The Gathering (26 page)

“Are you coming, Gram?”

Elena smiled and looked at Alia, who took Elena's hand.

“Didn’t you want to talk to me about something?”

Elena grinned and put her other hand over Alia’s.

“Yes. I did, when you have a moment.”

“I have time now, My Dear.
 
I have time now.”

Elena nodded and turned to Sam.

“You go back and get some rest.
 
It has been a busy night.”

Sam smiled and started to walk away, but stopped and turned back around.

"Oh, Gram?"

Elena looked at her oldest grandson.

"Voice of an angel."

Elena smiled and tapped her head.
 
Sam turned and he and Corey walked back to the visitor's quarters.
 
Sean looked around and noticed a raven on the roof of the booth near where they were standing.
 
Alia turned back to Elena.

“Let’s go, Elena.”

She then turned to Sean.

“Are you coming?”

Sean looked back.

“Not just yet.
 
I want to check the perimeter.
 
But I’ll be back shortly so you ladies can fill me in on what you think this is, ok?

Alia nodded and she and Elena walked towards the castle door.
 
Sean strode off to the wall stairs.
 

The raven seemed to smile.

31

The early rays of dawn came quickly.
 
Alia sat in her bedroom, staring at the forest below.
 
She was still trying to absorb what had happened several hours ago.
 
Her practice of the craft had never revealed results like that, but there had been a shift, she could feel it.

Alia marveled as she thought of the creature she had pulled from Scott Forrester's head.
 
An Imp?
 
The strange airburst that had attacked the young men, it obviously came to them through that guise, but why?
 
Alia went over and over the story that Elena had told her.
 
Sam had obviously been spared the possession because of the talisman he wore, so similar to one she had made for her own children.
 
She scowled as she thought about the way Rona Mason had treated Elena and her story.
 

She felt the anger rise in her chest. Not just at Rona's disregard for Elena, but also at herself for not being more aware of what had been going on with her healers.
 
Elena had told Alia how Beverly Watson had tried to convince the other healers that Elena's story had bearing, but the majority of them looked afraid and wouldn't stand up to Rona.
 

Alia sighed.
 
She and Rona had always been friends, but now something was wrong.

Then she remembered the flash of gold from the previous day.
 
Did that beast in the forest have something to do with the demonic creature?
 
Or maybe it came from the same place.
 
She stared down into the trees and brush, looking for anything.
 
Then she heard it.
 
It sounded like a horse, but like none she had ever heard.
 
It was like a bow being dragged across a fiddle.
 
Then, there it was!
 
A flash of gold, just like the day before.

She heard the knock on her door and turned.

"Enter."

The door opened slowly and Rona Mason entered the room.

"You wanted to see me, Alia?"

Forgetting about the animal below, Alia raised her eyebrow and stood up.
 
She walked to the center of the room.

Rona was in her mid-twenties.
 
She was slim with long, straight brown hair.
 
She said she had been married, but her husband had disappeared.
 
She was alone and afraid when she had come to Lia Fail and Alia had taken her in.
 
Alia had tutored her in the ways of holistic healing and Rona was a quick study.
 
Soon, Rona's knowledge of healing and medicine got her the job of head healer.
 
But in the last year, Alia had spent little time with the healers and was now troubled to hear these stories about Rona.
 
Alia frowned and looked past her protégé.

"Surely by now, you've heard about what happened to the Forrester boy?"

Rona shook her head and shrugged slightly.

"I'm sorry, Your Highness, but I have no idea what you're referring to."

Alia looked directly at Rona and smiled and tilted her head.

"Interesting, Rona.
 
As my head healer, you're responsible for monitoring the spiritual safety and subsequent physical well being of the people who reside and visit this village, correct?"

"Well, yes, Your Majesty, but…"

"Yet, you're completely oblivious to the fact that just a few hours ago, I pulled a strange little creature from the head of that boy.
 
Is this true?"

Rona was now taken aback.

"I had no idea, Your Highness."

"No idea?
 
