Page 20 of A Baron of Bonds
He looked up at the tumultuous sky. Rain fell across his face and down the red curls pulled back from his shoulders. I recognized deep within my memories the young man I had once known intimately.
“It’s a good half-hour walk. We were out this far because I was on patrol for any sign of you.”
I nudged Rauca’s side, signaling for her to pick up the pace and Parvus matched her. “Why did Revich think I’d be out here? Did he find the rhyzolm?”
“I don’t understand how the stone works, but he has felt you all over the isle these past weeks.”
“I don’t understand. How could I have been all over the isle?”
Geyrand grunted in a unified agreement that he did not know. I remembered well this part of him, never saying more than what he deemed necessary.
Gritting my teeth, I swallowed my need for answers. They would come in time. What mattered now was that I was headed toward safety. I was headed toward clean clothes and a warm bath.
I was one step closer to reuniting with my love.
We reacheda small stable next to a modest house with a generous garden. Rows of fruit trees grew with an abundance of apples and pears and my mouth watered.
“The lumens can sleep here for the night. It’s not a lot, but it’s warm and dry.” Geyrand grabbed a pitchfork and pulled fresh hay from a nearby stall, tossing it to the open walkway. The occupants of two stalls huffed and neighed at the sight of the massive wolves, but neither Parvus nor Rauca paid them any mind. At their fresh bed, they settled down and began grooming their matted fur.
“Do you have something they could eat?” I asked, patting them both while Ashton tried to nestle down with them too.
Geyrand picked him up again, holding him to one side. “I’ll ask Viv if we have something.” He turned to the door and nodded toward the house.
Whispering to the lumens that I’d be back with food soon, I followed. Before Geyrand could even open the door, I heard singing.
Though it wasn’t a song I knew, it filtered through the house like a welcoming beckon into a warm home with the promise of good food and good sleep.
“Vivianna? There’s someone here I’d like you to meet.”
Geyrand entered the doorway just as Ashton ran inside yelling, “Mama!” and tracking a good amount of mud through the stone hallway.
I pulled my dripping hair behind my neck and followed. The beautiful voice stopped and giggles erupted from the expansive kitchen I stepped into.
Vivianna held her son, her belly round with growing another child. She stopped her tickling and gasped, “Karus? It’s you, isn’t it?”
I grinned and nodded, dripping rainwater onto the stone floor. “I’m so sorry about the mess. Can I help clean this up?” I looked around for something to use when I found her in front of me.
She took my filthy hands in hers and shook her head. “I don’t care a bit for it, love.” She wiped a tear from her face and laughed. “Karus. It’s good to meet you.”
Her embrace was unexpected, but I leaned into it, bending down to meet her with my own. She smelled of flour and flaky pastries and all things kneaded and baked. I smiled and whispered, “It’s good to meet you, too.”
“Ashton, help me feed the lumens.”
I heard Geyrand rustling around the kitchen before heading out the way we came.
“I have so many things to ask you.” Vivianna pulled back and squeezed my hands. “I will not utter a single one until you are yourself again. And you will take your time doing it. Come, I’ll show you where you can bathe and find something for you to wear. Then we’ll fill your belly and you can talk. If you’d like.”
She held one of my hands and I blindly followed her through the living room, past the roaring fire and into a modest washing room with a bath. It was nowhere near the size of mine and Revich’s and I didn’t care in the least.
She took a bucket and headed to the door. “Please. Let me,” I interrupted. I took the standing water from the basin by the mirror and splashed its contents into the tub. “Compleren.” I gripped the side of the wooden tub and we watched as magic spun from the tips of my caked fingernails, the water expanding upon itself and filling almost to the edge.
She clapped her hands saying, “Lovely! I could put you to good use around here!” Helping me out of what was left of my dress, she busied herself with adding drops of oils to the water that smelled of lavender and rose.
“I use these on the days my back is aching and my legs are the most swollen. They’ll perk you right up and you’ll be feeling yourself again in no time.” Her small face lit up as I stepped into the water and sunk under the surface, nodding, but assured that I would not feel myself again for a little while yet.
“Caloren,” I mumbled, the wisps of my green magic swirling around me to heat the water.
She handed me a worn bar of soap and left the room, taking my embarrassing clothing with her.
