Andoran's Legacy Read online

  Taina gestured at the doorway. “That’s enough for now. We can all talk later.” The three girls and Ariel promptly departed. Siljan shrugged off her backpack and placed it near the door. Her cloak followed, and then her sword belt. Being rid of all that extra weight was a relief.

  “Are you hungry?” asked Taina. She had removed her cape and was now tending to the fire. “I will be heating up leftover venison stew later, but I have flatbread and goat cheese.”

  “That sounds good.” Siljan went and fetched a wineskin from her backpack. “This is grape wine from my temple.”

  They sat on woven mats, with the food and drink on a low table between them. The flatbread was chewy but delicious. The cheese was a bit pungent, but still tasty. Taina sampled the wine while Siljan ate, smiling her approval.

  “Let’s talk,” said Siljan, then took a swig of wine. “You have a surplus of men here. They don’t want that other woman to leave, do they?”

  “No.” Taina sighed. “Our women are not well-suited to bearing children. Many die while giving birth.”

  “That makes women from other places particularly valuable.”

  “Yes. You should expect to be approached while you are here. Your hair color is unusual.”

  Siljan’s blond hair definitely made her stand out, and she was momentarily distracted, wondering what she would do if she were to be propositioned. Some of the village men were reasonably handsome although probably in need of a good scrubbing. But after all that travel, she was in need of a bath herself.

  “What if we help you with your troglodyte problem?” Siljan suggested.

  Taina was taken aback. “Is that what they are called? I have been trying to formulate something to neutralize their stench.”

  Siljan was impressed that Taina was even attempting something that difficult. “Do you know how many there are?” she asked.

  “Not exactly. There is an abandoned coal mine not far from here. That’s where they are living now. It’s a problem because we use the upper level for food storage, and as a shelter if the weather becomes too threatening.”

  Siljan thought a moment before speaking. “The alchemists in the Witch’s City can make something that protects against that stench. We’ll go there and get some. And while I’m there, I’ll recruit my friends to help. That includes Audrey.”

  Taina nodded solemnly. “Thank you. If you rid us of those creatures, then we will release both the twins and the woman. You have my word.” She hesitated. “The troglodytes have taken prisoners. Would—”

  “They’re dead,” interjected Siljan. “Troglodytes eat almost any kind of living creature.” They even ate each other if food was short.

  “I … I will inform the others.” She looked close to tears.

  “I have a question. Was it really necessary to kill the men who were with the twins and the three women?”

  Taina’s shoulders slumped. “I questioned them about that. They claimed the men resisted, but I doubt that. They were probably as sick as the others.”

  “What?” Siljan leaned forward, suddenly worried. “That disease is deadly and contagious.”

  “I am aware of that; they told us about what happened in Farmerton. When they returned, they all remained outside the village. I healed them there, and we burned all the clothing as a precaution.”

  “But …” Siljan had never heard of a witch that could heal at all, let alone deal with an unusual disease. “Can you also heal wounds? Broken bones?”

  Taina frowned. “No, I can only cure diseases. To me, it is a wrongness that I can sense and then banish. It is a power that is granted to but a few Spakona,” she concluded proudly.

  “Do you have a husband?” It looked to her like the woman lived only with her daughter.

  Taina smiled slightly. “Spakona do not pair. I may lay with any unpaired male.” She frowned. “I rarely do. Since Laila, I only miscarry.”

  Siljan took another swig of wine and then rose to her feet. “Then I need to examine you. With magic.” Taina looked nervous as Siljan knelt next to her. “This won’t hurt,” Siljan assured her, gently placing her left hand on the woman’s belly. But when she tried to expand her awareness into Taina, there was resistance.

  “I feel something,” said Taina. “Tingling.”

  “Your power is blocking me. Close your eyes. Relax.”

  That didn’t help. Siljan probed the woman’s reproductive organs as best she could, but it was like trying to see through a dense fog. After removing her hand, she said, “I think there’s a problem with your uterus. That’s all I can tell.”

