Savage Light Read online

  My transition was hard, but I had time to adjust as my duties as a Zophas slowly ended. She doesn’t have that luxury, and today, she’s stuck in the barn. Not that it’s a bad place to be, but it certainly isn’t one I picture Kaylyn in. Of course, I can’t picture Kaylyn doing anything other than fighting.

  When I reach the barn, I find Kaylyn in the corral sitting on a stool next to a cow. Bet she’s loving that. Maybe it’s a good thing Felix needs looking at.

  “Kaylyn, you’re needed in the infirmary,” I call out as quickly as I can.

  Her head pops up faster than she draws her sword against a Malryx. She says something to the woman in charge of the farmyard, who gives a chuckle. They exchange a few more words before Kaylyn hurries over, dodging the cows like she’ll have to go back to milking them if she gets too close.

  “That was good timing. Is someone really hurt?” Her eyes are bright as we hurry toward the infirmary, but I can forgive her excitement. It’s that adrenaline rush, the power of what we know and do, coursing through her.

  “Yup.”

  “Is it serious?”

  “I don’t think so. Brilona was nervous about all the blood, so she sent me for you. It’s a head wound. You know how those bleed.”

  “Did we miss a Malryx?” Something sounding a little like excitement coats her words. Almost makes me miss the thrill of a good fight.

  “No. It’s Felix.”

  “Oh.” Her shoulders slump. I want to reach out and comfort her, but she continues talking as if trying to hurry past what is no longer. “What did he do this time?”

  “I didn’t get the chance to ask. It’s certain to be something entertaining, though.”

  We head a small ways up the mountain on the stairs to the infirmary. Kaylyn enters, and I follow. Felix is right where I left him—on a bed, holding a rag to his head, but Brilona isn’t. Her frantic movements are focused on getting more rags. “Praise the night sky. He just keeps bleeding.”

  A little overly dramatic. It’s not that much blood. Once, when we were out hunting for Malryx, he slipped crossing a stream and landed on a stick. There was more blood then than I’ve ever seen, and it took him a month to recuperate from the injury.

  “Hi, Felix,” Kaylyn says, her voice as calm as it always is when dealing with the wounded.

  I hurry to the back room to heat some water while she gets an assessment on what needs to be done. We’ve seen this before. Probably could have even treated it myself, but she always had more of a knack for it than I did.

  I move back and forth between taking out fresh supplies and cleaning things up. Kaylyn has Felix so rapt, he doesn’t even seem to notice me moving about. It’s easy work, though. One I did many of times on the road. At least here there’s plenty of fresh, clean supplies. By the time he’s fixed up and sent on his way, I’m already done putting everything away. Brilona shows us out, claiming we need dinner while she makes notes on what Kaylyn taught her.

  “Thanks for fetching her for me,” Brilona tells me as I head out to follow Kaylyn for some much needed food.

  “Always happy to help.” I give her a big smile. “Don’t stay writing notes so long you forget to eat.”

  “I would never.”

  I laugh as I pass through the doorway, making a mental note to bring her something later if she doesn’t show up for dinner. Kaylyn is waiting for me a few yards down the path. Now that no one’s health is in danger, she should be a little more upbeat, or at least more at ease. But she trails along my side, feet dragging instead of her usual precise steps. Why ever for? Doesn’t she realize what a good job she did?

  Maybe not. Maybe someone hasn’t thought to tell her this is where she should be. If she can’t fight, she should be doing the thing she’s good at that’s closest to what she did before. It’s why I work mostly in the herb gardens now. Hoping to help her understand that, I quietly say, “Perhaps you could work in the infirmary. Be a healer?”

  “Maybe.

  Well, that didn’t sound convincing at all. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  She shrugs. “Not now. Sorry, I’m still trying to sort my thoughts out.”

  “Don’t worry about it.” But I’ll worry about it. Never before have I not known what she was thinking. We used to have almost the same thoughts. And when we didn’t, we always talked things out. I suppose this will return as we spend more time together.

