Alora: The Wander-Jewel (Alora Series Book 1) (28 page)

“The entire council wishes to be involved in the meeting, but we realized we cannot leave our home unprotected, especially at this time,” said Graely. “Laegenshire is having their winter fair, so there are many travelers in our town. We feel uncomfortable with so many strangers in close proximity. We’re actually hoping to move the meeting to Laegenshire.”

“But first, we want to thank Beth’s mother and Wesley’s parents for the help their children provided during the fight against Vindrake,” said Raelene.

“Yes, without the help of Wesley and his special bows, we might have lost many warriors to the wendts,” said Graely. “And Beth has amazing skills as a healer. I would have suffered greatly without the help of her magick circles.”

“He’s talking about ibuprofen, Mom. They don’t have modern medicine over there.” Beth patted her mother’s arm. Janice seemed more subdued than when she first arrived, but not particularly happy.

“Graely, could you start at the beginning and explain everything? Who you are? Where you’re from? All the way back to Alora’s mother and the war with Vindrake?” asked Charles.

“Very well. I am Graely BarManasae, of Laegenshire in Tenavae Territory, and I’m the leader of Stone Clan.” Graely’s voice was melodic as he told the story, and Alora’s mind wandered. Her head felt heavy, so she rested it against Kaevin’s shoulder.

An elbow in her ribs startled her awake. She straightened, blinking her eyes.

“But you understand why we can’t tell anyone about this?” asked Charles. “I don’t know what would happen if the authorities were involved and discovered our cover-up. I’m not just worried we could have legal troubles for creating a false birth certificate. I’m afraid they might discover Alora has powers and try to experiment on her. They might take her away from me.” His voice cracked. “If Lena were still alive, she could say it so much better.”

“I understand, Charles.” Janice was blinking at tears. “I’ve loved Alora almost like my own daughter. And you were there for me when Jack … when Jack passed away. And before that, when things were rough between us. I promise I won’t tell anyone about this. I was just a little shocked, that’s all.”

“Really, Charles. We’ll keep your secret,” said Karen.

“Who would we tell, anyway?” Brian chuckled. “Who would ever believe this story?”

“The real danger to Alora lies with her father. His evil is unsurpassed.” Graely glanced toward Alora, and her chest tightened. She couldn’t help feeling somehow responsible for his actions. What if she had gone to him and talked to him when he’d first invited her? Before she and Kaevin had made contact? Before they became soulmates? Could she have influenced him for good without endangering anyone else? He was definitely evil—his proximity had sickened her. But surely he wasn’t so evil that he would harm his own daughter.

“Yeah, he sounds like a real charmer,” said Brian. “Enjoys torturing people, huh? What a sicko.”

“Yes,” Graely agreed. “And his power is growing and spreading every day. So you see why defeating him is so crucial. And we now believe it’s possible there’s a portal in Vindrake’s kingdom that could allow him access to this realm.”

“Wait, what are you talking about?” Uncle Charles looked like he was ready to grab a gun from his gun safe.

“As our understanding has grown, we’ve determined Tenavae and Montana must exist in separate realms. And considering your story of meeting Wendelle, we realized she must have escaped Vindrake through a portal between our worlds. Especially, knowing he had her warded against transporting. Nordamen has some knowledge of portals, and he’s explained that the portal Wendelle used would remain open for use by anyone gifted in gresses. If Vindrake utilizes the same line of reasoning, he would likely presume the portal’s existence.”

“You’re saying he could come here?” Janice’s face was white.

“Yes, it’s possible. He would need the aid of someone with the gift of gresses, but surely, in all of Water Clan, he could locate someone thus gifted and bend them to do his will. Of course, we’ll do everything in our power to prevent that from occurring.” Graely’s tense expression contradicted the assurance of his words.

Raelene clasped her hands together in a gesture of prayer. “As a mother, I understand how frightening this is to you. But we felt you had a right to know the truth. And we hope you’ll help us determine the next steps in our battle.”

