Keepers of the Flame (66 page)

Bri snorted.

"Meanwhile, every time I see him, Koz lobbies to be moved
back to his own rooms in Horseshoe Hall, says Calli and her family are in
residence and they're next door...."

Chuckling Bri said, "Bet Calli keeps out of this."

"Way out. Marian still wants him close."

They'd reached the top of the stairs. Bri was nearly panting at
Elizabeth's brisk pace. Bri said, "God knows I'm really getting into shape
here—"

"Don't mention anything about that," Elizabeth said
sharply.

Surprised, Bri glanced at her. "What?"

The narrow-lipped smile was back. "Marian's carrying some
extra pounds, apparently was even plumper last year. Of course Koz teases her
about that. His duty as a brother."

Bri stopped and put a hand on Elizabeth's arm. "Let's leave
him to her. He deserves the aggravation."

Elizabeth paused too. "Well, well," she said softly.

"What?"

"Looks like you've bonded with Marian. And she's probably the
last of the Exotiques for you to do it with. Right?"

Bri shrugged. "Guess so." She tapped her head. "I
have a whole chorus in here if I want one."

"Mental
connections to them all. I know," Elizabeth said. Her features tightened. "What
does that mean about us going home during the Snap?"

"It means we'll miss them all, and too bad, so sad."

"You're right. You ever think that if the plague had been
like the ones we'd imagined—dead and rotting bodies in filthy streets, rats,
rampant infection—we'd have had an easier time of returning home?"

"No. Hadn't thought of that." Bri opened her mouth to
ask about Elizabeth and Faucon, but shut it again. If she didn't ask, Elizabeth
wouldn't tell and wouldn't ask about Sevair. Elizabeth was being unusually mum
about Faucon, and Bri sure didn't want to stir up any emotions that might
weaken her sister.

They walked the rest of the way silently.

"Marian,
go away
. Can't a guy take a leak in
private?" Koz's irascible voice could be heard outside the thick door.

"Don't you need help?" Marian's tones were equally sharp
and penetrating.

"No. I wouldn't if I had to crawl. I'm bigger than you—"

"I'm sure crawling isn't good for you."

Sharing a look with
Elizabeth, Bri straightened her spine as Elizabeth squared her shoulders. Bri
ran a thumbnail up and down the doorharp.

"She's here!" Marian said, then, "They're both
here, Elizabeth and Bri.
Now
we'll have some action." She opened
the door.

"Song spare me from older sisters," Koz muttered. His
voice came from behind the bathroom's slightly open door. "Ahem. Medicas,
ladies. I could use a little help here."

"I'll—" Marian started.

"Not you, Marian," Koz said.

"We'll take care of him," Bri said with a smile to
Marian.

"A man can only dream," Koz said.

"Sounds pretty good to me," Elizabeth said and now her
voice held humor. It was good to work together.

"Twins," Koz said. "Have you two ever—"

"No," Bri
and Elizabeth said in unison. Bri entered the bathroom to see a pale Koz
propped by his arms against the wall. His loincloth was up and tucked, but his
pants were down around his ankles. The scar on his leg was raw and red.
"You're too thin," Bri said. She propped herself under his shoulder.
"Lean on me a little."

"I'll take care of these," Elizabeth said
matter-of-factly, pulling his loose drawstring pants up and tying them neatly
at his waist. "Ok, I'll take your other side."

"A man can dream," Koz repeated.

His face was wet. So were his hands. A towel was crooked on the
rack as if he'd swiped at it before needing both hands to steady himself. With
her free arm, Bri snagged the towel and patted his face dry. Elizabeth found a
washcloth and soap and rewashed his hands, took the towel and dried them.

"Some service," Koz said, but Bri noticed his breathing
was easier. "Never thought I'd want my walker again."

"He's decent, open the door Marian," Elizabeth said.

Marian did, her expression anxious.

"Baby steps," Elizabeth said. Bri moved with her and Koz
easily. On rare occasions when they'd partied with friends in high school,
they'd poured guys into a car and driven them home.

Long ago and far away.
Elizabeth smiled at Bri. Carefully they returned Koz to the bed.

Marian
used a speed-housekeeping magic to strip the sheets and replace them with
fresh.

"Nice trick," Elizabeth said.

