Alora: The Wander-Jewel (Alora Series Book 1) (17 page)

“You’re willing to risk your life to help?” asked Kaevin. “You don’t even know Jireo.”

“I’d do anything to help him, just like I bet you’d do anything to help my best friend.” Alora nodded toward Beth. “And anyway, Laegenshire is my real home. I’m not even supposed to be here.”

“Take me with you,” said Wesley. “I can ride and shoot a bow.”

“This is truly dangerous,” said Kaevin. “You’d be risking your life. It’s not like those people on your television. It’s real.”

“Yes, but I can use a bow from a distance, so it won’t be as dangerous.” Wesley raised his chin. “I’m made for this. I’m going to be a soldier, like my dad. I’m enlisting as soon as I graduate, just like he did.”

“I’m dying to go, too. You can’t leave me here,” said Beth. “Maybe I can’t shoot a bow, but I’m good with horses and first aid. I’ve been doing the EMT program.”

“I can’t take you guys with us. I’m not that good at this transport thing. What if I mess up or what if I can’t get you back here? And I don’t think your parents would let you go, even if they believed it was possible.”

“We can practice transporting first. We’ll make sure you can get us back before we actually go.” Beth was almost jumping up and down. “And this is a crazy-cool adventure! We don’t have to stay long, and we’ll be really careful. And don’t worry about the parents. Just let me do the talking. You know...
Kaevin and Wesley are going on an extended camping/hunting trip. I’m staying at your house. You’re staying at mine. Everybody’s happy
.” She smiled, batting wide, innocent eyes.

“Beth, I think we need you along simply for your ability to lie on the fly,” said Alora.

“Oh well.” Beth chuckled. “If the shoe fits...”

“I need to bring my bows.” Wesley’s voice rose with excitement.

“I’m not sure if I can transport them,” Alora said. “Kaevin says I can’t move metal, although my pants stayed on with a metal zipper. I haven’t quite figured that out.”

“What’s a zipper?” asked Kaevin.

“It’s a thing that closes your pants up. You’ve got one on the front of those jeans you’re wearing.” Wesley indicated his own zipper. “But what kind of metal doesn’t transport?”

“Iron,” Kaevin answered. “Iron won’t transport.”

“Hmmm. … There’s iron in stainless steel, so that means I can’t bring my arrow points. But my bows aren’t metal—they’re carbon fiber. We’ll screw the tips off and bring the arrows,” Wesley reasoned. “We can find some way to put tips on them there. Or I can use arrows from your home.”

“But our arrows are wooden.”

“I think my bow will shoot them.” He scrunched his nose. “But they might be torn to pieces when they hit their target.”

“If we really need them, we won’t be trying to recover our arrows.” Kaevin’s serious expression sent a shiver down Alora’s spine. It was hard to wrap her head around this new reality. It still seemed a bit like a dream.

“I’m uncertain how we’re going to find Jireo,” said Kaevin. “Alora’s been to Laegenshire, but she’s never met him. And he definitely wasn’t in Laegenshire.”

“But she’s already taken us to him, once. How did she do that?” asked Beth.

“I don’t know.” Alora questioned Kaevin with her eyes, but he shrugged his answer. “Grandmother told me it’s possible to let someone else guide a transport. Maybe that’s what happened.”

“I believe we should practice a few times before we attempt to transport all the way to Tenavae. To be safe, we could transport to Laegenshire and then try to find Jireo. But that could take days, and I think this is an emergency.”

“Okay,” Beth said, “we’re almost to Alora’s. Let me do the talking, while you both grab your gear.”

“Uhmm, my blood is getting cut off.” Kaevin’s voice held a teasing lilt.

Alora relaxed the white-knuckled grip she had on his hand. “Sorry. It’s possible I’m a bit nervous.”

“You don’t have to do this,” he murmured. “I’m not convinced this is the right decision.”

“As long as we’re together, I feel stronger and braver, somehow.”

