Forged in Fire, page 15
He blinked, caught off guard for a moment. Then he realized what she was talking about. “You know...”
“I know.”
“I don’t,” Alanar called. “What are you talking about?”
Treesi laughed. “Owyn will explain later, Allie.” She stepped closer and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for trying to protect me. Even after I was so awful.”
Owyn swallowed. “You... you weren’t awful. You were ignorant.”
“I’m not sure that’s any better, Owyn,” Alanar said. He stepped closer, and his arm brushed against Aria’s wing. He turned toward her. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s fine,” Aria said. “I imagine that I take up a little more room than you’d expect from my voice.” She touched his hand, and smiled as Alanar took hers. Then she looked back at Owyn. “Owyn, you’ve confused us all. Explain?”
Owyn scrubbed his hand over his face. He knew what he meant, but putting it into words was hard on as little sleep as he’d had. “It’s just... Treesi told us that she’d been taught all this, right? From her books and from people she trusted to teach her. So why shouldn’t she trust what they had to say? They told her the wrong thing, but she had no reason not to believe them. Now she knows better.”
Alanar nodded, looking thoughtful. “You make a good point. This is what new healers are being taught, and by those that we trust. The older books have been largely taken and archived. Or destroyed. I’m not sure which. But Treesi and I are the oldest of the trainees, and I still have the older books, because I have my father’s books. We know — we should know, anyway. We know the difference.” He grinned. “I could wish that you’d actually believed it a little sooner, Tree. Because regardless of what the books say, I’m right here.” He held his free arm out to the side. “My wings might be gone, but I’m still Air.”
Treesi looked down. “Allie, I’m sorry!”
“I know,” Alanar said. “And I forgive you. Because Owyn’s right.”
“About a lot of things,” Treesi added. She squeezed Owyn’s arm. “Now, we need to stop fussing. Aven’s going to wake up, and if tempers are high when he wakes, he’ll get upset.” She looked around. “This is my fault. I’m sorry.”
“Apology accepted,” Aria said. She stepped in front of Treesi again. “I want you to know something. Rhexa used your same logic to make the point that it will help to have me here, in this place. That people will see me as the Heir, and realize that the Mother doesn’t make mistakes. Does she, Owyn?”
Owyn grinned, remembering their earlier conversation. “No, she doesn’t.”
“So I will be here, helping others to see what you see,” Aria continued. “We’ll help them to see the truth. That we’re all the children of the Mother’s dreams, no matter what we look like. It will help. And I will need your help. They know you here. They don’t know me. Not yet.”
Treesi looked up at her, her eyes wide. “You want my help?” she asked. “Even after... everything?”
“You mean, even after you helped save my Water, welcomed me to your home, and have done your best to try and apologize for believing what you’ve been taught?” Aria asked. “Yes.”
Treesi breathed out what almost sounded like a sob. She let go of Owyn’s arm and stepped closer to Aria. “I asked you yesterday if it was permitted to hug the Heir—”
“Yes,” Aria answered.
The shocked look on Aria’s face when Treesi threw herself into her arms made Owyn grin. He looked around, seeing a flame colored ball of fur on the blanket next to Aven’s hand. He smiled, and went over to pick Trinket up. She chittered at him, then scaled his arm and perched on his shoulder.
“It wasn’t my idea,” he told the fire mouse. “You go scold the guards. It’s all their fault.” He turned, seeing Memfis coming toward him. “Mem?”
“We need to talk,” Memfis said, his voice quiet. “Just you and me.”
Owyn turned so that his back was to Aria, Treesi and Alanar, and lowered his voice to a bare whisper. “Fa?”
Memfis looked startled, then smiled. He put his hand on Owyn’s shoulder. “You’re not in trouble, Mouse. I just... no, this can’t wait. You remember the list that Meris told you about?”
Owyn frowned. “List... of who I might be? That list?”
“Yeah. I have it. And Jaxis, son of Dyneh and Huris was one of the possibilities.” He looked across the room at the others, then back at Owyn. “Huris was a Smoke Dancer. That might be where you get it from.”
Owyn nodded. “If he was a Smoke Dancer, does that mean you knew him?”