"I've mastered it," Marian said drily, helping with the
lowering of her brother to the mattress. He let her tuck him in.

Elizabeth gestured to
some chairs and Bri and Marian brought them to the bedside. "I ran a
little scan on you during our trip from the bathroom and you're doing fine. So
well that your physical therapy will start tomorrow. I've instructed a torturer—a
medica journeyman, I mean—in the exercises I want you to practice." She
tilted her head and studied Koz.  "This being Lladrana, your innate Power
should heal you faster, too."

Marian said, "We don't have the bonds most do with Amee
planet. We aren't natives. The connection still isn't as strong for us—all of
us—as it is for others."

"I'm sure his
body, earth of this earth, has a good bond," Elizabeth said and Bri
suppressed a smile. This was her sister talking such an interesting new age
line.

Then Bri said,
"You might be better for massage, too."

Koz had closed his
eyes at the mention of the torturer, now he opened them and winked at her, grinning.
"Oh, baby, baby."

Marian cleared her
throat, sent a pointed glance at Bri and Elizabeth. "We haven't spoken of
the future." Her voice was brisk but her eyes sheened with tears, she took
her brother's hand.

Elizabeth met Bri's eyes in blatant consultation. "What he
needs," Elizabeth said. "Is stimulation.”

Koz leered at them.

"
Mental
stimulation," Bri said.

"That will lead to a new career," Elizabeth said.

"What?" Koz struggled to raise himself.

Chapter 33

Bri watched as Marian
gently pressed Koz back onto his bed.

Elizabeth said, "You've had a serious closed head injury. I
don't recommend you returning to your life as a Chevalier. Not unless you want
to throw away this second chance."

He sucked in a breath
as if taking a blow. "I could be careful."

Bri patted his knee under the covers. "No, Koz.  Listen to
the doctor."

"I've listened to the doctors all my damn life," he
said.

"Just how long do you want to live?" Elizabeth said.

"Man, you have some bedside manner, doc."

She gave him a sugary smile. "I was yanked here before I
started practicing."

"Yeah,
yeah," he said.

"You have enough
Power to become a solid Scholar," Marian said, naming the level below her
own Sorceress Circlet status.

"Nope," Koz
rejected immediately. Marian blinked fast.

"What did you do
back home?" Bri asked.

"Developed video games." His grin was back. "Man,
one with volarans would really sell!" Then he frowned. "Not something
I can do here."

"Sounds like
magic to me," Elizabeth said.

"Bossgond would
train you, or Jaquar," Marian said.

"I said
'no.'" A considering expression came to his eyes. "Bossgond," he
muttered. "Earth." He glanced at the twins. "You both wanted
very badly to see Earth. And there's that new communication system Sevair is
getting up and running." He glanced to the wall and the large mirror that
had been positioned to show him a different view outside from a window he had
to strain to see. "Mirror magic."

"Mirror
magic?" Marian said.

"Yeah, a mirror's
a little like a video screen. I'd like that."

"Good, good," Marian choked, stood, and hurried to the
door. "I'll go find out who'd be your best teacher." She left.

Koz let out a big sigh. His grin twisted as he looked at Elizabeth
and Bri. "Guess playtime's over. New job." He ran a hand through his
hair. "Man, it was good while it lasted."

Bri's breath eased
out.

He looked at her,
them. "I bet I could get messages back and forth to Earth, even after the
Dimensional Corridor closes."

Hope, panic rose in
Bri's throat. "Soon?"

"Depends on Marian and the teacher. Maybe."

"We aren't staying," Bri and Elizabeth said together.

Studying them, he said, "Guess I won't mention that I spoke
to Luthan about you."

Bri's gut twisted, she reached for Elizabeth's hand. They stood.

"Forget the massage," Bri said.

"You shouldn't do that," Elizabeth said, "Punish
him for—"

"—the
truth," Koz said. "Destiny's a funny thing. You can't avoid it."
Then he dropped into sleep.

"I don't want to
talk about this," Bri said.

"I don't
either," Elizabeth said. "Seems like we're not talking about much. Someday
we'll have to break down and analyze this."

"I vote for way
later," Bri said.

* * *

KEEPERS OF THE
FLAME

ISBN:
978-1-4268-1085-5

Copyright © 2008
by Robin D. Owens

First printing:
January 2008

Author Photo by:
Rose Beetem

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