“I don’t think we need to be involved at all,” said Karen. “I understand why you need Alora, and that’s her heritage, anyway. But, Wesley certainly isn’t going back over there—he’s only a boy.”

“He’s sixteen, Karen. Almost my age when I enlisted,” Brian said.

“So you want him to go get himself killed by this evil maniac?”

“No, but I’m saying I understand wanting to fight for something bigger than yourself. I’m not saying I approve, but I get it. And now they’re telling us this battle could come to our own doorstep. I’d much rather defeat him over there than have him threaten us in our homes.”

Alora ventured a glance at Wesley who was biting back a smile. He wasn’t out of the woods yet, but at least his dad was sticking up for him.

Brian stuck out his hand. “Graely, I’d be honored to go to Laegenshire and attend your meeting. If nothing else, I’d like to know more about what kind of threat Vindrake might pose to us if he finds a way to get here.”

Kaevin grinned as he whispered in her ear. “I believe Brian might simply wish to experience transporting.”

“We should go now,” said Charles. “Wesley and Beth can wait here with Karen and Janice.”

Beth pouted her lower lip, but she didn’t protest aloud. Wesley looked as if he might object, but his mother’s expression quelled any complaint. As Kaevin pulled Alora to her feet, she realized her head ached a bit. She wished she’d found a private place to steal a kiss from Kaevin instead of falling asleep. The two trips required to transport the four adults to Laegenshire would put a strain on their bond, but it was too late to worry about it now.

“We’ve been waiting forever.” Jireo greeted them after they moved her uncle and grandmother, and then Graely and Brian, who couldn’t seem to stop smiling. The three stood in the rear as Graely moved to the front and called for attention. “It’s not just the council. Graely invited some of the other citizens, including my parents, to take part in the discussion.” He pointed toward a couple sitting near the back of the room.

“I notice everyone has their weapons,” Kaevin whispered, nodding at Jireo’s scabbard. “Did Morvaen post guards?”

“Four warriors are outside the door. And the entire force is on alert if the bell rings. He’s not taking any chances this time.”

“Why? What happened before?” Alora asked.

“A surprise attack by Water Clan during a council meeting. We lost two council members, including Valor. He was the only Stone Clansman with discernment. That’s why Nordamen is so excited you have the gift.”

Alora nodded, noticing that the movement made her head throb. “Kaevin, does your head hurt?”

“Yes, but I don’t think my father wants us kissing during the council meeting.”

“I can’t really hold your hand, even though the bandages are off.”

He pulled up his sleeve. “Put your hands on my arm.”

She wrapped her hands around his arm. But as the pain eased in her head, she noticed a new pain in her stomach. “Something feels bad here.”

“Something feels wrong to me as well, but my gift is different from yours. I only sense impending danger, and I’m still learning how to interpret my feelings. The gift is common to all clan leaders, but my time has not yet come. Sometimes what I read as a gifted warning is simply anxiety.” He shifted, glancing about the meeting hall. “Do you feel evil? Could Vindrake be coming here?”

“I don’t know. It’s weak, but it doesn’t feel like it’s a long way off. It feels close. It feels like I ate something bad and I need to throw up. What are you sensing?”

“It’s... I don’t know. My heart is racing and my chest feels tight. I’m uncertain of the meaning.”

Raelene’s voice echoed through the meeting hall as she explained how the soulmate bond enhanced Alora’s gift. A debate ensued about the wisdom of attempting to end the bond and lose the augmentation. But Graely and Charles were adamant the couple was too young for the responsibility and danger associated with being soulmates. The discussion moved on to the organization of a future expedition to search for the other soulmate couple and a method to eliminate the bond. Alora’s anger distracted her from the vague nausea.

“Wait,” she spoke out. “You’re talking about
our
lives and
our
future. Don’t you think we should have a say in this as well?”

“Alora, we’ll speak later. In private.” Charles stood and raised his voice so she would hear him from across the room. “We’re only trying to protect you—you and Kaevin. You’re too young to realize all the consequences of such a decision.”

“Father!” said Kaevin. “Do you—”

Graely interrupted. “Kaevin, this is not the time for you to speak. As Charles said, we’ll talk at another time.”