  Time. I can give her that. I can be patient.

  And while I’m waiting, there’s time to heal from losing Mom. Time to fill the ache in my soul. At least everyone says time fixes things like this. Right now, I don’t see how it could, but it must happen. My mother didn’t ever seem to have a hole from losing my father to the fight when I was little.

  Besides, I’ve got Jorrin. Things are going to happen with him soon. I just know it. It should help fill the ache inside me. Just thinking of him sparks a light in me. I want to skip to dinner, knowing he’ll be there.

  The dining hall is within view. Hopefully, he’s already there waiting for us. Or maybe he should come in a few minutes after us and then be able to see where we are and join us. Ideally he’d be with us already, but he’s working to find good building lumber today. It’s fine, though. I shouldn’t push things so hard. It’s only that, well…I’m tired of waiting. I’m ready, but I told myself I can be patient, and I can. Even if it’s hard. Why am I even worrying about this so much?

  “What’s going on down there?” Kaylyn’s voice startles me from my thoughts.

  Guilt tugs at me since I’ve been thinking of Jorrin instead of talking with her. But then, if she was in the mood to talk, she would have said something. Right? I don’t know. When did things become so complicated?

  I look down toward the riverside where she’s pointing. A crowd has gathered at the bank, with more people trailing over as we watch. Something must be going on, but I don’t remember hearing about any gatherings. “I don’t know. Maybe they’re all trying to catch fish with their hands?”

  Jorrin did that once. Just thinking of the memory has me torn between laughing and being in awe. It’d be a good skill for him to teach others. I wonder if I could ever figure it out.

  “Hopefully they’re more graceful than Felix.”

  I chuckle. If he were here, he’d be laughing even harder. Jorrin may be a good teacher, but Felix is isn’t exactly coordinated.

  Kaylyn heads toward the gathering, and I follow after, like usual. We’re not the only ones coming, either. Others have spotted the crowd and are headed toward it as well. But no Jorrin in sight.

  When we get in the midst of those hovering around someone, I ask, “Who’s that, Tavo?”

  I lean closer to hear his reply, growing warmer just by being near so many people. “Messenger from Criown. Weird things have been happening at their village.”

  Criown? I went there once with Mom a few years ago. The memory brings a painful twist.

  “What sort of weird things?” Kaylyn asks.

  “Animals have been acting as if a predator is about, even when the villagers can’t find one. Strange clouds in the forest by them have been growing bigger by the week.”

  “What type of clouds?” I can’t even think of what a strange cloud could be. And growing bigger? Clouds come and go as they should, sometimes gathering to take up the whole sky, dotting it with puffs of white or gray. They don’t stick around and grow bigger. Except… “The darkness you can only see at the top of the mountain?”

  “Same ones. He said they’re even stranger up close. Odd color. Don’t ever blow away. Only grow thicker and bigger.”

  The statement shoots a tiny spark of fear through me. But why should it? I mean, what he’s describing certainly is odd, but why fear it? There’s no way to know the answer to that. I wonder if Jorrin does. He sometimes senses things others can’t.

  The Aster helps the messenger head toward the row of homes on stilts up the mountain side, and the crowd begins to disperse.

  “Are they
going to tell us anything more?” I ask Tavo.

  “Yeah. They were talking about letting him get some sleep before that, though. Apparently he came straight here, barely stopping for a real meal or sleep. They’ll have a gathering later tonight that anyone can join.”

  Not sure I want to know what they’re going to say in that meeting. “I’m going to go eat before then. I’ll see you two later.”

  “Want some company?” Kaylyn asks.

  She would come with me if I asked, but her gaze is focused far off in the distance on nothing, as if she’s deep in thought. Heavy thought. “Thanks, but I’m good. I’ll see you soon.”

  “Are you coming to hear what they have to say tonight?” Tavo asks.

  Everyone’s certain to be there, but I want to go crawl into my bed instead and stay there long past time to get up. “Probably.”