“It’s because we’re soulmates,” said Kaevin.

He must have read the doubt on her face, because he turned toward her, cupping her face in his hands and pressing his forehead to hers.

“Raelene is wise, but she doesn’t know everything. My father says you should always allow for human error.”

“In my case, we need to allow a lot of room for error.”

“Okay,” Beth said, using her organizing I’m-in-charge voice. “Checklist. Wesley has bows; Kaevin’s got arrows; I’ve got medical supplies. Nobody’s wearing steel-toed boots or belt buckles? Okay, let’s hook arms, and Alora can do a practice transport. Kaevin’s going to pick the place, someplace close.”

“All right,” Kaevin said, “I’m thinking of the place.”

“It may take a while, so don’t let your mind wander. And don’t think about Jireo.” Alora closed her eyes, attempting to relax and empty her mind. Then she tried to reach into Kaevin’s mind, as she had when he’d cried out in pain during the dance.

Nothing happened. She tried again. Nothing happened. Again. No one moved.

“It’s g-getting k-kind of c-cold,” said Beth, stamping her feet in the snow. “M-maybe we should p-practice some place w-warm.”

“Are you sure you’re thinking of a place?” Alora asked.

“I’m doing my best,” said Kaevin.

“I’ve got to move before I freeze.” Beth ran in place for thirty seconds, her medical supplies clattering inside her bag.

“Why don’t you try taking us somewhere without my help,” Kaevin suggested. “Maybe just down to the end of the road?”

“Fine.” She spotted a place near the gate. “Come on, Beth. Hook up, and let me try again.” She imagined them standing arm-in-arm beside the gate.

She closed her eyes and felt a slight jostling.

“You did it.” Beth tugged on her arm and she opened her eyes to find they had indeed moved to the gate.

“Wow, that was fast,” said Wesley. “Can you take us back?”

Alora let out a groan. “Grandmother said it was hard to let someone else control the destination, so I guess that’s the problem. How did I manage to do it when we were at the dance?”

“I have an idea,” said Beth. “Don’t laugh, but maybe if he kissed you while he was thinking of a place, you wouldn’t be distracted.”

She was glad of the darkness to hide the blood rushing to her face. “Beth!”

“No, I’ve been thinking about this. If being married helps the soulmate bond, it stands to reason swapping a little spit would work better than holding hands. And your lips aren’t made of regular skin. They’re mucous membranes. They’re thinner, so I figure your blood is closer together.”

“I think it’s worth a try.” Kaevin winked. “I wouldn’t mind, even if it didn’t work.”

“Then you both have to close your eyes,” Alora demanded. “I’ll be too embarrassed if you watch.” No one knew her first kiss ever had been in the frozen lake, and she didn’t intend to tell anyone that fact. Now she’d had two kisses, but neither one had been very romantic. They were more like desperation. It certainly wasn’t the way she’d always imagined it would be.

Beth and Wesley closed their eyes. But before they could attempt the kiss, Wesley started humming the tune to a popular radio song,
Kissin’, Huggin’, Snoggin’, Muggin’
. Beth and Alora giggled, while Kaevin stared with confusion.

“Shut up, Wesley,” Beth ordered, with mock severity.

Wesley promised to behave, and they deemed themselves ready to try again. With arms still interlocked, Kaevin bent his head toward Alora, and she strained upward and sideways to meet his lips. The kiss was sweet and gentle and sent little tingles down her spine. She wanted to free her hands so she could wrap her arms around his neck. She tried to remember what she was supposed to be doing. Oh, yeah. Something about a transport. Maybe in a minute. Right now, she just wanted to enjoy this kiss.

“Uhmm... Kaevin?
”
asked Beth in a tremulous voice. “Are they going to kill us?”

“Huh?”

Alora opened her eyes, clamping her elbows with Kaevin and Beth against a bout of vertigo. They were in a forest camp, and two men stood close by with drawn blades.
How did we get here? I didn’t even try to transport.

