Ashes And Spirit (Book 3) (45 page)

“Why don’t you take Maleena to rest, and I will take Emmaleen to Marda,” Nira said. “She can see you when you wake.”

Marda and three other servants came bustling into the room with food. The plump woman gasped at the sight of Maleena limp in Mckale’s arms and set down the tray of food she carried. “What happened?”

“Nothing to worry yourself over.” Mckale tried to send Marda a reassuring look. Or at least that’s what Kirynn thought he meant to do. His haggard face and worried eyes didn’t convey it well.

“It doesn’t look that way,” Marda said, coming toward them.

Mckale shook his head and started for the doorway. “She will be fine after some proper rest.”

Marda watched him go then turned to Kirynn. “Is he telling the truth?”

“I’m not entirely sure. Maleena did something to help Lenya, but I think she hurt herself in the process.”

Nira turned to Marda. “Would you mind terribly taking Emmaleen for a while longer? Mckale and Maleena both need a solid sleep.”

“Of course I don’t mind.” She reached for the baby and lifted her from Nira’s arms. “I don’t mind one bit. Do I, sweet little one?” Emmaleen grabbed a fistful of Marda’s gray hair. Kirynn watched in mild amusement while Marda gently retrieved her hair from the baby’s grip and directed the servants at the same time.

When they were done setting the table with food and drink and had departed, Kirynn turned to Lenya. “Are you hungry?”

Lenya nodded and asked, “What happened to ‘leena? Why was Mckale angry?”

Kirynn searched the little girl’s earnest gaze. What had Maleena done? Did Lenya know where she was and why? Did she know she was the sole survivor of her village? “Maleena is just very tired. So is Mckale. He is also worried about Maleena.”

“Mama always said I am cranky when I am tired,” Lenya said, accepting the explanation easily.

Kirynn helped her dish food onto her plate and watched her throughout the meal. The child gobbled down the food like she was starved, and though she didn’t say much, she seemed completely at ease. When Maleena was ready, Kirynn had every intention of finding out exactly what she’d done.

After dinner, when Marda was trying to get Lenya to go to her own room to sleep, Lenya showed the first signs of wariness at her new life. She clung to Kirynn and a troubled look gathered in her dark eyes as if something in her subconscious warned her that people could just disappear from her life.

Not wanting her to slip away again, Kirynn made a decision. “She can sleep with me for the night.”

“Are you sure?” Marda looked like she wanted to impart some advice.

Kirynn forestalled it. “Completely.” The look of relief on Lenya’s face told Kirynn it was the right choice. “I’m all she really knows here right now outside of Maleena, Mckale, and Vaddoc. She’s only met Nira one other time, and all of the other riders are in Markene right now trying to handle everything.”

Marda nodded and ran her hand over Lenya’s long dark hair. “In a few days, we will know each other better and then you will know you can trust me to always look out for you.”

Lenya just nodded as if she wasn’t sure if she agreed with that assessment.

Kirynn led her up the wide flights of stairs to her lair. Together, they washed their faces and hands in the washbasin, and then crawled under the covers. Lenya’s warm body snuggled next to hers as Syrakynn’s low rumbling snore lulled them to sleep.

M
aleena woke gradually in the soft comfort of her bed. Only a dull ache in her head remained from the repair she had performed for Lenya. The overwhelming emotions she’d pulled from the child had faded into the background. Maleena would never forget the level of horror and heartbreak that had dwelled in the heart of the child. It was hard enough for adults to witness, but little Leyna had watched everyone she loved slaughtered before her eyes as everything she knew burned around her.

Though she was glad Lenya no longer carried the burden, it would have been better to wait. Not that she’d known what needed to be done until she got into the child’s mind. She rolled over, searching for Mckale.

He sat on the floor, leaning against the wall with one arm resting across his raised knee, while Emmaleen burbled and rocked back and forth on her hands and knees. It wouldn’t be long before she was crawling. Mckale looked up and smiled at Maleena before returning his gaze to their little girl. The peaceful moment in their lair was surreal after the violence and heartbreak of the past two days.

Tears stung Maleena’s eyes as she watched Emmaleen. Her daughter was alive because Grandme had given her own life protecting her. She shouldn’t have doubted the old woman would be able to keep Emmaleen safe.

Mckale picked the babe up and stood in a fluid motion before turning to Maleena. “It’s good to see you awake. I’ll take Emmaleen down for mid-day. When you’re ready, Kirynn would like to speak with you.” He motioned toward the table with his free hand. “Nira left a concoction in case you woke with a headache. She seemed to think it was likely.”

“She’s right, although it isn’t too bad,” Maleena said as she sat up.

“Other than the headache, you are well then?”

She sent him a reassuring smile. “I am. It was foolish to do while I was so tired, but I don’t regret it. No child should carry such a burden if they don’t have to. How is Lenya doing?”

“She seems fine, acting like herself if a little quieter than before. Later, I would be interested in knowing what you did for her.” He bent and gave her a quick kiss before striding from the room.

