated.

“Yes, they did. But you will be all right,” Kidreyli tried to comfort her.

“My side, it hurts so much. What did they do to me?”

“They shot you with an arrow, remember? The tip was poisoned.”

“It felt like I died,” Kaitra spoke with her eyes closed.

“No my love. It was the effects of the poison.”

“You saved me again,” Kaitra smiled at her.

“Several people helped.”

“I think I’m going to sleep a little while longer,” Kaitra slurred out the words on her way to unconsciousness.

Kidreyli caressed her face and said softly. “Sleep as long as you need.”

Nidreyka touched Kidreyli on the shoulder and said, “You should join her. Dikaylia and I have some things to discuss. We’ll keep you safe.”

Kidreyli put her hand on top of her friend’s and squeezed. No words were necessary to express her gratitude. She carefully crawled over Kaitra and lay beside her. Nidreyka went off to find her lover. Kidreyli waited until she was a good distance away, then she got up and went over to the opposite side of the hut and lay on the floor on her side. Sleep was never so welcome, but she could not bear to see again the images that danced about in Kaitra’s mind.

Nidreyka spied her lover feeding some carrots and apples to their Katrion. She approached from behind and put her hand on her shoulder, causing her to jump a little.

“Are you all right?” Nidreyka asked.

“You startled me. I don’t think that has ever happened to me since I’ve been with you. I can always sense when you are near.”

“Something or someone is diminishing our mind links. It’s very disconcerting. Listen, I need to apologize to you.”

“For what?”

“I have committed you to a dangerous task without consulting you beforehand.”

“Please explain,” Dikaylia was direct and a little terse.

“What I’m going to tell you must remain solely between us.”

“I understand.”

Nidreyka continued, “Kidreyli and Kaitra are to take on the leaders of the Scecian soldiers we fought yesterday. It is they who are responsible for the difficulties we are experiencing with our mind links. Based on insight obtained from the Clannya, it seems likely that the Scecians are also breeding a Vydarrun child.”

“I didn’t think that was possible.”

“Apparently they have found a way. Our friends have been counseled by the Clannya that this information should be kept secret, in order to protect our people from others who might react harshly to this news. It is believed that Kaitra is a necessary element in achieving success. Therefore, I have agreed to be her defender while they visit Kidreyli’s mother.”

Dikaylia stroked her Katrion’s nose, “That decision puts all of us at great risk.”

“Yes, but I believe the cause is justified. If the Scecians are ultimately successful, it could bring about the demise of our people, and I will not stand for that.”

“Nor will I.”

“In exchange for acting as Kaitra’s defender, Kidreyli has agreed that
we
will assist in destroying this threat to our people.”

“It is an honorable cause. I trust you unconditionally. If this is what your apology is about, it’s unnecessary. I am proud to ride with you,” Dikaylia concluded.

“Did I tell you how beautiful you are this morning?”

“No, you didn’t,” she answered with a smile.

“Again, I am remiss.” Nidreyka pushed her lover’s hair away from her face, “You are
most
beautiful, and I love you with all that I am.”

“Prove it,” Dikaylia backed away, turned and ran toward the trees.

Nidreyka laughed to herself over her fortune of having such a passionate anamhra as she watched her cross into the tree line. She ran at full pace to follow her lover.

A few hours later, just past the middle of morning, there was much activity in the village. A large fire had been set and the bodies of the dead soldiers were nearly consumed. Carts were being loaded with belongings, and a sense of urgency seemed to fuel the villagers.

Nidreyka found one of the elders and asked, “Are you leaving?”

“Yes. There is word that more soldiers are coming. We cannot defend ourselves against them, so many of us, especially those of us with families, are going to places farther south.”

The Valtyr looked around the village and spied her companion over by the Katrion. She called out with her thoughts, “Kay, come here.”

Her lover ran over to her and Nidreyka continued, “I just spoke to one of the elders and he told me that more soldiers are coming. We need to get Kaitra and Kidreyli out of this village.”

“Do you think she is well enough to travel?”

“No, but I don’t think we have any choice. She will be a significant burden if we take a stand here. I think the best plan is to take a wide arc through the trees north to Triami. It’s not very far and we could find shelter there until Kaitra is well enough to travel to Tyrkamani.”

Dikaylia nodded her agreement, “I’ll get the Katrion ready.”

“Good. I’ll let Kidreyli know what’s happening.”