“Kaevin!” said a boy she recognized as the one who’d been crying out in the forest. “What are you doing here?”

“Kaevin?” a voice spoke from the ground behind Jireo.

“Father!” Kaevin slipped his arm away from Alora, rushing to kneel by his father. “You’re hurt!”

Alora stood, stunned, surveying their surroundings. Kaevin’s father looked exactly like an older, broader version of Kaevin. Even his long brown hair looked the same, but his beard was fuller and fine lines creased his handsome weathered face. His eyes crinkled when he smiled. Or was that a grimace? He was sitting on the ground with a white rag wrapped around his shoulder. It was stained red, with fresh blood.

The two men guarding them could not have looked more different from each other. One was huge—at least six feet four inches, and built like a tree trunk. His dark curly hair bounced as he paced back and forth, his eyes never leaving their group. The other was a little taller than Alora, with a slim muscular build. His longish, blond hair was fine and straight, emphasizing a thin pointed nose and sharp cheekbones. Everyone else in the camp appeared frozen in place, watching the proceedings, like some bizarre game of freeze-tag.

“I’m fine,” Kaevin’s father answered. “It’s nothing.”

“Is this why you were crying?” Kaevin asked Jireo. “Because my father was injured?”

“Arista’s been kidnapped by Vindrake’s men,” Kaevin’s father answered his question. “How did you know something had happened?”

“I heard it,” Kaevin said. “When Jireo yelled, I heard it and I felt it too. And then Alora accidentally transported us. Well the first time, it was an accident. Actually, I intended to take us to a practice place this time, so this transport was an accident as well.”

“I don’t understand your meaning.” His father frowned, either from confusion or pain.

“The important part is I’m here. I came to help Jireo, and my friends came to help as well.”

“Uhmm, can they put those knives away, now?” asked Wesley.

“He has weapons,” the burly man objected. “And his eyes are blue.”

“These are my friends, Morvaen,” Kaevin explained, “and eye color doesn’t mean anything in Montana. Wesley. Beth. Alora. That’s Morvaen, and this is Nordamen. He’s the chief shaman I was speaking of, the one who might have some answers for us.”

Kaevin’s father nodded at Morvaen and Nordamen, who lowered their knives while keeping wary eyes on Wesley.

“Can I look at your shoulder?” asked Beth, coming forward with her medical kit. “I’m Beth, and I’m an EMT. Well, I’m not officially licensed or anything, but I took all the classes to be an EMT.”

“I’m Kaevin’s father, Graely,” he said, wincing as she took the bandage off his shoulder. “What’s an eemtee?”

“She’s an apprentice healer, Father.”

“I would have guessed you were Kaevin’s father. You look just like him. Oh, this looks deep—into the muscle. I’ll just do the best I can. But I’ve got some medicine in my kit that could help.”

“How did all of you get here?” asked the man Kaevin identified as Nordamen.

“Alora transported us, but she let Kaevin guide us here. It took a few tries, but the kissing really helped. That was my idea,” Beth proclaimed the fact in a proud voice.

“Three trips? That quickly?” he asked.

“No,” said Wesley, “just one trip.”

“That’s impossible,” said Nordamen. “No experienced bearer can bring three others on a transport, much less a novice, having fifteen years.”

“Well, Alora did,” said Kaevin.

“Can you swallow pills? Are you allergic to any medications?” asked Beth.

“What’s ‘pills’? And what’s... the other thing you said?”

“Never mind. Just put some water in your mouth and swallow these. One is to prevent infection, and the others are for pain and swelling. I had to leave my scissors at home. Can one of you guys with a knife come cut this bandage for me?”

The large, lumbering man jumped to help Beth, responding to the authority in her voice, despite her diminutive stature. She activated a cold pack and used an Ace bandage to secure it over Graely’s shoulder wound. Alora watched in fascination as Beth worked, chattering on about something. But her voice sounded as if she were speaking from inside a tunnel.

