The Children of Calm (18 page)

Rylek had looked attentively into her eyes. “What is it, Aunt Penni?”

“I’m telling you because I know you are a born leader, destined to great things. I really didn’t understand before, but I believe it now. And I’m not sure what that means for you, but you must do all you can to protect the others.” She had then lowered her voice significantly, so that he had to watch her lips to understand correctly. “There’s something very dangerous to the north. I don’t fully comprehend what it is, but it took the life of my husband. It was beyond anything I had ever seen before, and there was nothing I could do; I had to watch him die. You see, when they had finally brought him back to me, there was something odd about his eyes, the way they glowed ever so slightly. And his hands looked like they were burned in a great fire…”

She had been unable to finish because at that moment Caenar had walked up to them, and whatever it was she had been wanting to tell Rylek she evidently did not want Caenar to know. But in Rylek’s dream, everything in all of Calm suddenly erupted into fire, and he watched helplessly as his friends and family, everyone he had ever known, screamed in pure horror as they were burned alive. The last thing he remembered before he awoke was seeing Selenor falling before him. She was engulfed in flames, and her hands were covering her face. Then a disembodied voice that sounded exactly like hers blared into his head from some otherworldly place.

“Why did you break your promise?” it pleaded with him in shrieking tones while actual screams came from Selenor’s body. “You knew it would find you out in the end! But you foolishly sacrificed all of us for your own selfish desires!”

Rylek tried to move to help her, but found he was frozen in place. He desperately wanted to turn away, to avert his eyes from what he was seeing; but it was as though he were put under a spell.

The voice continued. “Oh, Rylek, how could you have ever claimed to have loved me more than anything else? At last the chambers of your heart are revealed, and you are left with nothing but yourself and ashes of what was and will never be!” Then she screamed one final time in unimaginable pain as her body melted away.

***

Rylek found himself drenched in sweat and sitting upright on the floor of a dark unfamiliar room. There were a couple of lamps burning on opposite ends, and a figure lay on the floor next to him. Even in the dim light it did not take him long to recognize Lana’s sleeping figure, and the memories of the last few hours flooded back to him, pushing his dreams out of his mind. All he could remember was something about a fire and a great sense of panic. But the longer he sat trying to recall it, the more it slipped away from his grasp, until he realized he was shivering. Weariness swept over him again, and he collapsed back under the blankets, unsure of whether he wanted to fall asleep again or not. Eventually he did, and he would not remember his dream till much later.

***

The first thing he noticed when he awoke was the alluring smell of freshly roasted fish. Then the dull throbbing pain in the back of his head made its presence known. However, when he opened his eyes, he momentarily forgot these things as he saw Selenor sitting on her knees by him, watching and smiling at him. She was wearing one of the same short white tunics that Ryaskoreid and his people wore, belt tied around her waist. There were sandals on her feet, and her black hair was pulled up on top of her head, with a strand falling down each of her temples. Rylek thought she had never looked more beautiful.

“Good morning, Mister Sleepyhead,” she said softly.

Rylek sat up and the pain in his head multiplied. His hand instinctively went there and found it was still bandaged. “Is everything alright?” he asked. “Where’s Lana?”

Selenor placed her hand on the back of his head near his wound and gently caressed it. A hint of concern shaded her eyes. “She’s bathing,” she said, motioning with her head in a vague direction. “I thought I would sit in here with you until you woke up.”

He could not refrain from smiling. “Thank you,” he said. “It’s pretty nice to wake up to your happy face.”

Selenor’s smile broadened and she looked down as though slightly embarrassed. The skin on the back of Rylek’s neck tingled. “How’s Tresten?” he asked cautiously.

Her eyes met his again and there was joy in them. “Oh, Rylek!” she said. “It’s a miracle! He came out of unconsciousness a few hours ago, and he ate some food. He was even joking around about missing Lana’s cooking.”

“That’s amazing!” Rylek said.

