Trials (2 page)

Encounter

“Help me, quick!” Aliana cried in a voice broken with worry.

Komir looked at her for a moment, then followed her gaze to the unconscious man who lay a few steps away from an enormous rock. There was a pool of blood on the granite surface that did not bode well at all.

“Here, take my hand” said Komir, and helped her to her feet.

Another girl descended from the big oak behind them. Komir stared amazed at her soft greenish complexion, but he was even more surprised at the way she moved from branch to branch, with the skill of an animal. She came down to the ground from the top of the tree in the wink of an eye.

Komir was still lost in amazement when Aliana tried to walk to the wounded man. She took a step and lost her balance, her legs bending under her as if she were about to faint. Komir held her in his arms.

“Slowly… you’re still stunned…” he said gently.

“Kendas, you help!” cried the strange girl. She was pointing urgently in the direction of the fallen man.

Komir understood that the man was the companion of the two women. The Troll, that brute of a beast with a killer’s instinct which lay dead a few steps away must have hit him during the attack.

“Hartz, get off that horse and explore the cave,” said Komir to his friend. “But be careful…”

“Do you think there’ll be another Troll in there?” the big Norriel asked, without in the least hiding his enthusiasm at the prospect.

“I don’t think so,” said Kayti, as she dismounted from her weary steed. “Those beasts are loners, or at least the males are, as far as I know. Nobody knows much about them anyway.”

“Kendas, Kendas!” the strange girl urged again.

Komir nodded at Kayti to go to the wounded man. Aliana tried to move too but she stumbled and Komir put his arm around her waist to support her. She looked at him gratefully, and he fell under the spell of her big blue eyes, blue as the sea. She could barely stand.

The ashen tinge of her face worried Komir. He seriously doubted that she could help anyone in that state. When they reached the wounded man, the green girl came to stand beside Kayti while the latter tended to him.

“He, alive?” she asked anxiously.

“Yes, he’s alive, by sheer miracle,” she answered. “He’s got a nasty head wound and I fear there might be some internal damage. The Troll must have thrown him hard against the rock.”

“A nasty business…” said Komir as he helped Aliana kneel beside the wounded man.

“Aliana, heal,” the girl begged, her pale jade face filled with concern.

“I need… a moment…” said Aliana. She inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly a couple of times with eyes closed.

Kayti stood at Komir’s side and whispered in his ear: “Beware, that girl is a Usik…”

Komir tensed at the mention of the word “Usik” and his right hand sought the pommel of his sword. He had heard chilling stories about those savages of the great forests, of the atrocities committed against whoever dared enter their impenetrable domains or chanced to get lost in them. At the Flying Horse Inn, they told those stories in all their gory detail. So, what was that savage doing with Aliana? And who was the wounded man, Kendas? Now that he stopped to take a closer look, the man was dressed in strange clothes, like a savage… There certainly was a story behind that unusual company of people, a story which Komir needed to know… but this was no time for questions although he would watch the Usik’s movements closely.

“I feel better now… I must heal Kendas,” announced Aliana carefully.

Komir watched her closely and saw with relief that her face had recovered a little warmth. She seemed to be getting better and that gave him an unexpected surge of contained joy.

Kneeling beside the wounded man, Aliana closed her eyes and placed her hands on his chest. Kendas’ breathing was barely perceptible. To Komir’s great surprise, a blue energy began to flow from her hands towards the body of the wounded man. He stifled a cry.

“You… you’re a Healer!” he muttered as he witnessed the process. Komir had immediately recognized the rare blue magic, capable of healing wounds and maladies which had impressed him so much in Ocorum. He could never forget that it had been the Healers who had miraculously saved his good friend Lindaro’s life with their Gift.

“Is she one of the Healers of the Order of Tirsar?” Kayti asked with surprise.

“Yes… she is healing him with her magic.”

“How do you know? Can you sense it?” Kayti said uneasily as she drew closer to Aliana to watch what was going on with more attention.

Komir did not wish to explain further to the redhead, still less about his own power. He did not trust her at all. Kayti’s secrecy had nearly cost Lindaro his life. Komir had to tolerate her presence for Hartz’s sake, so as not to antagonize him, but if it had depended on him she would not be with them. That woman was in pursuit of her own interests, most likely a mission on behalf of her Brotherhood, and he was sure that whatever it might be, she would give preference to it over the rest.

“I just know.”

Kayti looked at him with distrust. “Can you feel her healing magic?”

Komir did not want to reveal anything to her. “I know she is a Healer, don’t ask me how I know.”

“Shhhhh!” scolded the jade-skinned girl.

Komir and Kayti looked at her sullenly, but the Usik stood their gaze and said coldly: “Silence, Aliana heal.”

Komir looked at the Usik with curiosity. She did not seem to pose a real threat, and her concern for the wounded man seemed genuine. He decided it was best to do what she said and let Aliana use her Gift in peace and quiet. Kendas’ life was hanging by a thread. He motioned Kayti to follow him and moved away to a safe distance, careful to walk lightly.

“What do you think, Komir? Strange company, isn’t it?” whispered Kayti.

Komir nodded thoughtfully. He needed some time to clear his thoughts, his mind was a storm of different ideas and explanations which he could not put in order. He had finally found the bearer of the Ilenian medallion, the one he had seen in his visions, who now turned out to be a Healer. He was absolutely bewitched, beginning to realize she only had to look at him and he was lost. But he could not allow her beauty to charm him, as had happened with his big friend and Kayti. Komir would resist any attempt at seduction. However beautiful or gifted at Healing they might be.

Hartz appeared at the mouth of the cave, “All good! The cave’s empty!” he thundered, more upset than relieved.