Elena Petrulengo came to you yesterday upon her arrival to the Fail with the news that her grandson and his friend had been attacked by a "freezing pocket of air," which left them blind and unconscious and you found this to be of no importance?"

"Your Highness, Elena Petrulengo is a gypsy.
 
She has often come to us with grand stories."

"Yet, this story was true, Rona, and your disregard for that almost cost a boy his life."

"I doubt that, Your Majesty," Rona said as she smiled.
 
"Perhaps it wasn't what it seemed."

Alia crossed her arms.

"Are you calling me a liar, Rona?"

"No, Your Majesty, of course not.
 
Perhaps your mind was playing tricks."

"Playing tricks?"

"Well, yes, after a late night of drinking…"

Alia held up her hand.

"I was not drunk, nor was I hallucinating.
 
Nor were the other thirty or so people who watched it happen."

Alia put her hand down.

"What happened to you, Rona?
 
When did you begin to abuse your post?"

Rona frowned and shook her head.

"I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Alia.
 
I have always done right by you and the people of this village.
 
I can assure you that a creature of that ilk would not have killed the boy."

Alia raised her sight to Rona's face.
 
She could see through her lies now.
 

"A creature of what ilk?"

"Well, it must have been some kind of possessor.
 
An imp maybe?"

"Really?"

The wheels in Alia's head were spinning.
 
How would she know it was an imp?
 
Every moment that seemed innocent and sprinkled with coincidence was now painfully obvious to Alia.
 
Rona had been breeding the seeds of discontent.
 

Alia wanted to throw up.
 
The betrayal was suffocating.
 
She paced around the room as Rona stood silently by the door.

"You'll remove yourself from my presence, Rona.
 
You will inform the other healers that you are stepping down from your position as head healer."

"I don't understand."

Alia turned and looked at Rona.
 
The anger in her eyes made Rona take a step back.

"Despite your assurances that he would not have died, your lack of action could have resulted in that young man's death, and subsequently the infection of others.
 
You are not capable of the position of head healer."

"I must protest, your…"

"PROTEST?"

Alia took a step towards Rona.

"You're in no position to protest anything, Rona!
 
Captain Lantry’s men will escort you to Healer Hall where they will tell the other healers that you are no longer in charge.
 
Do I make myself clear?"

A tear came to Rona's eye as she looked down at her hands.

"Yes, Your Highness."

She stood silently as Alia watched her.
 
Finally, Alia walked back to the window and looked at Rona.

"Is there something else, Rona?"

Now crying quietly, Rona nodded.
      

"Am I being exiled, Your Majesty?"

Alia's eyes narrowed and she walked over to Rona.

"You're not being exiled, Rona, and you're not being removed from healing but you're not capable of the responsibilities of being Head Healer."

Rona sniffed and looked at Alia.
 
She then bent over and kissed Alia's hands, thanking her.
 
Alia took her hand and placed it at the top of Rona's head not quite touching her.
 
She felt that familiar motherly instinct want to take control until the wave of nausea once again struck. Alia felt lost.
 
She pulled her hand up and away, closing her fingers into a fist.

"Go now."

Alia turned and walked over to the window as Rona bowed and walked out of the queen's chambers.

Rona walked silently and steadily down the stairs, her face contorting into an angry sneer as she cursed Alia Stark under her breath.

Then she stopped on the stairs.
 
All wasn't lost; she hadn't been removed as a healer, only the head healer.
 
She was still in the Healer House.
 
She still had access to potions and brews.
 
She still terrified several of the other healers.
 
She smiled and started walking down the stairs again.

Rona was still deeply engrossed by her thoughts as she moved towards the front door where she was met by Todd and Quinn.
 
They stood in her way, so she looked at them and put her hands on her hips.

"Excuse me."

They looked straight ahead as a voice came from behind her.

"They'll be escorting you to Healer Hall and delivering the good news of your immediate retirement as head healer.
 
They'll also be listening to what you have to tell the other healers, Ms. Mason."