“Yes, I know,” she said. “He’s sleeping again for now, but I think he’s going to be alright!”

“Good,” he said, laughing a little. “I’m sure glad I found Ryaskoreid. Or that he found me. Without him, I’m not sure what we would have done.” Just then, the smell of the roasted fish came back to him, causing his stomach to ache. “Selenor,” he said, “do I smell fish?”

“Oh yes, forgetful me,” she said, turning away from him and lifting up a tray laden with a small loaf of bread, some roasted fish, and a glass of water. “We all ate with several of Ryaskoreid’s people an hour ago, but I was able to keep some of the leftovers for you.” She set the tray down by his side.

“Thank you so much,” he said as he picked up the bread. “You really know how to take care of me.”

She reached out and held his wrist so that he stopped eating, her face becoming serious. Their eyes met. “And you know how to take care of me,” she said. Her words came slowly, as though she were carefully choosing them. “Your kind words to me last night as we were walking through the passage gave me the hope I needed to see through the night. Rylek, you led me out of the darkness of my despair back into the light of truth. Without you I can only imagine what kinds of fears and anxieties would have stolen my heart from me. But now my heart is captured by hope and trust.” She smiled at him, and his stomach felt like it was going to be sick.

He smiled back. “You flatter me,” he said. But the buzz came back into his head, and the image of the Oathbinder flashed before his eyes. He knew he had to get the subject changed, as much as he hated to. “Will you play your lyre for me while I eat?” he asked. “It will really help my head - it’s throbbing pretty badly.”

Her face grew concerned. “I’m so sorry!” she said. “Of course I will. Let me go get it, okay? I’ll be right back.” True to her word, she was up and out in a moment.

He watched her go, and wondered if and when he would ever be able to talk with her as freely as he desired. He abruptly shook his head, trying to snap the dangerous thoughts from his mind; but that only made his head ache all the more.

When she returned, she sat down next to him and softly strummed and occasionally sang as he ate. Though he could not explain it, her music had a mysterious healing quality. His head slowly ached less, and the worry that had invaded his mind was driven away.

As he was finishing eating, Lana came into the room, dressed similarly to Selenor. “Well, well, look who’s finally up!” she said. “And being entertained while he eats. It’s the royal treatment!”

“His head was still hurting from when he hit it last night,” Selenor said. “So I’m hoping my playing will help relieve the pain.” Rylek appreciated how quick she was to defend him.

“Oh foolishness, I had completely forgotten!” Lana said, dropping down behind him and removing the bandage. “In all the excitement about Tresten, and getting a proper bath, I’ve selfishly forgotten all about your head. What is wrong with me?” She looked at the bandage and then at his head. “Well, there doesn’t seem to be any more blood, so that’s good,” she said. “But, oh wow, is there a giant bump! That’s going to be tender for a good long while.”

“So I don’t need any more bandages, right?” he asked.

Lana shook her head. “There shouldn’t be any reason for one,” she said. “And now that you’re done eating, why don’t you go bathe yourself. They have hot water and everything!”

“Well, I don’t exactly want to put these nasty dirty things back on if I take the trouble to get clean,” he said. “Where did you two get those clothes?”

“Kelsereid brought them to us, and I’m sure she can get you some, too,” Selenor said. “She very kindly offered to wash our own clothes, and lent these to us for as long as we stay here in Perdeisolen. These people have been amazing with their hospitality.”

“So true,” Lana said. “And Ryaskoreid just told me before I came in here that apparently the chief of his people wants to meet with us all soon. So the sooner you go get yourself cleaned up and dressed, the sooner we can do that and maybe get some questions answered.”

“We have to wait for Tresten, too, don’t we?” Rylek asked.

“Actually, I’m not sure,” Lana said. “I would guess not, but maybe Ryaskoreid will know. But as for you, Mister Snores-a-lot: get you gone into the bathing chamber!”

