Viator (The Viator Chronicles Book 1) (21 page)

The streets and bright houses all felt familiar, and she walked with confidence. Though she felt pulled in a certain direction, she didn’t know what she would find when she got there.

As she turned the corner into a narrow lane, Erin felt she was nearing her destination. Seven houses lined each side of the street before it came to an end. The houses were pale blue, or pink, or yellow, and their gardens were all enclosed with short, white walls of stone overgrown with trailing vines and flowers. More flowers peeked over the fences, and the gates were painted bright white. The third house on the left was butter-yellow, the gate wide open. A small copper sign embedded in the wall read, “Domus Viator.”

Erin entered the garden and walked up the path beside a pool of water. Inside the pool stood the statue of a young woman pouring water from a pitcher she held with both hands. As Erin walked past, the statue stood up straight and stepped off her stand. Startled, Erin stopped.

The statue spoke. “
Salve, Viator. Quid agis
?”

“
Bene
,” said Erin. The statue smiled at her and returned to her place on the stand where she stood motionless, and the water poured again from her pitcher. Erin stared at her for a moment, then walked up to the open door of the house and looked inside. The front room stretched out before her; it was filled with chairs, sofas, tables, bright paintings, and brilliant sunshine. Amid the furniture people were talking, laughing, eating, drinking, singing, and dancing. Erin heard a flute’s melody from a distant room and violins from another. Vases overflowed with enormous blossoms, and their sweet fragrance filled Erin’s senses. But what she noticed most were the people themselves: men and women of all ages, sizes, shapes, and races, dressed in many different fashions. Many were dressed as she was—dark pants, shirts, and boots.

As she stood in the doorway, a tall man dressed in dark brown and green approached with a wide grin spread across his face. “Erin, I’m so glad you found your way. I was just telling my brother here … oh, where did he go? That we should find you and bring you here.”

Erin stared at him. “Bruce?” she asked.

He laughed, “Yes, it’s me. You had a hard time recognizing me? No matter—it takes practice in this place. I must thank you again for saving my life. I am in your debt.” He put one arm around her shoulders and gave her a friendly squeeze.

“Are you completely better?” she asked.

“This visit will have me as good as new.”

“Don’t let him fool you—he’s too worn out to ever be as good as new.”

Erin turned to see Michael. He looked as he always did, dressed in his black clothes with his dark hair combed away from his face, his arms folded across his chest.

“Look who’s talking,” Bruce said. “He’s got years more wear and tear than me.”

“Hah,” Michael said. He smiled at Erin. “I’m glad you found Domus.”

“Michael told me you two have worked together?” Bruce asked.

Erin nodded. “Yes, in a way.”

Michael laughed. “Yes, we’ve fought together.” He rubbed his throat. “Erin carries a sharp blade.”

Bruce laughed. “Oh, yes. She thought you were evil. Doesn’t surprise me one bit.” He turned to Erin. “So, where did you get him? He hasn’t shown me any new scars.”

Erin blushed. “I … I didn’t really hurt him …”

“She skillfully kept her knife from actually slicing through my throat,” Michael said.

“He wasn’t so kind to me. One of the first times I saw him he threw me against the wall of a cavern—almost knocked me senseless. I think I still have a lump on the back of my head,” Erin said.

Concern showed in Michael’s eyes, and he frowned. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to throw you so hard.”

“My two favorites.” A very tall young woman walked up to them, and her long white gown seemed to float over the ground. Her dark hair was piled on top of her head, held in place by silver cords and gems that glittered like stars. She reached out and grasped Michael’s and Bruce’s hands in her own, leaned forward, and brushed a kiss across each of their mouths.

“
Salve
, Salina,” Michael said.

Bruce draped one arm around Salina’s shoulders. “It’s good to see you.”

She caressed Bruce’s cheek with the palm of her hand. Then she looked at Erin. “What is this, this little one dressed as a viator?”

“My name is Erin.” She almost took a step back, away from the penetrating gaze of the woman’s silver-blue eyes.

Salina laughed, her voice almost musical. “Are you a viator?”

“Erin is a worthy viator, Salina. She’s the one who helped me,” Bruce said.