Memfis shrugged. “It’s possible. I can’t bring him to mind, but depending on when he started his training, I might have already left Forge. And by the time I came back, he’d have finished his training.” He sighed. “And there’s always the chance I might not have been sober if I had met him after I got back.”
“So you might not remember,” Owyn said. “Fa—”
“Can we stay with Mem?” Memfis asked. “I’m used to it. I know what you mean when you say it. Fa is... too new. I might not remember to answer to it.”
Owyn smiled. “Yes, Mem,” he said. “Does it matter, though? What that list says? I mean, I don’t know them. I don’t remember them.” He reached out and poked Memfis in the chest. “You’re my father.”
Memfis closed his eyes. Then he caught Owyn’s arm and tugged him into an embrace. “My Mouse. I love you, son. I never seem to remember to tell you that.”
Owyn squirmed a little. Twice in one day? That was a new record. “I love you, too. Fa.” He pulled back and grinned. “Memfa. That’s what I’m going to call you from now on. Memfa.”
Memfis burst out laughing. “You wouldn’t!”
Owyn grinned, then spun as he heard a voice that he hadn’t realized he’d been waiting for. Aven’s voice
“Aria? Owyn?”
AVEN COULD HEAR VOICES nearby. He wasn’t quite awake enough to make out what they were saying, and there were too many voices, all jumbled together. But he heard familiar voices in the mix. Memfis. Owyn. One was missing.
“Aria?” he called. He opened his eyes, frowning at an unfamiliar ceiling. Where was he? He blinked, remembering the frantic night ride. And... “Owyn?”
“Hey, look who’s awake,” Owyn said, sounding relieved. He sat down on the edge of the bed, making the mattress tip a little under his weight. He rested his hand on Aven’s chest. “How do you feel?”
Aven blinked again, trying to think around a head stuffed with sea-foam. “Was I in a healing trance?” he asked.
“You were hurt,” Aria said, sitting down on the other side of the bed. “You’re fine now. We’re safe now.”
“Well, almost fine.” Owyn reached across Aven and gently tapped his right shoulder. “Broke your collarbone. It’ll be fine... how long, Treesi?”
Aven smiled as Treesi came up behind Aria. “I’ll want to see what Risha says, but I think you’ll be in a sling for a few days. Just to be on the safe side.”
Aven closed his eyes. “Sounds right,” he mumbled. “Same when I broke my arm.”
The bed shifted, and he felt warmth covering him, the brush of hair against his skin, the brush of lips against his as Aria kissed him. He smiled and opened his eyes again as she sat back up.
“My turn?” Owyn asked. Aven turned toward him, and Owyn leaned over, propping himself up on one arm and catching Aven’s free arm between them as he cupped Aven’s cheek with his other hand and kissed him. It wasn’t a gentle brush of the lips, the way Aria had kissed him. This was deep, tinged with passion and fear, and it told Aven without words just how badly Owyn had been shaken. When Owyn finally broke the kiss, he stayed where he was, his forehead pressed against Aven’s, their noses touching. Their breath mingled, and Aven shivered. It had to be an unconscious gesture. There was no way that Owyn could know...
His words confirmed it. “You scared the shit out of me, Fishie,” Owyn whispered. “I thought you were dead.”
“What happened?” Aven asked as Owyn straightened up. “I remember the ride. I remember that insane plan of mine. It didn’t work?”
Owyn sighed. “It sort of worked. They had tangle ropes.” He hesitated, then shook his head. “Cloud is dead, Aven. She broke her neck when they took her down. You were thrown—”
“And Owyn saved you,” Aria interrupted. “He got you to a safe place, and held off the guards until we reached you. He was magnificent, Aven.”
Aven smiled. “I knew he would be,” he murmured. He fumbled with his free hand, taking Owyn’s hand in his. “Love you, Mouse,” he said. Then he turned and looked at Aria. “Love you, too. Just don’t have another hand right now.”
Aria giggled and leaned down, kissing him again. This time, she lingered as Owyn had, breathing with him. He closed his eyes, basking in the warmth of her breath on his skin. He’d have to explain to her, and to Owyn. What this meant to someone from the Water tribe, what it meant to him especially. She kissed him again, and sat up, and he smiled and looked around. Memfis stood at the foot of the bed, and to Aven’s eyes, he looked tired and worried.