“First of all,” Rylek said, as he stood up, “I don’t know where this bathing chamber is. And secondly – do I really snore that much?”

Selenor giggled.

Rylek looked at her. “Is it that bad?” he asked.

She shook her head. “It’s not so bad,” she said, with a light in her eyes. Shivers erupted all over Rylek again.

As they stepped into the Great Room, Rylek stopped and looked around in disbelief. Sunlight was somehow bathing the entire place with its warm soft radiance. “How is this possible?” he wondered aloud.

“What, the light?” Lana asked. “From what I understand, they have built these incredibly complicated shafts in the roof with some form of polished mirrors that bring the sunlight down here. They’re also built to keep rain from pouring in.”

“Amazing,” he said as he continued to observe. Several of the winged people were tending to the gardens, while others were leisurely walking. Butterflies flitted around flowers, and there were birds chirping. He was suddenly struck with the impression that he had stepped into some utopian paradise.

“Our home is beautiful, is it not?” Kelsereid abruptly asked, and Rylek turned to see her standing next to him. “It has been a work-in-progress for time beyond measure. It is in Perdeisolen alone that we find any form of pride and joy, for we know it can never harm anyone.” She handed him a bundle inside a folded white tunic. “Here are some clean clothes for you, Rylek,” she said. “I hope you enjoy our baths as much as you enjoy our gardens,” she said with a gentle smile on her face.

“I’m sure I will, thank you,” he said. “How is Tresten?”

“Still sleeping, but I believe he will be waking soon. I am very impressed by how quickly he is recovering from his unusual condition. I confess I am still somewhat baffled as to what may have exactly happened to him, but perhaps Andulibar will have a clearer idea. He is the wisest of our people.”

“I’m going to stay with Kelsereid,” Selenor said, “so I can be there when Tresten wakes up. Enjoy your bath, Rylek – they are amazing!”

“Okay,” he said, laughing. “They must be, since you all keep going on about it. I’ll be back in a little bit.”

He and Lana turned and began to walk away from the others. “Trust me,” she said, “if I know you at all, you won’t be back nearly as quickly as you think you will. You have no idea what’s in store for you.”

“I’ve had so many surprises in the last twenty-four hours that I’m not so sure anything can shock me anymore.”

“That’s what I thought, too,” she said, casting a sideways glance at him with a half-smile. “We’ll see soon enough.”

They continued walking for a few minutes, passing several curtained doors on their right. “Do you think these are more living quarters?” he asked.

“I can’t say for sure. I don’t believe it would be wise to just barge in and see, however.”

Rylek shrugged, and suddenly missed Tresten twofold.

Eventually they came upon an arched doorway that had a thin white curtain across its opening. “Here we are,” Lana said as she pulled it aside and led him through. Inside was a large room that was warmer and more humid than the air outside had been. It was also filled with dozens and dozens of lanterns. On their right was a large table lined with many thick towels. Beside it were several wicker baskets holding more towels. She grabbed one of the towels and handed it to him.

“A nice clean towel for you,” she said. “And when you’re done with it, it goes in one of these baskets.”

Next were little shelves holding wide-rimmed, shallow dishes and many glass jars containing a variety of objects. Rylek saw small white pebbles, petals of all colors, an assortment of dried leaves and grasses, and some other things he could not identify.

“What is all this?” he asked.

“This is the best part,” his sister said. “These are the bathing elements you add to the water. They have sea salts, flowers, leaves, soap beads, just so much stuff. Pour what you want into one of these bowls.”

“How do I know what I want?” he asked. “I just want to get clean.”

“Well, let’s see,” she said, as she picked up a bowl and started looking through the jars. “They told Selenor and me to definitely use these dark blue salts here – they turn black and then white when they dissolve! - and we’ll grab some soap beads, but no lavender – that will make you sleepy.”

“Are there any peppernut leaves?”

Lana laughed. “Actually, I think there are. Yes, right here.” She picked up a jar. “Are you thinking of home?”