Komir gave a start, then immediately gestured to his unsubtle friend to be quiet. The huge Norriel came to their side. When he saw the healing in process he whispered to Komir: “Is he alive?”

“It would seem so. She’s trying to heal him,” replied Komir.

“Heal him? I don’t follow… is she a Healer?” Hartz asked in surprise.

“Looks like it,” said Kayti.

“She’s healing him with her power, her magic,” explained Komir.

“If you say so… I only see a beautiful maiden with her hands on the wounded man, no magic anywhere,” said Hartz.

Kayti turned round and gave the poor Norriel a burning look. For a moment Komir thought the look would pierce his friend like an arrow of pure hatred. When Hartz saw the redhead’s look he realized his mistake and tried to fix it, making it even worse.

The giant cleared his throat. “Mmm… I didn’t mean to say she was beautiful, it’s just that I don’t see any magic anywhere… from the pretty… I mean maiden… Not really beautiful although to tell the truth… she’s not ugly, either… But beautiful? Not much.”

Kayti was blushing, her green eyes seeming to burn with intense hate. Komir watched the lovers’ quarrel. It was something new to him, and the childish behavior of his two companions surprised and troubled him. On the other hand, when he came to think of it, his friend was in trouble and that suited Komir very well. He needed to separate Hartz from that woman, save him from her feminine charm which was holding him captive.

“Are you talking about her?” Kayti asked with controlled anger, pointing at Aliana.

Hartz looked where she was pointing, and Kayti struck out and kicked his shin. Komir could not help smiling when he saw his friend step back limping with pain. But his mood darkened again. He had to break up those two, and he would manage it, one way or another.

“Is all well in the cave?” he asked Hartz as he put aside his dark thoughts.

“Yes, there’s no danger. Just don’t go in too deep, I found all sorts of bones, many of animals but not all… That beast ate everything that fell within its reach, including unfortunate travelers.”

“Understood…”

“I really can’t believe the three Goddesses have turned their back on me…” Hartz went on.

“What are you talking about?” said Kayti.

“What am I talking about? Ever since we left Orrio I’ve been dreaming of coming upon a Troll and when we finally have the good fortune to find one, Komir fights the beast without me and kills it! I can’t believe my bad luck!”

Komir shook his head, trying not to laugh. Kayti rolled her eyes and dismissed him with a wave of her hand.

“He’s a numskull, I give up!” she said, turning her back on him.

“But what have I said now?” Hartz protested, baffled by her attitude.

“I would’ve liked to wait and have your help, but there was no time” Komir said. “I heard the screams and came here at full gallop. The Troll was on the brink of tearing Aliana apart, and I had no choice but to intervene. I swear, big guy, I wish you’d been there with me. When I saw the Troll I was almost overcome with dread. A hair-raising monster it was… I thought it was going to tear me apart. I thought I wouldn’t make it…”

Hartz looked at the dead beast, “Well, it’s surely the biggest and ugliest thing I’ve ever seen,” he said.

“Don’t tell me you’ve never looked in a mirror!” said Kayti.

Komir giggled in spite of himself. Hartz’s face took on a furious tinge of red.

“Luckily, the beast was already badly-wounded when I faced it. Knowing what a brown bear can do to a man, I couldn’t even begin to imagine what the Troll might do to me. So I concentrated on evading its thrusts and attacking its legs so as to maim it and limit its movements. In the end I managed to cripple the monster enough to topple it. Once it was on the ground I saw my chance and killed it.”

“Quite smart, good strategy,” said Kayti appreciatively.

“It would’ve been easier and less risky with the two of us,” said Hartz.

Komir smiled. “We’ll kill the next one we come across together, don’t worry.”

“Awesome!” cried Hartz happily, flexing his muscles.

“Men…” Kayti said, shaking her head.

Kendas moaned with pain and they all turned their attention to the wounded man and the Healer. They looked on as Aliana worked her magic to save the soldier.

Hours passed interminably, and Komir decided at last to tend to the horses and prepare a camp to spend the night. The two Norriel built a fire at the mouth of the cave, in the shelter of the granite wall. The howling wind and cool of the night would not reach them there. The three adventurers sat by the fire and took out their supply of dried meat and smoked cheese. They invited the Usik to join them, but she refused to leave Aliana’s side.

It was late at night by the time the Healer finally gave a long sigh and opened her eyes. They all got up at once and looked at her.

“Help me, please, Asti…” she said.

Her friend held her to stop her falling.

“My strength… fails me…”

The Usik’s face was filled with worry. “Kendas live?” she asked.

“Yes, Asti, Kendas will live… he needs much rest, for his wounds are serious…”

Kayti pointed at the fire. “Shall we bring him close to the fire so he can be warm?” she offered.

“Yes… please…”

Hartz and Komir lifted the soldier carefully and placed him in the glow of the fire. Asti and Kayti helped Aliana reach the shelter, and the Healer made a last effort to say: “Thankyou… care for Kendas… needs water… often…”

And she lost consciousness from sheer exhaustion.

They placed her beside Kendas and tried to wrap both of them up as best they could. They stirred the fire to keep the convalescents warm and well-sheltered from the night chill.

When she found herself alone with the three companions, the Usik girl took a step back. Komir felt her unease and tried to appease her with gentle words.

“Never fear, we’re not going to harm you.”

The fragile-looking girl studied him, trying to gauge the truth of his words. Komir raised his hands and smiled openly. The girl continued analyzing him, looking into his eyes. Komir almost felt she could read his thoughts and intentions.

“Me, Asti,” she announced as she finally relaxed her thin shoulders.

“Hello Asti. I am Komir, this big guy is Hartz and the redhead is Kayti.”

Asti eyed them curiously, as if this was the first time she had really paid attention to them. Hartz gave her his usual friendly smile. He came up to her and patted her back.