Nidreyka quickly made her way over to the hut where Kidreyli and Kaitra were sleeping. She was surprised to see Kidreyli lying on the floor away from Kaitra, but events were upon them. She shook her friend’s shoulder. “Kidreyli, wake up.”

The warrior’s eyes jumped wide open having been awakened so unexpectedly.

She explained, “We must leave now. The soldier’s are sending reinforcements.”

Kidreyli was on her feet in an instant. “We can’t leave. Kaitra is in no condition to travel.”

Nidreyka took hold of both her shoulders. “We have no choice. Dikaylia is preparing the Katrion. If we head north to Triami, we can stop there. It’s not far. She should be able to make it.”

Kidreyli knelt down next to the sorceress and caressed her face. “Kaitra, I need you to wake.” There was only a grumbling of a response. Kidreyli spoke louder, “Kaitra, wake up.”

Her eyes popped open, “Kidreyli?”

“Yes, my love.”

“Where are we?” Kaitra’s mind had been reclaimed.

“We are in a village a short distance from Triami.”

She started to sit up and the pain from her wounds laid her flat out on the bed. “Oy! What did I do?”

“You were hit by an arrow,” Kidreyli explained. “Satreka’s men are coming. We need to leave now.”

“You can’t be serious?”

“Completely. Let me help you up.” Kidreyli put her lover’s feet on the floor and pulled her up by the hands.

“My entire body feels like its on fire,” Kaitra said with her eyes closed as she stood up straight. “This pain is indescribable. I don’t think I can do this.”

“You must. We don’t have time to debate this. If they find us here, I will not be able to defend you. We need to leave before we are spotted by them.”

She nodded her acknowledgement, “All right, go. I’m right behind you.” The sorceress walked gingerly into the sunlight, holding her side and limping a bit.

“What are you doing?” the village healer had spied Kaitra walking on her own.

Kidreyli turned back and responded, “Kaitra, this is Dubhni. She treated your wounds. Dubhni, we are leaving.”

“She will not make it far,” the healer noted.

“We have no choice,” Kidreyli explained.

Dubhni realized that her arguments would not sway the moment. “Just give me a minute,” she said, and she hurriedly walked toward her hut.

Kaitra stepped over to her horse and patted her nose, “My Sestru, it’s so good to see you. Tyral, it’s good to see you again, my friend.”

“And you, dear girl,” Tyral responded to her mind. “I am glad to see you walking again.”

Kaitra smiled a painful smile and replied, “Just barely.”

Dubhni made her way over to Kaitra and explained, “I wish to strengthen your bandages. All that bouncing on horseback will tear you up. Kidreyli, please help me. I need you to hold this here,” she said as she placed a wide cloth against Kaitra’s uninjured side under her shirt.

Dubhni continued, “This will be painful, but if I wrap your wounds tightly, you will have a better chance surviving your travels.”

Kaitra nodded her understanding and held up her arms so as to make it easy for Dubhni to do her work. Four times around tightly, then five. The pain was intense as the healer tied off the wrapping.

Her work done, Dubhni said, “Good journey.”

“Thank you,” Kaitra responded.

“Thank you for everything you have done,” Kidreyli said.

Dubhni smiled and walked away as the two Valtyr rode up on their great black Katrion, primed and ready for battle. The image was a bit intimidating for Kaitra, causing her to take a step back.

“Are we ready?” Nidreyka asked.

“Yes,” Kidreyli answered. “Kaitra, this is my best friend, Nidreyka and her anamhra Dikaylia. They defeated the soldiers and saved both of us.”

“It is good to finally meet you,” Nidreyka said.

“And you. So you’re Kidreyli’s
best
friend?”

Nidreyka laughed a little, “Well, I’ve put up with her longer than anyone else could, so I guess I’ve earned that title.”

“We need to go,” Dikaylia interjected.

“She’s right,” Kidreyli said. “Let me help you up.”

“I’m going to have to do this backwards,” Kaitra stated. Being a left-handed person, she would normally start with the right foot in the stirrup, but not this time. As she started to step up, Kidreyli pushed up on her bum and lifted her onto Sestru. Kaitra sat down very gingerly on the saddle, wincing a bit from the pain.

“Are you all right?” Kidreyli asked.

“As good as I’m going to be.”

Dikaylia took the point position, leading them at an ever-increasing speed into the depths of the forest while Nidreyka lagged just behind to protect their departure.