  “I’ll see you then.” He gives me a grin that’s dulled by the worry of the situation, but like he still wants me to know he’s here for me.

  And it’s true. Even though Mother isn’t here, I have to remember I won’t be alone. Not that I always needed her, but she would have been there. But Jorrin will probably be going, too. I give Tavo a small smile back before heading toward the dining hall. Jorrin has to be inside by now. Unless someone from the crowd waylaid him with stories of strange, shiver-inducing clouds. Wherever he is, I’ll find him.

  I don’t have to hunt much; he’s at a table in the back of the dining hall by himself. The hall is surprisingly empty for this time of night. After seeing the messenger, food doesn’t seem appealing, but I grab some corn bread and chili anyway, before joining Jorrin.

  He nods. “How are things?”

  “Oh, you know. Dirt and weeds. Felix had an accident that needed some tending to. Nothing much.”

  “First time this month for him, isn’t it?”

  “Second, but there was enough blood to make Brilona nervous. Kaylyn fixed him right up, though.”

  “She’s good at that,” he says. “What happened to her? I thought you two were coming to dinner together.”

  I push the bean around my bowl. “She, um—Have you heard…?”

  He stops eating. “Is everything all right?”

  If I want to have a relationship with him, I should be able to tell him what I’m feeling. Besides, he’s asking. That has to be a good sign. Right? “Have you heard about the messenger from Criown?”

  “No.”

  “Seemed like the whole village was down there to meet him.” I quickly explain the few details I know, ending with, “Something about it has me feeling… off.”

  “That explains why it’s so empty in here.” He leans back, ignoring his half-finished plate. “There is something about this that feels different than other problems we’ve been called to help with. Though without Malryx, I guess it would.”

  “True. Even though I haven’t been working with you guys much lately, I don’t know how long it will take me to get used to them actually being gone.” Maybe we’ll never get used to it. Maybe it’s like archery. I’ve given it up, but it seems like it should still be part of my life. It’s engrained in my every movement.

  “You said they’re meeting once he’s rested?” he asks.

  “Yes.”

  “We should be there.”

  “I… don’t know. I’m not sure I want to be involved. I have to finish in the garden.”

  “Not at night, though. No one expects that. It’ll still be there tomorrow. And I think if we learn more about what’s going on, it will help.”

  Going definitely feels worse, but he’s right. I need to learn about it. When have I shied away from anything hard? Never. Now isn’t the time to start. “You’ll come with me, then?”

  “You know I will.”

  My heart flutters. I can do this then. He’ll be at my side, and Kaylyn will be there. Mom must be watching me from the stars. Nothing could possibly go wrong.

  Chapter Four

  “Our crops are yielding less, our animals are fitful, and the darkness over us hasn’t brought rain,” Foley, the messenger says.

  No rain? That’s enough to drive a person crazy right there, not to mention the problems it would cause with food and animals. He continues talking about the village’s circumstances, and the tales of how things have slowly been changing in the forest near them. How it slowly seemed to spread but didn’t worry them at first—what was there to worry about? How things have gotten worse. How animals are acting strangely, and the dark cloud hovering nearby hasn’t moved in weeks except to grow, threatening to block out their sun.

  All of it makes me want to return to the garden, go back to before Felix interrupted.

  If my mom was here, she’d have some ideas on what to do about it. The thought makes my worried heart ache. At least Jorrin’s here, though. He looks on the scene with the kind of determination that makes me lean a little closer to him. Whatever is going on, it will be fine.

  Suddenly, Kaylyn speaks up. “I’d be willing to lead a group back with Foley to see what we can find out and how we can help.”

  What? She’s really willing to risk herself in this situation? I guess I understand. She’s been struggling to find her place, and this is more like the missions we used to journey on together. Only, when my time as a Zophas ended, I was happy to be through—if a little lost for a while trying to figure things out. I wish she could be that way as well. What really matters is what the Aster and Astra think, the look they’re exchanging. Whatever it is they read in that look, they both seem in agreement.