  Taina looked downward at her abdomen with dismay. “My mother had the same problem with miscarriages. She died from one when I was twelve. You can’t help me?”

  Siljan hesitated before answering. She didn’t want to give the woman false hope. “The other priestesses at my temple are more experienced. One of them might be able to help. Could you get a message to my temple?” It would also allow her to tell Alessandra what was going on as far as the troglodytes were concerned.

  “I will make arrangements to send a message.”

  “Good. I’ll write out something this evening. If they can’t help you, then you need to go to the Witch’s City. Ermizad, the woman who’s in charge, has the same ability to block magic. Maybe she can teach you to control it.”

  “I see.” Taina pursed her lips as she mulled it over. “I’d like to meet her. And see this city of witches. Maybe after this crisis is over.”

  “Actually,” said Siljan, “there are only two witches that live there. And the other one is Ermizad’s daughter. She’s about the same age as your own daughter. The only other witch I know of is Ermizad’s cousin.”

  After some additional conversation about Ermizad and the Witch’s City, Siljan asked Taina to take her to where she and Ariel would be staying. The house they arrived at was empty, but it looked as if the previous occupants’ possessions were all still there. (That probably meant that they had been killed by troglodytes, which was kind of depressing.) Siljan watched silently as Taina kindled the fire. After promising that food would be brought over later, the woman departed.

  Siljan had no sooner laid down on one of the two moss beds when Ariel arrived, looking as perky as ever. She described the twin’s accommodations (which sounded fine), laid down in the other bed, and promptly dozed off. Already yawning, it wasn’t long at all before Siljan joined her friend in blissful slumber.

  The clan-chief proved to be a pleasant surprise.

  In Siljan’s experience, most forest villages were led by dimwitted warriors who had little in the way of common sense. They were great in battle, but not so good at making sure that everyone got properly housed and fed. Brodric, however, seemed to be reasonably intelligent. During dinner (served by his wife and their two teenage children) he listened carefully to both Siljan and Taina. After a brief discussion with his wife—something else that Siljan found surprising—he agreed to honor the promise that Taina had made. Victory!

  Leaving Ariel behind to talk with Brodric about the best ways to hunt and kill troglodytes, Siljan asked Taina to take her to see the three women originally from Farmerton. Both younger woman declared their intention to remain in Havenbrook with their new husbands. One of Siljan’s priestess abilities allowed her to discern when people were lying to her, so she was satisfied. She was also envious because they both had snagged cute men.

  The appearance of the third woman concerned Siljan. Fenna had lost a husband and three children to the disease. Now in her early thirties, she was thin with a sallow complexion. Siljan would definitely need to examine her, but she began by simply introducing herself.

  “I remember you,” said Fenna, nervously fingering her short dark hair. “The first time you visited Farmerton, you healed my sprained ankle.”

  This probably wasn’t the time to mention that she had only volunteered to heal the villagers because she was basically competing with Saxloc, who had instantly offered to help when
they were told about the girl whose leg had been injured by a crocodile. That, of course, had been Audrey.

  “It’s what I do,” said Siljan, maintaining her smile. Then she explained about the deal she had struck with Brodric and Taina.

  Fenna glanced at Taina. “I haven’t decided. They’ve been good to me here. To all of us.” She looked over at Siljan. “When you come back, I’ll talk with Audrey. How is she doing?”

  “She’s getting by,” was all Siljan could think to reply.

  Siljan’s examination of the woman showed that she was basically healthy. It was basically a mental issue. Still grieving, Fenna probably didn’t have much appetite. The issue would probably resolve itself it in time, but it did bear watching.

  Next Siljan volunteered to use her magical abilities to heal any villagers who were in need. Taina took her around from house to house, and it wasn’t long before Siljan had exhausted her remaining magical energy. The villagers were grateful, and Taina looked envious throughout. Siljan did receive a couple of propositions, but she politely declined. Even if she hadn’t been so tired, it probably wasn’t a good idea.

