Assassin's Curse (39 page)

Kala joined hands with Natasha and the wise woman raised her free hand.
 
Concentrating slightly, she shoved her hand forward and a powerful stream of air sped down the road toward the fire.
 
The torrent of air ripped through the fire, smothering and suffocating the flames as it sped past.
 
When she stopped, the fire was still burning along the sides of the road, but the middle was open.

“Quickly, I do not know how long it will remain open,” she told Jeda.

With the will of a man on a hell-bent mission, Jeda scooped up his pregnant wife like she was weightless, but the grimace on his face told a different story. “Grab the horses and make for the stand of trees past the fires.”

Natasha and Kala grabbed the horses and led them through the flames. They all hurried down the road before the flames engulfed them again.
 
The horses were nearly panicked when they finally stopped at the trees.
 
Natasha touched each one in turn and they calmed immediately.
 
Kala’s mouth dropped open as she watched her grandmother effortlessly settle the frightened horses.

“Nana, how did you do that?”

“Child, magic is part of our living world.
 
It is not the sole realm of humans.”

“You mean animals can do magic?”

“Not in the way you mean, but they can sense the presence of magic and be affected by it just as you can.
 
I calmed their inner fears by sending soothing thoughts to their frantic minds through the power of magic.
 
Once they felt safe, they calmed down immediately.”

Jeda had laid Keisha on the ground and asked Natasha to go into the trees and get three long, sturdy branches.
 

Natasha returned quickly enough with the branches and she was also leading one of the assassin’s horses. “We’re in luck. Found one of their horses just inside the tree line.”

“Good, that will help us move faster.”
 
Jeda removed the riding blankets from the girls’ two horses.
 
Though he was still exhausted from his last healing, with the help of Natasha and Kala he managed to rig a travois behind one of the horses using the branches, the blankets, and pieces of the horse’s leather tack.
 
He gently picked up Keisha and laid her down on the
make-shift
stretcher.

“That should hold for the trip to Faypond, but it is not stable so we must go slowly.
 
Kala, you will ride beside the horse dragging the rig to make sure it doesn’t get spooked along the way and Natasha can ride behind and protect our rear.
 
I will walk beside Keisha to make sure she does not slip or hurt herself.”

“Poppy, I can walk with you.”

“No, I do not know how much your efforts took from you and we cannot slow down if you become tired.
 
Time is our enemy now.
 
We must get to Faypond, buy a wagon, and get your mother to the village healer as quickly as possible.
 
Once you are all safely there, I will go bring Kara back.”

If Jeda had not been so distracted and had stopped to consider what he knew about the women in his life, he would have noticed the scheming looks and secret nods that transpired between the two witches, old and young.

Faypond was miles down the road, and the group finally arrived right at sunset.
 
Jeda led them to the nearest tavern with a stable and bought a used wagon with part of the money he had left over from his trip to Redstone that morning.
 
He sold the extra horse back to the stable and bought food for the journey in the tavern.
 
All this took less than an hour’s time and, with the women safely secured in the back of the wagon, Jeda was on the road again, heading to the one woman he hoped could cure his precious wife.

Around midnight the two horses pulling the wagon began to tire.
 
He softly cursed himself for not purchasing two fresh horses, but in his haste to find Gelda he had simply quickly hitched up the horses they had ridden hard all day.

Natasha moved to sit beside him.
 
“What is it?”

“The horses need rest.
 
We have taxed them too much and I am afraid if we continue, it will do them in.”

“Maybe I can help,” Natasha offered.

“What do you mean?”

“The same as when Kala lent me her powers, I can give the horses energy from myself.”

“But you already said you were exhausted.
 
Won’t that hurt you?”

“Not if I’m careful.
 
Besides that is my daughter and grandson back there.”

Jeda pulled the team to a stop and Natasha dropped to the ground.
 
She made her way to the horses and gently laid her hands on the first.
 
After a moment or two, the horse reared its head, full of energy again.
 
She moved to the second and did the same.
 
As she stepped from the second, she stumbled and went down upon one knee.
 
Jeda jumped off the wagon and ran to her side.

“I’m afraid that I am not as young as I once was,” she replied, exhausted from her efforts.

Jeda helped her up and half carried her to the back of the wagon.
 
Jeda looked at the care-worn face of the older woman as she fought to stay awake.
 
She was nearly spent and Jeda had to practically lift her into the back of the wagon.
 
Kala was sleeping soundly beside Keisha as Jeda helped Natasha in.

“Get some sleep,” Jeda told her softly.
 
“We should make the next village by noon tomorrow.”

“What about you?
 
You looked exhausted as well.”

“I’ll rest when all this is over.”

***

The wagon rolled into the village a little past noon.
 
Jeda was half-dead with exhaustion, but refused to rest until he found Gelda.
 
Anna answered the door to the healer’s hut when they arrived.

“I’m afraid Gelda has not been here for years,” she said.
 
“She moved back to Rocher when news came of Emilie’s death.
 
I have been the village’s healer for the past 10 years.”

Jeda barely remembered the young girl named Emilie whom he had briefly met so many years before.
 
All he remembered of her was that she had been so willing to help him.