Though the ache in her head wasn’t too bad, Maleena drank the brew Nira left before washing her face and arms in the basin. After pulling on the soft leather pants and linen shirt she’d worn the night before, Maleena reached for Nydara,
“Will you have Syrakynn let Kirynn know I’m awake and ready to talk to her?”

“Of course,”
Nydara returned. And then,
“Kirynn is on her way to you now.”

It wasn’t long before Kirynn walked into the lair. “It’s good to see you standing again.”

Maleena waved the comment away. “It wasn’t as bad as it must have looked.”

Kirynn raised an eyebrow. “Liar.”

Ignoring the comment, Maleena sat in one of the wooden chairs and motioned Kirynn to join her. “You wished to talk?”

“Yes.” Kirynn settled in the chair. “I want to know what you did for Lenya. I’m not sure what to say and what not to say since I don’t know what she remembers. You said last night you took her pain. What did you mean?”

“I meant exactly that. I took all of the pain she was feeling and pulled it into myself. At the same time, I constructed walls around her memories. I didn’t remove them. If ever she wants to remember, they will be there.”

“Why not take them away?”

Maleena sighed and shoved a hand through her thick hair. “It isn’t right to strip someone of their memories unless they specifically ask. If later she chooses to access them and wants them removed, I will do it then.”

“If the memories of the battle are walled up, what does she know of her village and family?”

“She remembers everything up to the battle. After that, everything is obscured by a…fog. That’s the best way I can describe it. She knows her village and family are gone, but because she doesn’t have a direct memory of it and since I pulled the pain away, it’s like it happened a long time ago.” Maleena tried not to think of what had been in the child’s memories. It was too horrible. “I allowed her to move past the grieving process without having to experience it. And though taxing for me, it’s what Lenya needed.”

“I am in your debt,” Kirynn said.

Maleena shook her head. “No more than any of us are in debt for the things we’ve done for each other. Has it been decided what will become of Lenya? Will she go to a family in Galdrilene?”

“No.” Determination rolled off Kirynn.

Maleena gazed at the woman, taken aback by her fierce tone.

“Lenya is my responsibility. She will be in Marda’s and the other riders’ care as Emmaleen is when I am gone from Galdrilene. But I will raise her.”

Though surprised by the announcement, Maleena kept her features neutral. “This is unexpected, coming from you. Why would you want to take on Lenya when you have never wanted children?”

“I still don’t want children.” Kirynn’s features softened. “Lenya is different. Always has been. I can’t explain why.”

“And of course, she will be a part of an extended family of dragons and riders, much like Loki was before he hatched Merru. We will all be her parents to some extent.”

“For which I’m grateful. I’m not naturally inclined to motherhood. Hopefully I don’t mess up too bad,” Kirynn said.

Maleena laughed. “No parent really knows what they’re doing. We all hope we don’t bungle up too bad.”

“I don’t know about that. Marda seems pretty sure.”

“Well, Marda is different. She raised eight children of her own and has a herd of grandchildren. By now, she’s got it down.”

Kirynn stood. “I suppose you’re right.”

“Of course I am.” Maleena too got to her feet. “Now, if there isn’t anything else you need to talk about, I’m starving.”

“I’ll walk with you to the Dining Hall. Marda is bringing Lenya for me. She was kind enough to watch her so I could talk to you alone.”

“Marda just likes having someone to mother.”

They headed down the hall together to join the others in the dining room. Maleena relished the sense of peace that Galdrilene brought knowing she would have to leave again much too soon. The people in Markene needed them, and the riders still there needed a chance to come home as well, if only for a day or two.

Maleena took Emmaleen from Mckale when they reached the dining room and snuggled her close. She hated to leave her in Galdrilene but after what happened in Calladar, it was safer. There would just have to be more frequent Slides home.

Across the table, Kirynn sat beside Lenya as the little girl quietly ate. Maleena watched the child as talk flowed around the table. Her easy chatter and quick smiles were gone, even with the pain removed and memories buried deep.

“It is good to see you are well,” Vaddoc said.

Kellinar nodded. “We have all decided that we would prefer you didn’t do something like that again.”

“I make no promises,” Maleena said with a snort. “However, I will try to be more careful next time.” She turned to Belynn who looked tired but otherwise in good health. “Speaking of seeing someone well again, it’s good to see you’re recovered, Belynn. You scared us.”

“
I
scared me.” Belynn shook her head and scooped a bite of food onto her fork. “Losing control of that volcano and being so near when it blew…I thought Farynn and I were dead.”

“Thankfully you weren’t, and we were able to find you.” Kellinar sighed. “I think enough was lost.”

Mckale took a sip of his drink then asked, “Are you planning on staying another day or two in Galdrilene, Belynn?”

She shook her head. “I’m still a little tired, but no. I will return to the front with the rest of you.”

When conversation turned to Markene and the need for them to return, Lenya looked at Kirynn with worry in her big dark eyes. “Where will I sleep when you go?”