Dave Smeds - The Sorcery Within

The cave still smelled of human perspiration, tempered by salt drafts. He noted bits of mica in the walls. Though humble, it seemed to him more secure than any number of luxurious accommodations in which he had found himself.

"Rest," Lerina commanded as he refused to lay back on his blanket.

"I have rested," he said. But to humor her, he put his head down and closed his eyes.

A moment later, he opened them, and felt the fog-breath of late afternoon.

He heard soft snores beside him. Lerina was curled in a little-girl bundle, oblivious to the world.

"My company's that boring, eh?" he murmured. She didn't respond.

Before long, he noticed his belt just beyond the end of their feet. He dragged himself stiffly in its direction, took it, and caressed it in his grip. It was an impressive piece – a strap of dragon hide embroidered in gold, the symbol of a dragon in flight set in rubies on the buckle. It still showed no wear, though he had worn it for years now, to say nothing of the others who must have owned it.

Without attempting to rouse Lerina, he crawled toward the opening, clutching the belt. In places, he could almost walk, bracing against a cave wall with his free hand to compensate for his thigh. The act provided a small bit of self-sufficiency he needed at that moment.

The sea rumbled a few steps away, beckoning, but he deliberately ignored it. Finally, he secured the belt around his waist.

The power came on him like fire, a fierce jolt unlike the sensation he had always known. He sweat and shook as if his fever had returned. But the strength was there. He stood up straight, the wound in his thigh only a nagging itch. He took a few firm steps, stooped, and tore a section of stone from the outcropping at his feet. He threw it as forcefully as he could, watching it arc and land at sea many hundred yards away, so distant the splash was hidden in the swells.

Satisfied, he removed the belt. The moment the buckle parted, Keron fell onto his good knee – the other leg had given way. It took him several moments to control the shuddering of his muscles and the agitated state of his lungs.

So she'd saved his life again. Ah, what a fool he was. Of course Obo wouldn't have been able to work his spell when the talisman sapped the energy for its own use. Keron stuck the belt between his teeth and crawled, somewhat meekly, back toward his sickbed.

He replaced the belt and began to climb onto the blanket, only then noticing the marks in the sand in front of the spot where Lerina liked to sit. Curious, he leaned over and was able, after some guessing, to see that she had sketched the figure of a sleeping man with her finger.

He spent some time just looking at his small, naked, slightly overwhelming nurse. His thoughts tried to wander leagues away, but they kept coming back to the present moment, location, and companion.

What did destiny have in mind for him now?

The sun was kind, though it was midafternoon. The twins did as they were told, abandoning the erection of their tent. Around them, the tribe prepared to settle in for a day or more. Good forage had been found.

The war-leader followed the track of the sheep out of the camp, occasionally glancing ahead where the preemptive whistles of the shepherds originated, as the latter endeavored to keep their animals orderly. Soon Lonal diverged, leading them into open desert, which in this region abounded in short shrubs and cacti, crisscrossed by snake tracks or the spoor of small mammals. When they approached a stand of spiny plants that stood like trees, columns often as high as a man, he stopped and faced them.

"I trust you are both feeling miserable?"

Alemar and Elenya looked worse than they had when they had first arrived. Crimson webs filled the whites of their eyes, dark lines beneath, and their hair was matted and disarrayed. Elenya had to endure the sting of her sunburn, as well as the exhaustion of her battle with the wights. She now wore her full complement of clothing. They had not been permitted to rest all day, as the tribe had been setting out as they returned that morning. Lonal was only a little better off.

"You don't like life among the T'lil?" the war-leader asked.

"Would you?" Elenya replied coldly. "In my position?"

"It is not often that God sees fit to change someone's gender," he answered. "But if I guess correctly, you would not have been happy in our land as a woman. The solution of the ken saved us both."

"Thanks."

"But the solution is only a first step. The tribe can't continue to coddle the two of you."

"Why bother?" Elenya asked, and threw up her arms. "Why not let us go our way?"

"I have my responsibilities," Lonal said firmly. "In this instance, I must act to protect the holy relic, to which you will go should I set you free, and there is the matter of Am and Roel's family. Do not forget the duties you have assumed. For the moment, they give you your only worth among the T'lil."

"I am honored," Elenya said sarcastically.

"It is time you realized the seriousness of your position. You, Yetem, have mocked the lessons our Ah-no-ken have tried to teach you."

"Oh, really?"

He gestured at the landscape. "Ho koso quell ka kem?"

She pursed her lips. Lonal sighed. "Well? What's the answer?"

She didn't speak.

"Tebec?" Lonal asked. "Can you answer the question?"

Alemar glanced at his sister. Abruptly, irritably, he said,"Quell ka rhyme koso."

"Your brother at least learns out of politeness. Yes. This is flat country. Not a difficult question, Yetem. But no – we're barbarians, and our tongue is beneath you. I see it in your upturned nose."

She pointed her face toward one of the mesas in the west. "Will I lose my soul if I don't learn to speak God's language?"

"Perhaps. You will certainly lose your life. It is not normally my duty, but I'm going to give you three lessons before we walk back to the camp. For your sake, pay attention." He stepped over to the stand of cacti and drew his dagger, with which he tapped the thick mesh of bristles covering the closest specimen.

"This is theboro. It is very common to this region. Its name means succor."

Theboro in front of Lonal stood as high as his waist. The war-leader plunged the dagger into the crown and efficiently carved out a circular piece. Using the blade as a skewer, he lifted the section out, exposing a rind similar to the melons of the twins' homeland, but much thicker. Alemar and Elenya peered in. The core of the plant was filled with liquid.

Lonal produced a stiff, hollow reed from his scabbard, inserted it into theboro, and sucked. Swallowing, he handed the reed to Elenya. She and Alemar each sipped some of the juice.

"It's very good," Alemar said.

"Given the choice between water andboro-ra, I would drinkboro-ra," Lonal said. "But one must not abuse God's small charities." He pointed to the wound he had created. "This plant is endangered." He replaced the plug in the exact position it had formerly occupied.

"Theboro 's skin is virtually impregnable to its native enemies. But once breached, parasites may attack it, or the sun evaporate its cache, and kill it from dehydration. This individual, hopefully, will seal its damage and survive."

He then removed a small cloth pouch from the goatskin satchel he carried and poured the chalkish meal it contained in a continuous circle around the base of the boro. "This meal poisonspicteor beetles, the worst parasite."

He cinched the drawstrings of the sack. "This is the first lesson, which you have perhaps guessed already: Water is never to be taken for granted. Learn its sources, and do all within your power to see that they are preserved against future need."