  Back at the house they had been assigned, Siljan simply stood outside and listened in amazement. Ariel was recounting what had happened when she, Isadora, and Siljan had arrived at Farmerton the day after a fire had gone out of control and destroyed the village. (If only they had arrived sooner!) When she pushed through the hide door, Siljan wasn’t surprised to see that Ariel’s audience consisted of Ilona and Iris. After removing her cloak, she sat down and joined in. Telling the story was sad—all four of them shed tears—but also cathartic. The twins were amazed when Siljan told them about Kyran guiding her to recover a box of keepsakes from Audrey’s parents’ bedroom.

  After seeing the girls back to where they were staying, they returned and went to bed. Ariel was soon deep in slumber, but Siljan found herself unable to quiet her thoughts. Why had Kyran made her do that? The goblins would have eventually found the box and sent it to Audrey, just like all the other things that had been found in the ruins. Audrey wasn’t even one of his worshippers. Siljan was still trying to solve the puzzle when her fatigue finally won out.

  2

  ‡ Ice ‡

  Startled by a loud noise, Audrey’s eyes snapped open. Laying on her left side, she could feel Benson pressed against the back of her lower legs. The sun was out, but the light in her bedroom looked odd. A glance showed the windowpanes at the head of the bed to be coated with ice. That wasn’t a complete surprise since freezing rain had been falling when she went to bed. The noise had probably been a tree branch breaking under the weight of too much ice. It was something she had heard before although not where she lived now.

  Audrey moved her legs slightly. “Time to get up.” Benson made one of his complaining trills but didn’t move. She pulled the quilt back gradually until he finally got the message and jumped down off the bed with a loud thump. After a stop at her wardrobe to don her warm flannel robe and some thick wool socks, she headed to the bathroom.

  Benson, predictably, was waiting by the back door when she entered the kitchen. The windows at the back of the house showed only a thin coating of ice, indicating that the freezing rain had come down at an angle. “I’ll let you out,” she said, smiling down at him, “but I don’t want to hear any complaints later about how cold and icy it is. Understand?” In response, the large black-and-white cat simply tilted his head, giving him a quizzical look.

  Her second firm tug broke the ice holding the door shut. Benson shot outside, and she laughed as he scrambled for traction on the ice-covered ground. He looked back and gave her a dirty look just before she closed the door firmly, knocking free more ice.

  Returning to the sitting room revealed an issue. “That’s what I get for being lazy,” she said to herself. “Now I have to go out in all this and bring in more wood.” But there was enough stacked next to the fireplace for now. There were still hot coals remaining, so it didn’t take her long to rekindle the fire. She stood for a while with her hands held out, enjoying both the warmth and the play of the flames.

  Audrey sometimes went to the mansion for breakfast, but that was out of the question. Between the iced-over paths and the possibility of falling branches, it was simply too dangerous. She was scheduled to both teach and attend a class at Xlee’s Martial Arts Academy later, but Grasapa would certainly close the school. No one would be doing much traveling today in the Witch’s City.

  Benson began scratching at the door while she was trying to decide what to fix for breakfast. He raced in as soon as the door was open far enough. “I told you,” she scolded, wagging a finger. He paid no attention, simply sauntering past her on the way to the sitting room. He knew where warmth could be found. She had even made him a bed to lie on just to the left of the fireplace.

  Breakfast was reheated leftover beef stew and stale bread that she dunked in the stew before eating. She ate in the sitting room, watching the fire, and occasionally giving Benson small pieces of beef that he daintily consumed.

  After cleaning up the kitchen, Audrey performed the Slow Form—a series of slow movements—three separate times in the sitting room. As always, it loosened her muscles and left her with a feeling of calm.

  In her bedroom, she dressed herself warmly, including sturdy boots. Next was her warm cloak, retrieved from its usual place near the front door. Finally, she fetched her quarterstaff from the sewing room. It would be handy for walking outside and useful for breaking ice.