“Alora? I assume that’s who you are?” She felt Graely’s inspection, grateful for the dim light hiding her blushing cheeks. What must he think of her? The first time he laid eyes on her, she was making out with his son. “I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you. And you’ve been very quiet.”

He spoke in a gentle soothing tone, but his image blurred before her eyes. She frowned, attempting to focus on his smiling face. Taking a step toward him, her head swam and her legs buckled. To her shock and embarrassment, she fell to her knees. Her vision narrowed.

“I’m sorry. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.” The words emerged from her mouth in a slushy slur.

The world shifted as Nordamen lifted her in his arms. “How many transports have you done today? Have you had food or drink?” He lashed out at Kaevin. “Are you not taking care of her? You know using your gift drains your energy. And if what you say is true and she moved all four of you multiple times, it’s a wonder she’s still conscious!”

He set her gently on the ground near Graely. “I’ll be back with bread and a skin of water.”

She stretched her shaking fingers toward Kaevin, and he clasped her hand.

“I’m sorry, Alora. I should have known you’d be weak from bearing us so many times.”

“I’m better already.” She smiled, squeezing his hand, and turned to Graely. “It’s nice to meet you, sir. I hope I can be helpful.”

“I’m not waiting any longer.” Jireo stamped his foot. “I’m going after Arista with or without help.”

“I’m going with you!” declared Kaevin, jumping to his feet.

“I’m going as well!” said Wesley. “That’s why I came!”

“The men who took her will have a knife to her throat,” Morvaen reasoned. “We can’t simply attack them without risking her life.”

“If I put an arrow through his heart, he won’t have time to hurt her,” Jireo argued.

“She could be trampled by the horse when he drops her.” Nordamen handed the bread and water to Alora. “Or he may have bound her behind him as a shield.”

“The longer we wait, the farther away they are and the longer it will take to reach them,” Jireo reasoned. “And we must stop them before they reach Vindrake and he discovers she’s not Alora!”

Alora choked on her water. “They took her because they thought she was me?”

“I’m afraid so,” said Graely. He made a bitter face. “I let them walk right into our camp and take her. I couldn’t see the bondmark, and I didn’t realize they were Vindrake’s men. If anything happens to her, it’s on my head.”

“Why don’t you just let Alora fetch her?” asked Beth.

Silence. Alora shifted under the uncomfortable examination of six pairs of eyes.

“It wouldn’t work,” said Nordamen. “It couldn’t work. She doesn’t know Arista. She’s never even seen her before.”

“But she’d never seen Jireo before, and she brought us to him,” Beth reasoned. “Doesn’t Kaevin know her? Couldn’t she just do whatever magic thing she does with Kaevin?”

“What would happen?” Graely asked Nordamen. “If it worked, what would happen?”

“The man would be holding her, and they would be on horseback. So, the horse should act as an anchor. Nothing would happen.” He raised an eyebrow. “Unless she’s powerful enough to transport two people and a horse.”

Graely shrugged. “She moved three people with herself. It’s worth a try. We have nothing to lose.” He looked at Alora. “I know you’re exhausted, but are you willing to try? We can’t afford to wait.”

*****

Arista had almost escaped twice. She squirmed and fought and kicked like a wildcat the entire time. Twice he’d almost lost his grip on her and dropped her off the horse. She’d planned to hit the ground running. But the second time she’d started to fall, he’d reined in the horse and stopped to bind her hands tightly behind her with a rope. He then tossed her unceremoniously across the horse’s withers on her stomach, keeping one hand on her wrists. When she resisted, he pulled up on her wrists until she felt the pain wrenching in her shoulders. So she was forced to give up her thrashing, but she hadn’t surrendered.