“So Gelda has been in Rocher all this time?”

“Yes, but if you have a problem, I am sure I can help you.
 
I still remember the first time we met.
 
You were
near-dead
and I helped heal you.
 
I’ve had ten years of experience since that time.”

“Are you familiar with the herb Darkshade?” Jeda asked.
 

“Yes, of course,” she replied.
 
“All healers know of this herb.
 
It is very powerful and used to temporarily paralyze those that need bones set or bad wounds stitched.”

“That’s it.
 
My wife has been exposed to a dose and is now unconscious.
 
She lies in the back of the wagon.”

“Unconscious?
 
That means the dose was too large,” Anna said, pushing past Jeda and rushing to the back of the wagon.
 
“It could kill her if not treated properly.”

Anna was met by the stare of Natasha, who was hovering over Keisha.
 
Jeda was right behind her.

“This is the great healer you spoke of?’ Natasha said, disdainfully looking down at the young woman.
 
“She is barely old enough to understand anything of healing.”

Anna took a step back upon hearing such a vehement tone from the older woman who was staring at her with scorn.
 
Natasha radiated power like a flaming candle in the dark of night and the young healer immediately knew her to be a wilding.
 
Anna held back from getting into the wagon, knowing that wildings had no formal training and little control over their power.
 
The prejudices between coven-trained and natural witches ran long and deep.

“Natasha, she is a trained healer.
 
Please let her look at Keisha.”

With no other option left to her, Natasha moved over beside Kala so the young healer could climb into the wagon.
 
Looking a bit fearfully at the older woman, Anna climbed up and hesitatingly put her hands upon the unconsciousness woman.
 
After a few moments she sat back, perplexed.

“I don’t understand.
 
How can this be?” she asked, looking at Natasha.

“It is nothing I have ever seen either,” Natasha admitted to the young healer.
 
“Have you any idea on what to do with her?”

Anna looked down and hung her head.
 
“I’m sorry; I do not know how to help her.
 
You must find Gelda.
 
She is the most experienced and powerful healer in the entire kingdom.”

Jeda finally spoke from the back of the wagon, having heard the exchange.
 
“Anna, I am going to need a fresh set of horses.”

“What about your shoulder?
 
Let me look at you before you set out.”

“There is no time.
 
Please, get me the horses so we can find Gelda.
 
Time is of the essence.

The young healer jumped down from the wagon.
 
“Of course, I’ll get the horses for you.”

***

Jeda reached the village of Rocher in less than a day.
 
It was late morning when the wagon finally rolled up to the healer’s hut.
 
Gelda was in the doorway watching them come as if she was expecting them.

“You look to be about half-dead, just like the last time I saw you,” Gelda said, scrutinizing the disheveled looks of the young man she had not seen in over a decade.

“That’s pretty much how I feel right now, but I’ve come about my wife Keisha, not me.”

“Hmm, a wife,” Gelda replied.
 
“What seems to be her problem?”

“Darkshade.”

Gelda looked at Jeda with raised eyebrows and made her way to the back of the wagon.
 
She looked at Natasha and then the unconscious, pregnant woman.

“How long as she been like this?” Gelda asked Natasha without touching Keisha.

“For about three days now.”

“And the baby?”

“Alive and well… he has a strong life spark.”

“Good.
 
That at least means the drug has done its worst.
 
Let’s get her inside where we can make her comfortable.”

Gelda stopped short as she saw Kala move from behind Natasha.

“Oh… and who might you be?” she asked.

“My name is Kala, ma’am,” the young girl answered, “and this is my mom.
 
Can you help her?”

Gelda hesitated but a moment at the cascade of information the young girl laid upon her.
 
“Well, young lady, my name is Gelda.
 
Why don’t you help me get her inside and we’ll see what we can do to help her?”

They all helped move Keisha inside and laid her to rest on one of the beds Gelda used to treat her patients.

Gelda looked over at Natasha and motioned her over to the kitchen area.
 
“You’ll find tea on the fire and an assortment of breads and fruits.
 
Please help yourself and get something for the others.”

Natasha nodded her thanks, not quite knowing what to make of this woman who radiated with a strength she had never felt before.
 
Gelda had a maternal way about her, a ready smile, a personality that exuded confidence, and she treated Natasha as an equal.
 
She was nothing like the other coven witches Natasha had experience with and, without realizing it, she found herself liking the other woman.

“Thank you, but this young woman is also my daughter and I’d like to stay to observe.”

“Certainly,” Gelda said, nodding her head, “exactly what I would want to do.
 
Jeda, please take Kala to the kitchen and get her some food.”

As Natasha watched, Gelda leaned forward, closed her eyes, and put her hands on either side of Keisha’s head.
 
She sat this way for what seemed like an eternity, but finally sat back and opened her eyes.

“Your daughter, is she strong in the power?”

“Yes and with each year her power grows stronger.”

“I thought as much, and it explains a lot,” Gelda replied.
 

“You felt her?
 
You found her life spark?”

“Oh yes, I did find her life spark, but she has done something extremely dangerous to herself.”

“What?”

“She has merged her life force with that of her child’s and I cannot separate them.”

“I do not understand what you are saying.
 
How
can this
happen?”