“But Father.” Kaevin’s voice was shaking. “There’s something wrong!”

At that moment, the sound of yelling and screaming voices from outside penetrated the room. The wooden door burst open, and someone ran inside.

“Fire! There’s a fire in the healing house!”

Pandemonium brok
e
out as the meeting hall emptied. When Alora spilled out the door behind Kaevin, she saw smoke billowing from the window of the healing house across the square. Four men emerged from the door, one after the other, carrying patients.

“Oh my God! Are there any more people inside?” Alora ran toward the door, only to be jerked to a stop as Jireo grabbed her coat from behind.

“Don’t do something reckless, Alora. Laethan’s giving the orders, and he’s already evacuated the last of the patients.”

“But I want to help.”

“You really are as impulsive as my sister, aren’t you? If you want to help, go fetch buckets of water from the well and hook the handles on Kaevin’s arms so he can carry them.”

Her headache and nausea forgotten, she threw herself into the arduous work of filling buckets from the well and transferring them to others to throw on the fire. But it soon became apparent the building was a loss, so water was used to wet the nearby houses to prevent the spread of the fire.

Once the fire had consumed the building and died out, she followed the rest of the tired and sooty group inside the council house, now crowded with the patients and the citizens who’d been fighting the blaze. She and Kaevin leaned against a side wall beside Jireo and Brian. She noticed that Brian’s white Spyder jacket was totally blackened, and wondered if Karen would throw a fit when she saw it. Her headache settled into a steady throb, so she tugged Kaevin’s sleeve up to press her hands against his arm.

Graely clapped his hands, calling for attention, and the room quieted. “I would like to thank the visitors to Laegenshire for their help in fighting the fire. I am Graely BarManasae, Stone Clan leader. Some of you are friends I recognize, but I see some I know must simply be travelers who’ve come for the fair, and yet you’ve worked to help us in our time of need. Your efforts and kindness are especially appreciated. For that reason, as Stone Clan leader, it is only fitting that I pay for your night’s lodging at the inn.”

There was a hearty round of agreement and some clapping at his announcement. Alora gazed at the unfamiliar faces, wondering which ones were visitors and which were citizens.

“As long as the rest of you are assembled here, I’d like to address some of the rumors circulating throughout Stone Clan concerning our new bearer.” He caught Alora’s eyes. “That is, if you have no objection, Alora?”

She felt her face turning red as the crowd gasped and craned their necks to catch a glimpse of her. She nodded at Graely, but tugged her sweater cap downward to cover more of her face.

“First of all, we have not been keeping your bearer hidden from you. We’ve only discovered her existence recently. But she is, indeed, one of our own—the daughter of Wendelle, granddaughter of Raelene. Even having only fifteen years, she was of great service in our recent battle against Vindrake.”

Alora tugged on Kaevin’s arm. “I feel it again... that evil. It’s stronger now.” She inspected the nearby strangers. “Who’s that guy with his collar turned up and his hat pulled down?”

“That’s Benaede BarDevestae. He’s a cousin to Jireo.”

She searched for the source of her discomfort as Graely continued his explanation.

“Another rumor is that she resides in Water Clan with Vindrake—that she grew up there. But in fact, she never lived with Vindrake. She grew up far from here, and the decision has not yet been made as to when she will come here to live.”

Alora’s stomach roiled as the sense of evil grew more pervasive. She whispered in Kaevin’s ear, “Do you feel anything?”

Kaevin nodded, craning his neck to inspect the crowd.

“You may also have heard Alora and my son Kaevin are to be married. I can attest this is also untrue. My son of seventeen years will not be marrying this child having only fifteen years.” He chuckled as if the idea were absurd, and the crowd joined in his merriment. Alora might have been offended had her heart not been racing and her gut churning.