  The Astra says, “This would be a good option for you, Kaylyn, and we believe your knowledge will be of great use with the task. We will find others to join you.”

  That’s it then. She’s leaving me again, only this time willingly. As the Aster and Astra discuss with Foley if this will work, I can’t focus on their words. At some point, I slump back against the bench. The task is for a good purpose, but it shouldn’t be happening. My father left, my mom left, Kaylyn’s leaving. Everyone leaves.

  “I’ll go with you.” Jorrin suddenly volunteers.

  Point proven. My chest squeezes with a painful twinge, but this doesn’t have to be the end of us. Maybe it will be a good chance for Kaylyn, Jorrin, and me to spend time together like we haven’t in too long. I stand. “So will I.”

  Kaylyn beams—not in the carefree way I do, but in her own subtle, glowing kind of way. Tavo also volunteers, along with a few other former Zophas.

  “It’s settled,” the Astra says. “Gather supplies, and you will leave at first light. May the stars aid you on your quest.”

  As those gathered disperse, faces lighter now that someone capable is hunting to solve the problem, I slump back down on the bench. My volunteering was impulsive. Too impulsive. As much as I want to help, is it the right thing for me? For the others? The good thing to do isn’t always clear.

  It’s been over a year since I’ve steadily served my Zophas calling. The time away from it has been better suited to me. As much as I’m ready to move on, Jorrin hasn’t been away from the Zophas as long as I have. Maybe the time apart would have been good for him. For us.

  More than that, the thought of this journey, and what Foley described, leaves a dark tinge of worry.

  Chapter Five

  It’s peaceful this time of the morning and too early for me to be awake. I yawn as we start off. Kaylyn decided we should set off earlier than first light, so the stars still twinkle overhead, wishing our journey well. Foley is only too eager to get started. I, on the other hand, not so much.

  “There’s no sense in rising before the sun,” I say, another yawn attacking me.

  “You’d dance the night away and sleep all day if it wasn’t for chores,” Tavo teases.

  If I weren’t so tired I’d stick my tongue out at him. “As any sane person should.”

  “Right now is the best time to be awake,” Sosha adds. “Night creatures are just going to bed and day creatures are just getting
up. Sometimes you can catch glimpses of them both if you time it right.”

  “And your breakfast is still hot,” Felix says.

  “Fine. I’m the only one with a good sense of when to sleep.” I stretch as much as I can make myself with tiredness and the pack on my back weighing my limbs. “Thought the rest of you would have better sense than that since we don’t have to go out on quests anymore.”

  “It was never the quests that got us up early,” Sosha says.

  “I know.” A third yawn escapes me, making my eyes water. “I’m just lazy.”

  “I wouldn’t say lazy,” Tavo says. “More like you don’t enjoy mornings as much as the rest of us.”

  In other words, everything is somehow the same as it was when we went on quests, even though it’s all changed.

  “Let’s go,” Kaylyn says, coming to our group and directing Foley to lead us down the dirt road.

  Already, fading memories of past journeys make this one familiar, yet different. Jorrin is always near, though we don’t talk. No one does. That our quest is something we’ve never tried before is too nerve-racking for chatter, I suppose. Not the most romantic way to spend my time with Jorrin, but at least we’re together.

  We continue on the full day, moving through the forest toward the mountains. We’ll take a canyon to get between them, stopping only briefly for necessities and food. We break for the night and hurry to make camp and eat so we can be rested for another wearing day.

  I stretch, letting the new movement combat the day’s soreness. “I’ve spent too much time doing gardening instead of stretching.”

  Jorrin laughs. “You should have joined me training. I figured even if I wasn’t going to be a Zophas anymore, the exercise still felt good. And today it proved useful.”

  “I wish I’d joined you.” This was the right choice—coming with. “Want to help me get firewood?”

  “Sure.” But his gaze isn’t on me.

  No matter. It’s a good start.