She decided on another ploy. She let her body go completely limp, her neck flopping lifelessly despite the discomfort, not even reacting when she almost fell headfirst from the horse. He slowed the horse slightly to check her condition, while the other horseman galloped obliviously onward. He slapped her face in an attempt to revive her, but she didn’t flinch. Obviously fearing he must have somehow broken her back or her neck, he lifted her up and tried to turn her head to force her eyes open. When she felt fingers near her mouth, she clamped down savagely, crunching with all her might and grinding with her jaw. He screamed, and the air whooshed out of her lungs as she hit the ground.

In a flash, she was up. Dashing into the woods. Blasting through the underbrush. Oblivious to the branches and thorns that tore at her with her arms still bound behind her back. She stumbled and fell, but quickly regained her feet.

“Come back here! You’ll pay for biting me! You wendt-dog!”

Arista ran blindly ahead. She could hear him crashing behind her. Gaining on her. Suddenly, the ground dropped away, and she tumbled and rolled downward until a tree trunk stopped her progress. Dazed, she tried to focus her eyes.

“There you are,” he said, advancing toward her, with a sneering smile. “You’ll be sorry for biting me. I’ll knock out every tooth in that pretty little head. The Master doesn’t need your teeth—only your wander-jewel!”

She tried to scoot backward, only to find her foot was wedged under a root. He stood over her, leering. “Do you think I’m stupid enough to reach for you with my hands? I won’t make that mistake again. Let’s see how well your teeth work on my boot leather.” He reared his foot back and aimed at her head.

*****

“Arista? Are you alive? Arista?” Jireo froze in shock for a moment, before rushing to kneel beside his sister’s body, tentatively feeling for a pulse. Behind him, the stunned group stood waiting, swords and knives at the ready. Arista had appeared out of nowhere, so Alora’s transport must have worked.

“Get off me! Of course I’m alive. But get me some water—I’ve got a bad taste in my mouth.” She struggled to sit up, tilting her head back to release a wild cackle. “I’m a warrior now! I bested Vindrake’s man with my hands tied behind my back!” She sat up and ordered, “Untie me.”

“What happened?” Jireo swiped at his wet face, working furiously at the knotted rope on her wrists.

“I bit his finger. Almost all the way off, I believe.” Her voice rose with elation. “And then... I don’t know what happened. He was going to kick me in the head. And then I was here.”

“Alora transported you. She saved your life.” He adopted a scolding tone to cover his emotion. “You should never have come chasing after me on that horse. When we return home, I’m going to help Mother tie you up inside the house.”

“Alora transported me? She’s here?” Arista jumped up, dancing with excitement. “Where is she?”

“She’s right here—” Graely’s voice trailed off. “Where did she go? And where’s Kaevin?”

*****

“Where are we?” Alora whispered. “It’s dark in here.” She tried to clear the fuzz from her mind.

“I believe we’re back in the dance hall,” said Kaevin.

“In Montana?”

“Yes, I believe so.” His laugh echoed in the dark empty room. “At least we’re not in the lake.”

Alora groaned. “Ohmygosh! I’m a klutz. Did we get Arista?”

“I’m certain I saw her on the ground before you took us here. Can you take us back now? Just go to Beth. It’ll be easy.”

“I feel kind of drained and dizzy.” Alora considered lying down to sleep on the floor, but decided against it.

“Yes. I’m tired, too. And my head is pounding.”

“Mine, too. Okay, I’m gonna try to take us to Beth.”

“All right.” Kaevin gave her hand a squeeze. “And then we’ll sleep.”

Concentrate. Go to Beth. Go to Beth.
Alora closed her eyes and imagined standing in front of Beth. She almost fell asleep when she heard Beth’s voice.

“Oh! Where did you two disappear to?” Beth turned to Graely. “Here they are! They’re back!”

Alora saw Beth’s face grow dim as the world started spinning. “Alora? Are you okay? Kaevin? What’s—”

She felt Kaevin falling to the ground, pulling her with him, but she never felt the impact.