*****

A tall man with thinning gray hair and a scraggly beard stood in the corner of the council room, concentrating on Graely’s discourse. As he listened, his smoldering anger grew stronger.
Alora
! Her name was
Alora
! She’d lied to him. And how was she able to do so without his detection? Of course Abaddon’s stone hadn’t bound her gift, since he’d spoken the wrong name. He unconsciously clenched his fist, imagining her choking under his power. But the very potion masking him also bound his gifts. Still, he could capture her. His physical strength remained along with a knife, and an iron belt protecting him from transport. He only had to wait for the right opportunity.

“And now,” said Graely, “I must kindly ask you to afford the council some privacy for further discussion.”

The tall man cursed as he was shuffled outside with the rest of the crowd. When he reached the corner of the building, he bent over, pretending to adjust his boot. He noted the four Stone Clan warriors standing watch outside the door, before slipping around the side of the building into a dark corner. He moved to crouch beneath a small window, careful to keep his darkly clothed back toward the front of the building while listening to the ensuing discussion.

*****

Kaevin watched Alora closely, her tense breathing and pale face telling him she still sensed evil close by. He couldn’t decide if his own sense of foreboding was simply a reaction to hers or a gifted warning. Either way, his racing heart refused to allow him to concentrate on the proceedings. As Raelene rose to speak he halfway listened, while scanning for danger with his gift.

“We haven’t found any concrete evidence, but Nordamen and I have been doing extensive research in our archives,” said Raelene. “It’s highly probable more than
distance
separates our communities. It’s likely we live in different realms. But that would mean Wendelle found a way to travel to a different realm while Vindrake held her captive in Water Clan. There may be some open passageway Vindrake has yet to discover. This is our biggest fear—that Vindrake’s evil might spread even further. Even threatening your peaceful home in Montana.” She let her gaze fall on Charles and Brian.

Kaevin finally caught his father’s eyes and waved him over. “Father, something’s wrong. There’s someone evil here. Alora can feel it. And I—I sense something as well.”

“Glare it! I’ve been ignoring my own warnings. I assumed it was merely the fire that was causing my tension, but I can sense it still.” His eyes darted around the room, and he gripped their arms, bending to speak between them in a low voice. “I can’t see anything amiss inside. It must be outside or coming toward us. Alora, you must go back to Montana at once, with Kaevin.”

“But, I can’t leave the others here.”

He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut, upending his hair with his fingers. “You’re right, of course. Take Brian and also Jireo, since he’s injured and cannot fight. Come back for your father and Raelene.”

“Raelene!” he called out, interrupting her speech. “We have a situation!”

Kaevin pulled Alora over to grasp arms with Brian and Jireo, and she transported without hesitation.

“What’s happening?” Jireo demanded, as Alora pulled Kaevin against her for a desperate kiss. He hugged her tight with his arms, but pulled his mouth away to answer.

“We don’t know. But Alora senses evil, and we’re following my father’s orders. We’ll be right back. We’re going after Charles and Raelene.” He kissed her again, his heart racing as they prepared to transport back to Laegenshire. How he wished he could leave her safe in Montana. How he hated being forced to place her in danger once again. Some day, he would find a way to protect her.

*****

Vindrake heard the council members break out in excited chatter and strained to understand their words. Daring to raise his head high enough to peer through the window, he saw Alora and Graely’s son disappear with two others. He allowed himself a moment of pride she could transport with three extra people. His daughter was powerful, as befitted the daughter of Master Vindrake. But his pride quickly dissolved into anger and bitterness. Already, she had chosen to fight against him, her own father, and serve Graely BarManasae. He could never allow that to happen. Her betrayal was a slap in the face, and she deserved to die for it. Still, he might be able to persuade her to his side.

With the knowledge of their soulmate bond, he only needed to capture one to get both. He had to work fast. He pulled the bags of fire powder out of his pocket and, quickly pouring them together, tossed them though the window. Chaos and screams erupted with the flames and smoke that filled the room. The door burst open and people ran from the building. The bell rang out to call the townspeople to fight yet another fire.

Vindrake spotted a man he’d seen previously—a tall man, trim and fit, with graying hair, dressed in unusual clothes. This had to be one of the people from the other realm Raelene was discussing. He planted himself within sight of the man and waited for Alora to return. Suddenly, a piercing cry came out of the burning council building. Then there was silence.