Salina opened her eyes wide and looked at Erin more closely. She tucked her hand into the bend of Bruce’s arm and pressed herself against him. “What would we have done if we had lost Bruce? But tell me, little girl, how did you manage to help him? How were you there at just the right time?”

“What do you mean?” Erin asked.

Michael laid a hand on Erin’s shoulder. “Erin has fought with me, too, and I was happy for her help. I am sure of her motives. Come, Salina, she has only been here once before, and she may not remember that visit. We want her to be willing to come back again.”

Salina leaned toward Michael and kissed him. “You are so charming, dearest Michael. Come, Erin.” Salina took Erin’s hand. “Let me show you around Domus. There are people here whom you must meet.”

Without looking back at Bruce or Michael, Erin followed Salina, who kept hold of her hand and led her to a table laid out with refreshments. She picked up a silver pitcher and poured golden wine from it into two tall, delicate crystal glasses. Picking up both, she handed one to Erin and raised hers. “
Virtute et veritas.”
“Courage and truth.”

“
Ita vero
,” said Erin as she raised her glass to Salina’s, then drank a sip. The wine tasted like fresh pears, crisp and light. She immediately felt its effects, becoming more alert, more aware, as well as more relaxed. It truly did seem to give her courage and the ease to express the truth. She took another sip while Salina watched her over the edge of her own glass, smiling as if to herself.

“So, little viator, you are truly the one who saved my dear Bruce?” Salina asked. “Tell me about it. Were you there when he was attacked and wounded?”

Erin shook her head. “No. I was far away from him, looking for someone else. My son told me Bruce needed me, so I went after him but found a mortifer stalking him, ready to attack. I destroyed it before it reached him. But Bruce had already been injured, and I followed him to a tower, where he stopped and I was able to help him.”

“Who stabbed him?” Salina asked.

“I didn’t see. That happened before I got there.”

“What did Bruce tell you? Did he tell you who it was?”

“He said it was a friend—a dreamer. He said it was a dreamer’s treachery.” Erin frowned. “I am shocked. I don’t understand how such a thing could happen.”

Salina paused a moment, regarding Erin. “After the loss of our beloved Sean, nothing surprises me. But come, let me introduce you to a few of the others here today.”

She looked around, her blue eyes bright and intent in her fair face. A dark curl had come loose from its silver cord, and she casually brushed it out of her eyes and tucked it back into place.

“And you, are you a viator?” Erin asked.

Salina looked at her, a slight smile curling her rosy lips. She said, “No, I’m not a viator. I have never been in the world as you are.”

“You’ve never … what?”

“Ah,
veni hic
,” Salina said. She had spotted someone in the crowd.

She led Erin toward a group of people standing around a fire blazing in an enormous fireplace. A dark-skinned, herculean man was speaking enthusiastically, swinging his muscular arms over his head as they all laughed. They were dressed similarly to Erin, with long, dark pants, jackets, boots, and some with hats in their hands. They all held full mugs.

Salina stood at the edge of the group. “I rejoice to see you again, Ariston,” she said.

The large man turned to her and bowed low. “Salina! Your beauty and grace overwhelm me.”

Nearly as tall as Ariston, Salina rested her hands on his shoulders and kissed his mouth. “My dearest,” she said. She turned to the others seated there. “
Salve
, Eric.
Quid agis
?
Et tu
, Camille? Are you well after that surprise attack? Frank, it is good to see you here again.
Quid agis
, Elsie; is your daughter well?” Salina kissed each of them, and they all greeted her in return.

“Have any of you met Erin yet? She has not been here before—or maybe once?” She turned to Erin with a questioning glance. “Erin, here is a handful of our finest: Camille has helped hundreds of dreamers over the years, and Frank has spent every night of the past seven years doing our work. Elsie was injured recently, but is now healed and fighting again, and Eric has fought steadily for more than twelve years.”

“And what will you say about me, my lady?” Ariston asked, grinning broadly, his arms folded across his massive chest.

“What can I say about Lord Ariston that he hasn’t already said more eloquently himself?” laughed Salina, caressing his arm. She kissed him again slowly this time. When she broke away, she turned to Erin. “This is Lord Ariston.”