  After carefully exiting through the back door, Audrey simply stopped and took in the view. Everything was encased in ice, over a quarter-inch from the look of it. Mere yards from the house was a broken branch that had been brought down by the weight of the ice on it. Still, the winter scenery had a certain beauty, especially with light snow now falling.

  Keeping her center low and knees bent, Audrey slowly made her way to the right and around the corner until she reached the stone chimney. Next to it was her supply of firewood. The steel-shod staff made short work of the ice. Filling the rack next to her fireplace was slow work, requiring numerous trips and consuming nearly an hour. She found it invigorating.

  Next was a hot bath. The origin of the hot water remained a mystery. Every time she asked someone about it, they were evasive or changed the subject. Audrey was just grateful to have it. The water felt wonderful as she lowered herself into the tub.

  Last night had been one of her better nights. She had fallen asleep promptly and suffered no bad dreams. Every day was a struggle. The sheer magnitude of her loss was a constant threat. Sometimes the smallest thing would awaken her grief, causing her to sob uncontrollably. Yesterday, while walking home, she had glimpsed someone who resembled her now-deceased Aunt Berna. That was all it took. Two concerned city guards ended up escorting her back home.

  The severe weather emphasized why everyone kept telling her to be patient, but Audrey didn’t want to wait. She wanted to go get her cousins because they were the only family that she had left. But traveling at this time of the year would be both difficult and dangerous.

  After allowing a few inches of water to drain, Audrey added more hot water. She wanted to just relax, but her mind kept popping up more things to worry about. Demon Dresses, the business that she and Aliva had started, wasn’t doing well financially. For that matter, Audrey’s own finances weren’t exactly in great shape.

  Her love life seemed to be on hiatus, but maybe that was for the best. Truthfully, she still missed Erwin. She was jealous that Petra was now with him, and also jealous that Tabitha was dating Saxloc. It wasn’t logical, but that was just how she felt. Taking up with Hazel had been comforting at the time, but now that too was falling apart. The woman was obsessed with winning back Lukas, oblivious to the reality that he didn’t return her feelings. Audrey was tired of listening to her talk about it.

  When the water got too cold to be comfortable, Audrey climbed out and vigorously toweled herself off. Then she stared at the i
mage reflected by the mirror that hung from the back of the bathroom door. She had never been happy with her appearance. Brown hair, brown eyes, tan skin—it was all so average, so commonplace, so boring. Even her features were unsatisfying. Her nose was a bit too large, her lips a shade too thin, her eyebrows much too bushy—although those at least could be trimmed. She wasn’t ugly, but she wasn’t exactly pretty either.

  Her body was another matter. Intensive martial arts training had transformed her plump form into one that was lean and muscular while still retaining a woman’s curves. Her body was undeniably sexy, and she was proud of that.

  This would be a good day to just relax, to spend some time with her thoughts. And maybe to do something that she kept saying she was going to do but never seemed to have time for. After getting dressed, Audrey fetched some paper and a stylus from the desk in the sewing room and spent the rest of the morning making sketches of dress designs. An earlier design had ended up bringing in money from a dress shop in Rohoville that was run by a friend of hers. With luck, she might stumble on another one that became popular. Probably not, but you never knew.

  When she got tired of sketching, she laid down to take a nap and was soon joined by Benson. It was that kind of day.

  Saxloc found Romee in the long hallway staring out through the frost-patterned window panes opposite her suite. “It’s all icy!” she exclaimed as he walked up next to her. “I saw a big branch break off and fall. It made a huge noise.”

  “Which is why we are all staying inside until the ice melts,” he said, touching her lightly on the shoulder. “You don’t want to get hit on the head, do you?”

  “Course not. But there’s places where there aren’t trees.” She looked over and scowled at him. “I’ll be careful.”

  “I’ll take you out later this morning. We’ll both be careful.”

  “Okay.” She went back to staring outside.