Raelene ran toward the building. Graely and the man beside Vindrake followed her. “Alora! They must have transported into the fire!” She peered through the doorway into the smoke and fire. “Alora! Kaevin!”

Graely called for more buckets of water to be thrown inside the doorway.

“Surely she popped back to Montana,” said the tall man. “I can’t believe they’re still in there!”

******

Alora and Kaevin transported back to the living room at the ranch, bringing the fire with them and landing almost on top of Karen and Janice. The room spun as Kaevin pushed her to the floor and rolled with her. Beth’s mother grabbed a blanket and threw it over them.

She heard Bozeman barking in frantic excitement, and Kaevin pushed the blanket off their heads with his arms. Jireo grabbed Bozeman by his collar and spoke into his ear to calm him down, while Beth appeared with a wet towel, pressing it against their smoldering clothes.

“What happened?” asked Brian. “Did you go to the wrong building?”

“No,” said Alora. “At least, I don’t think so. But wherever we went, there was a major fire burning.” What could have happened so quickly? Had someone dropped a bomb on the council building? No, they didn’t have bombs in Laegenshire. She imagined her Uncle Charles caught in the burning fire and began to tremble.

“You’re shaking! Are you burned?” Kaevin examined her face and hands.

“I think I’m more scared then injured. I think only my coat caught fire. Maybe a little burn on my fingers. What about you?”

“I’m all right, but I smell singed hair. I think it’s yours.”

“We have to go back,” said Alora. “What if someone’s trapped in the fire?”

“I agree,” said Kaevin. “But my head is pounding. Yours, too?”

“Yes,” Alora admitted. “Kiss me, and I’ll transport straight to Raelene.”

“Wait!” At Jireo’s cry, she tore her lips away, and saw Bozeman bounding toward her. He jumped on her just as they transported.

Alora and Kaevin appeared in front of Raelene, with Bozeman in tow. Alora, swaying from the pounding and dizzying sensation in her head, clung to Kaevin for support.

“Kaevin, help me.”

“I know. I feel it, too.” He wrapped her in his arms.

“I was so afraid you were both caught in the fire!” Raelene cried.

“What happened?” Alora heard Kaevin’s voice rumbling in his chest. “Is anyone hurt?”

“The fire started right after your last transport.” This time she heard Graely speaking. She opened her eyes, struggling to focus on his face. Graely’s forehead was creased with worry. “We don’t understand what caused it. But you need to take Charles back to safety. I’ll put on irons so you can talk with me later tonight.”

“You don’t want us to stay and help with the fire?” asked Charles. The townspeople were frantically throwing water on the flaming building.

“He’s here—my father’s here!” The nauseous sense of evil overwhelmed her. Combined with her headache, she could barely stay on her feet.

“Did you see him?” Kaevin shifted his weight to support her as she stumbled.

“No. No, I—I feel him. He’s here.” Saliva poured into her mouth, and she fought the urge to throw up.

“Just go,” said Graely. “Take Charles and go.”

“I don’t know if I can do it,” said Alora. “My head... everything’s spinning.”

Kaevin kissed her again, but she was way beyond feeling anything pleasant from the contact. “We have to try, Alora. Grab my arm, Charles. But where’s Bozeman? He came back with us.”

“Leave him here for now,” said Graely. “Go quickly.”

A cloud of smoke billowed out of the council house, making visibility nearly impossible.

*****

Vindrake shuffled close to the burning council house, waiting for his opportunity. With his knife at the ready he edged closer to Alora and Kaevin. He cursed his bad timing. He couldn’t reach Alora without being seen. But a sudden shift in the wind moved the smoke to provide a perfect cover. Lunging for Alora, he grabbed her arm in time to prevent the transport. But even as he tugged, Kaevin held her fast. Alora screamed. His only chance was to kill her and run.
Pity—I’d rather not mar her beauty.
He shifted his hand to grab her hair and pulled her head backward, raising his knife to slash her throat.