“Can we not do that again, Aven?” he asked.
“I wasn’t planning on doing it the first time,” Aven answered. “Can I sit up? And eat something? I’m hungry.”
“You should drink, too,” Owyn said. “Treesi—”
“Do we need a normal diet, or the suggested diet for Waterborn?”
“The Waterborn diet,” Aria answered immediately.
“Salt water, no milk,” Owyn added.
Treesi chuckled. “That’s the suggested diet. I’ll go, and I’ll get Risha while I’m going. She should take a better look at you.”
“Thank you, Treesi,” Aven said as the healer left. It was only then that Aven realized there was a stranger in the room, a man sitting quietly on the other side of the room. “Ah... will someone introduce me?”
The man smiled and rose, bowing from the waist, his long hair falling forward around him. “I didn’t want to intrude. I’m Alanar.”
“Alanar is Treesi’s training partner,” Aria said. “He’s a new friend. Now, you wanted to sit up?”
It took a minute of rearranging pillows and shifting things around before Aven was sitting upright. He blinked as it made his head spin, and saw Alanar frown.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just a bit dizzy all of a sudden,” Aven answered. “I... how did you know?”
Alanar came closer, stopping just out of arm’s reach of the bed. He smiled, then shook his head. “How close am I? The last time I was in this room, the bed was on the other wall.”
Aria rose. “You’re very close. May I help?”
In answer, he held his hand out. She took it, and guided him to the bed. Aven glanced at Owyn as Alanar sat down. Owyn just nodded. He rested his hand on Aven’s thigh.
“Now,” Alanar said, holding out his hand. “May I touch you? I’m not sure you should be feeling dizzy at all.”
Aven took Alanar’s hand, and felt warmth spreading up his arm. He closed his eyes, and let the other healer work. Only to hear Alanar chuckle.
“Owyn, move your hand?”
“Sorry,” Owyn answered, and the warmth on Aven’s thigh went away.
“Thank you. I was reading you and... what have you got with you?”
“I’ll introduce you later,” Owyn said. “How’s Aven?”
Alanar frowned slightly. “I don’t feel any remaining damage to the skull or the brain, and there’s no bleeding. It might be bruising left over. Aven, do you have a headache at all?”
“No,” Aven answered. “How badly was I hurt?”
“I’ll let Risha give you the details,” Alanar said. “She’s the official healer of record. I’m just a trainee.”
There was a knock on the door, and a woman dressed all in white came in. Behind her was Treesi, who was carrying a tray.
“Put that down over there, Treesi,” the woman said. “He can eat once I examine him. Alanar, you’ll need to move.” She paused. “Was something wrong?”
“He was dizzy, Senior Healer,” Alanar answered. “I can’t feel any remaining damage, and there’s no bleeding. I suspect residual bruising.”
“A fair assessment. Let me see.” She looked around. “There are too many people in this room. But I understand that no one wants to leave right now.”
Alanar got up and moved to the foot of the bed, while Aria moved to join Owyn on the far side of the bed. The woman took Alanar’s place, but didn’t sit. She met Aven’s eyes.
“My name is Risha,” she said. “And I’m the Senior Healer. And I know you’re Aven, Jhansri’s son. You’ve quite the legacy to live up to, young man.” She held her hand out. “Let’s have a look at you.”
Aven took her hand. Her healing power flowed through him, almost too warm and too sharp for comfort, and he tried not to flinch. She arched a brow.
“Dizzy when you sat up?” she asked.
“Yes, Senior Healer,” he answered.
“Alanar, that was very good. It’s some residual bruising in the brain. We’ll monitor it, but the healing is already underway. So it should pass in a day or so. Your collarbone is healing well. A sling for a few days should suffice there.” She let Aven’s hand go, and folded her arms over her chest. “I’m told you’re a healer?”
“Yes, Senior Healer,” Aven answered. “My father trained me.”
She nodded. “If you want, I can evaluate you while you’re here. See what other training you’ll need, fill in any gaps your father might have left. I spoke to Chieftess Rhexa, and she says you’ll be staying?”
