Anilyia (19 page)

“That is very fortunate for you,” the
council speaker informed him. “We have reason to believe she is a
very powerful, magic user.”

“I believe it too,” Tathan agreed fervently.
“It made me feel weak when the tendrils got near, though it could
have been the cut in my side too.” He grabbed his side dramatically
as though still injured. The Rojuun reacted sympathetically to the
gesture. Tathan straightened somewhat and continued. “I ran through
a door and jumped out of the window, which was luckily open.”

“You jumped out of a second floor window?”
another council member asked. She was the other female Rojuun on
the council and appeared to be significantly older. “That sounds
very dangerous, especially as you were injured. It is my
understanding that humans are somewhat fragile.”

“I’m physically agile and strong and I
tumbled upon landing,” Tathan reassured her. “It still hurt a lot.
I knelt on the ground trying to catch my breath. “Luckily I was in
possession of a ring of invisibility rewarded to me while working
for the Garrrn Family.”

“That was very fortunate. You activated it
at that point, yes?” asked the speaker. None of them seemed to
think it unusual that Tathan had a powerful magical ring. In any
human kingdom or court, that would have been the first thing asked.
Many nobles may have even tried to confiscate it for
themselves.

“Oh yes. I wasn’t certain it would protect
me though. The gash hurt my side and blood was leaking onto the
ground. I was invisible, but gasping loudly while trying to gather
enough strength to run away,” Tathan explained.

“Does the ring hide sound and smell or only
sight?” a council member asked.

“Only sight,” Tathan admitted. The council
member nodded. “I was able to get up and stagger away, but the
squirrel jumped out of the window and chased me.” Tathan crouched
dramatically again. It looked like he was going to dart off. “I
started running, but the sorceress cast another spell, which tried
to follow me around the corner.”

There were no interruptions, the audience
was entranced.

“The spell didn’t reach me. I believe it had
a limited range. Steve the Squirrel chased me after the spell was
done. He came around the corner and leapt toward me.” Tathan jumped
and landed in a predatory pose. “I couldn’t run anymore, so I
turned and pulled my sword, ready to defend myself.” He made the
motion of drawing the sword, but was wise enough not to actually
pull it out of the sheath. “The sorceress called for Steve to stop
for some reason. I don’t know why. Then three guards came from a
side street. They didn’t see me as I was invisible.”

“Did you make an attempt to alert them,”
Captain Henrrr asked.

“No. I didn’t even consider it. I was still
staring at the squirrel. It had nasty claws. Plus it would likely
have confused the guards if I had said anything while invisible.”
Tathan shrugged.

“Hmm,” the captain considered, but didn’t
look happy. “You should have released the invisibility and
surrendered instantly to the guards. We would have sorted things
out and given you medical attention sooner,” he informed Tathan
seriously. “From what we know of the injuries, the damage to your
ankle could have been fatal. Two of those guards died. The other
was healed in time, but came very close to dying as well.”

Tathan had known the injuries were serious,
but not how serious. There wasn’t anything he could say, so he just
stared contritely at the captain.

“What can you tell us of the spell, Tathan
Human?” the speaker asked. The council members were still leaning
forward, eager for the rest of the story though they did a good job
of being solemn. A few even managed frowns.

“When the guards came into the street, they
ordered the woman to stop casting magic. Instead of doing that, she
began casting another spell.” Council members shook their heads in
disapproval at that statement. “When the woman began casting, Steve
the Squirrel jumped over my head and ran off.” The council members
nodded as it confirmed information they already had.

“I guess the guards let Steve go because the
sorceress seemed more dangerous,” Tathan said, shrugging. “They put
up magical shields toward the spell, but the spell was like a wave
of water that came back and hurt them from behind.”

“You said you were at the edge of the
spell?” the council speaker asked. “Did you put up a shield?”

“I was on the edge,” Tathan confirmed with a
nod. “I have no idea how to cast a shield. I’m not very good with
magic, so I jumped to the building next to me and hung on for a
moment. It wasn’t enough to escape completely.”

“I see. What happened then?” she asked.