Erin bowed slightly. “I am very pleased to meet all of you. I have been fighting for only two years now, and until recently I didn’t know there were any others. This is a real pleasure.”

Salina smiled. “Erin saved Bruce’s life when he was knifed. She has fought alongside Michael as well.”

They murmured to each other, and Elsie said, “I am glad you were nearby to help him, Erin. It is a pleasure to have you here.”

“Yes, it is always good to meet another viator. There are too few of us these days,” Eric said. “You are most welcome here.”

Salina, who had been whispering into Ariston’s ear, now began to move away. “Erin, enjoy your visit.
Vale
, my friends.” She glided away, shimmering as the sunshine fell on her.

Ariston pulled up a chair and sat down. He looked Erin up and down and said, “And what brought you here, little one?”

“I … I don’t know for sure. I was on the beach across the river, and knew I needed to come here.”

“No, I mean the first time. Who brought you here the first time?” asked Ariston again.

“The first time?” Erin paused. “I don’t remember the first time.”

“Hmm. You don’t remember anything?”

The others exchanged glances.

“Who brought her here?” Eric asked.

“When did you say you started fighting?” Elsie added.

“It has been about two years now.”

“It is strange that you don’t remember your call,” Elsie said.

“I do remember speaking with someone, but it was very dark, the night my husband William was killed. I … wandered far across a river trying to find him and bring him back to me. I wasn’t fast enough, though.” It all came back to her as if it had just happened. Sorrow washed over her, and she bowed her head.

“We all remember who first called us and brought us here,” Ariston said. His face was angry, his voice harsh. “Since Sean, one of our own, was betrayed, we’ve seen others ambushed, and we know it was through deception. But who?”

Erin stared at him with horror. The group was silent as they watched her.

“And you think I may not be who I say I am … that I may be responsible?” She shook her head. “No, no, I fight those creatures. I destroy them. That first night—the night my husband died—I remember this: I was attacked by a mortifer, fought him, and made my way back across the river, where a young man came to me. He was dressed in brown. I think his name was...” She paused, looking up as she concentrated, and then she closed her eyes. “He said his name was Conn.”

They stared at her.

Camille whispered, “Conn. It was Conn.”

The others nodded.

“There you are, Erin. I wondered what Salina had done with you.” Michael strode up to the group. He turned around in front of the fireplace, leaned his back against the mantel and spread his arms out across its width. He was as tall as Ariston. He frowned as he eyed them, and finally he looked at Erin.

“Have our friends been entertaining you?” Before she had a chance to answer, he went on, “They are naturally cautious. As you have seen, sometimes when we trust, it comes back to bite us. But come with me. More time has passed than you realize, and I can show you an easier way home than the one by which you came.”

“I am very glad to have met all of you,” Erin said as she looked at each and paused to hold Ariston’s eyes with her own.

He touched his lips with his fingers and bowed slightly. “May the light go with you, little one.”

Michael led her through the room, filled with people now, and greeted those he passed with a smile or a quick hello. Some wore long robes similar to Salina’s, and possessed the same translucent beauty, but most were dressed plainly, in simple pants, jackets, and boots; some of the women wore long skirts, many with knives or swords fastened to their belts. Erin noticed Bruce and Salina sitting on a small couch somewhat apart from everyone else. Salina sat next to him, their heads were close together, and they spoke quietly. Then she kissed his face as she unbuttoned his shirt. Erin saw a huge red gash on his stomach, and Salina spread her hands across it. Erin turned away to catch up with Michael, and they continued weaving their way through the crowd.

When they reached the front door, Erin turned around to look once more at the people in this strange room. Sunshine poured through the windows, and in the distance a tenor’s voice rang out in song. She wanted to stay.

Michael had stopped, waiting for her. She looked up at his face. “Must we go?”

His eyes softened. “Yes, you’ve been here a long time. You need to get back.”

She nodded, and they turned to leave.

“Salina must keep very busy with so many viators to caress,” she said.

“What?” He looked at Erin and knotted his brow. “Salina has her own work to do, and she does it well. Things are not always what they appear to be.”