“Chieftess?” Aven looked at Aria. That wasn’t right.
“We’ll explain later, Aven,” Aria said. “But we will be spending at least the winter here, I think.”
“Then yes, please,” Aven said, turning back to Risha. “I’d like to formalize my training, if I can.”
“Very good,” Risha said. She smiled for the first time. “Then once I clear you as healthy, I’ll test what you know, and we’ll set up a course of study for you. Treesi, Alanar, you’re in a three bed suite. I’ll be putting him in with you once he’s released from care.”
“What?” Aven gasped. “Wait. You’re going too fast.”
Risha nodded. “Healers-in-training live here, in the healing complex. I doubt you’ll be here long, though.”
“I...” Aven looked at Aria and Owyn. They both looked as distressed as he felt. “I won’t be living with my Heir?”
“We’ll give it a week or two,” Risha said. “Until you’re done with your evaluation and we’ve gotten things set up. Perhaps we’ll be able to make a special exception for you. But for now, and until I say otherwise, if you’re a student of mine, you’re here in the residential wing.”
“It won’t be for long,” Owyn said. He rested his hand on Aven’s leg. “And... well, you’ll be busy. The time will fly by. You’ll see.”
Aven swallowed, met his eyes, then looked up at Aria. “My Heir?” he said.
She closed her eyes, then took a deep breath and nodded. “Finish your training,” she said softly. Aven wasn’t sure if he heard the quaver in her voice, or if he’d only imagined it. Then Owyn took Aria’s hand, and he knew he hadn’t imagined it. “It won’t be for long, and I will be busy as well. I’ll be working with Rhexa, to learn about governance.”
Aven swallowed. Then he turned back to Risha. “For now, what do I do?”
Risha smiled. “For now? You eat, and you rest. Tomorrow, we’ll see how you’re feeling.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“SHOULD THAT HAVE HAPPENED?” Owyn asked as they walked out of the healing complex. He glanced back over his shoulder. Aven had been alert and laughing, seemingly normal until he’d finished his meal. Then he’d fallen asleep, almost between one word and the next. Risha had shooed them all out, telling them that Aven needed to rest. But it had happened so fast! “There wasn’t anything in his food, was there?”
“You’re asking if he was given a sleeping potion?” Alanar asked. “No. This is perfectly normal. He’s still healing, and his body is using a lot of energy to do it. He’ll eat and sleep quite a lot over the next few days, until the healing process is done. Treesi, where are they?”
“Fourteen Southwest,” Treesi answered. “Honestly, Owyn, he’ll probably sleep until tomorrow. It’s best to let him rest.”
“It’s odd, seeing him asleep in a bed,” Aria said.
“Why?” Alanar asked. “How does he usually sleep?”
“In a hammock,” Owyn answered. “Since he can’t sleep underwater.”
Alanar nodded. He walked in silence for a few minutes, then turned to Treesi, who had her arm linked with his. “Can we rig up a hammock in his room, do you think?”
“I don’t know,” she answered. “I wouldn’t know how to do it. And where would we get one?”
“You’re serious?” Owyn asked.
“Of course,” Alanar said. “He’ll be our training partner. We want him to be comfortable.”
Owyn looked at Memfis. “Do you think there’s a smith here that would let us use his forge?” Memfis didn’t answer, and Owyn poked his arm. “Mem? Did you hear me?”
Memfis jerked, then turned his attention to Owyn. “What? No, Mouse. I’m sorry. I didn’t.”
“Do you think there’s a smith that would let us use his forge to make the hardware for a hammock?” Owyn repeated.
Memfis looked thoughtful. Then he nodded slowly. “We can ask Rhexa tomorrow. Or we can find a woodworker. There has to be someone here that knows how to make a hammock. We’re close enough to the blended villages, after all. And if not, well, it’ll be good to get back to a forge.”
“He may not need it, by the time he recovers,” Aria said. “He may have had the time to grow accustomed to the bed.”
“Three nights without the hammock while we were on the road didn’t do it,” Owyn pointed out. “I’m not sure two nights in a bed will. We’ll ask him tomorrow what he wants.”
“That will be best, yes.” Aria looked back the way they’d come. “It will be strange, not having him with us. With me.”