“I yelled out, but nobody could see me. The
guards were on the ground hurt and the sorceress was running away.
I was in a lot of pain and couldn’t think clearly. My cousin,
Liselle,” he said, gesturing toward her, “knows some healing and I
only thought of getting to her.”

“Were you still invisible?” the captain
asked.

Tathan nodded. “I was. I made it to the
plaza, calling out for her then collapsed. I don’t remember turning
off the invisibility, but I must have at some point.”

“I will have your cousin approach the podium
now.” The council speaker motioned. When Liselle did so, the
speaker asked, “Is it true that you have healing magic?”

“Yes, though it exhausts me to use it,” she
answered. Tathan looked at her closely. She did look tired. Her
skin was pale and dark circles had appeared below her eyes. He
became concerned for her safety at that point.

“And how did you discover that your cousin,
Tathan Human, was injured?” the speaker asked.

“We heard him call my name. Vevin was able
to remove the invisibility so I could see him and begin healing his
wounds,” she told them. There had been witnesses, so Liselle didn’t
feel comfortable trying to hide the fact that Vevin could do magic.
It was exciting being devious but also nerve-wracking. Sometime
Liselle wondered why everyone couldn’t just be honest with each
other.

“It took everything I had to heal him and I
had to draw a great deal of power. I’ve been told not to use too
much magic, but I couldn’t let him die.” Tears welled in her eyes.
If she had been a few minutes later, he would have died. She was
also shaking from the exertion. Sleep and food would be useful at
that moment. A deep breath calmed her. She was stronger than
that.

The speaker smiled at Liselle. “Sergeant
Niirrii has stated that you were healing. That is a benign use of
magic and is acceptable. There is no penalty for such.” She turned
to Tathan. “You are not to go on the wall, Tathan Human,” she said
sternly, each of her voices lowering an octave. “The next time you
see an open door on a vacant house, alert the guard. Do not
investigate it yourself, no matter how capable you may believe
yourself to be.”

“Yes, your honor,” Tathan agreed
readily.

“The details that you have told us match
what we know, therefore your story is believed. In addition, you
have filled in many details that were missing. The one thing I
would have you tell us is who the woman and squirrel are. Do you
know this?” she asked Tathan.

“No, your honor. I’ve never seen either of
them before. A human-sized squirrel would be a difficult thing to
hide and would be talked about by anyone who saw it,” Tathan
replied. They agreed with that point. A couple of the council
members chuckled. Tathan liked it when Rojuun chuckled. It was a
fascinating sound. “The woman is a complete mystery to me. She has
deep green eyes though,” Tathan said introspectively.

“Deep green eyes?” the council speaker
asked. “That is an interesting observation. A woman tries to kill
you and the one thing you noticed was the depth and color of her
eyes?”

Tathan blushed. Even Liselle looked at him
curiously. “Yes . . . well . . . they were interesting. I felt as
though I were falling when I looked in them. That was just before
she began casting.” It was way more information than Tathan meant
to give. He still wasn’t thinking clearly.

“I see. Are you aware that your hands are
shaking, Tathan Human, as are those of your cousin,” the speaker
asked him.

Tathan hadn’t realized that. The edges of
his vision were getting dark. Normally he would fight it off and
try to clear his head, but it seemed like a good time to pass out.
It might even impress the council, he thought as he fell backward.
The darkness overwhelmed him. Only the quick reflexes of Captain
Henrrr kept him from hitting the ground hard.

Tathan didn’t recognize where he was. There
was a bed underneath him and covers over him. A moan was all that
came out of his mouth when he tried to ask someone what was
happening.

“Hello, human,” two kindly voices above him
said simultaneously. He opened his eyes and saw two Rojuun standing
over him, swirling in circles around each other. Tathan blinked a
couple of times and his vision cleared enough that he could see the
single face of a Rojuun healer. “Your body was injured and healed,
but it will take more than that before you will feel well again. I
have food for you now. You will be pleased to eat it.” She helped
Tathan sit up in the bed.

He was in an infirmary with about twenty
beds, half of which were filled with Rojuun and humans. All were
long enough to fit a tall Rojuun and Tathan felt like a child in
the one he was in. As his vision came more into focus, he could
make out details. The food was on a tray at the side of his bed.
Beyond it was Liselle, sleeping in the bed next to him. “Liselle!”
he exclaimed with concern.

“She will be fine,” the healer reassured
him. “Your friend used a great deal of magic and needs food and
rest, just as you do. Now eat,” she commanded, putting a tray
loaded with food in front of Tathan.

The food was excellent and had an immediate
effect. His body felt as though it had been wrung like a wet shirt.
There was residual pain and tightness in both his foot and side.
The new skin seemed raw and he knew it would take a while before it
felt normal.

Tathan watched his cousin sleeping as he
ate. She was peaceful, breathing easily. The purple flower in
Liselle’s hair stood watch over her. It seemed very odd, but that
was exactly the impression Tathan got from it. The flower was
protecting her from anyone who might cause danger. He felt thankful
no hostility emanated toward him.

When he was nearly finished eating, Liselle
woke up. “Mmm, is that food, Cousin?” She sat up and leaned in his
direction hopefully. Her hair was bedraggled over her face. She
brushed it aside as best as she could.

Tathan didn’t feel like sharing because the
food was yummy. Liselle’s eyes narrowed as though she were about to
take a bite out of his hand if he didn’t. Her flower moved forward
dangerously as well. Tathan ignored the fact that a flower
intimidated him and wisely turned over a plate of food with some
vegetables and a couple of drumsticks on it. That should be enough
to save him for a few moments at least.

The drumsticks didn’t stand a chance.
Luckily, by the time Liselle was done with that plate of food, the
healer had come back with more, this time for her. She gave Liselle
a similar lecture about how a body was tired after exerting energy.
Liselle nodded dutifully, too busy nomming on her food to say
anything.

“Did you pass out too, cousin?” Tathan asked
after the healer had left. They were in a corner of the infirmary
with no one next to their beds.

She shook her head, about to take a bite of
another drumstick. She looked at it longingly before speaking. “No,
they brought you here after you fell unconscious. The infirmary is
in another area of the administration building. The healer took one
look at me and suggested I rest as well.” As Liselle spoke, she
gestured with the drumstick. It caught her eye and she began
following it. “I was exhausted and agreed easily.” She bit
viciously into the drumstick the instant she finished speaking.

“Where are Sir Danth and Vevin,” Tathan
asked.

Liselle glared at him for asking another
question while she was trying to ravage the food. Chewing angrily,
she answered. “They went with the guard to investigate the house
and try to find the sorceress and squirrel.” As she finished
chewing, Liselle furrowed her eyebrows. “She had deep green eyes?
Really, Cousin? A woman tries to kill you and the only thing you
notice about her is that she has deep green eyes?” She gestured
dramatically with her drumstick.

Tathan blushed. “Well, she was pretty . . .
no . . . beautiful,” he replied with admiration.

“Really?” Liselle asked incredulously. She
began talking to a pretend council at the end of the bed. “No, your
honor. It didn’t bother me that the woman tried to kill me. I
always find murderous violence attractive in a woman, especially
one with deep blue eyes.” Liselle turned to him with arms out and a
disbelieving look.

“They were green . . .” he replied. “Her
eyes . . . they were green.” She stared at him. “I do find
murderous violence attractive,” Tathan admitted unexpectedly. “The
one woman I truly loved in my life was an assassin.”

Liselle’s jaw dropped near to the floor. It
was obviously not what she expected to hear. Tathan hadn’t meant to
tell her . . . ever. Liselle was good like . . . well, flowers were
good. Nobody hated flowers unless the person was . . . an evil,
flower-hating person. Telling Liselle he had been in love with an
assassin seemed dangerous. She might stop liking him.

“Wow . . . I don’t know what to say to that,
cousin. When was this?” Liselle turned fully toward him and moved
into a cross-legged position. She rearranged what was left of her
food around her, there wasn’t much, and prepared to listen to the
story.