When the woman dismounted and took a step toward Ashk, the dark horse nipped her sleeve and tried to tug her back.
"Fox, behave. We're guests." She untied her saddlebags, slung them over
one shoulder, then grabbed the horse's ear when he tugged at the saddlebags.
"Let the Fae Lords take off your saddle and bridle so you can have a nice roll and play with the other horses. I'm staying right here."
Snorting with every step to let them all know he wasn't happy, Fox allowed the men to lead him away.
"I'm Ashk, from Bretonwood."
"I am Rhyann."
Before Ashk could continue the introductions, Rhyann dropped her saddlebags, walked over to Aiden, and knelt in front of him, studying his hands.
"Do you have any healing skills?" Ashk asked.
Rhyann's fingers hovered over his hands. "Fire trapped in earth. Water seeks
to quench it, but is trapped between its banks and presses on the earth it seeks to protect." She paused a moment. "How did this happen?"
"The Lord of Fire did this to him."
The cold anger in Ashk's voice didn't chill Aiden as much as what he saw in
Rhyann's woodland eyes before she turned to look at Ashk.
"One of the wiccanfae did this?" Rhyann asked softly."I doubt Lucian wants to think of himself as wiccanfae," Ashk said."It doesn't matter what he wants to think. What matters is what he is,"
Rhyann replied sharply. She looked toward the stream. "Sweet, flowing water. Come with me." She rose, gripped Aiden's arm, and pulled him to his feet.
With Ashk, Sheridan, Morphia, and a silently weeping Lyrra trailing behind them, she led Aiden to the stream. She took off her boots and stockings, waded into the stream, and knelt down facing the bank.
"Kneel there." She pointed to the bank in front of her.
Ashk and Sheridan held his arms to support him as he sank to his knees.
Rhyann grabbed his wrists and pulled his hands into the water. She closed
her eyes, and said, "Fire, release your hold on the earth of flesh and bone.
Give your heat to the water that flows free. Water, seep up from the banks of skin and join with the water that flows from the Mother. Earth, give your strength to flesh and bone to mend what has been harmed. As I will, so mote it be."
Aiden felt power gather around him. Heat poured out of his palms, constantly washed away by the stream's current until there was no more heat. He felt sweat bead on his skin, rising up and flowing away. He felt a different kind of warmth flow into his hands, traveling slowly from his wrists, where Rhyann held him, all the way to his fingertips. When that warmth faded, the power faded with it.
Rhyann lifted his hands out of the stream. "Can you move your fingers?"
Aiden stared at his hands. Normal hands. Even the blisters were gone, healed. He cautiously curled his fingers until he made loose fists. His hands
felt tight, tender. He would have to work them slowly to regain the dexterity he needed to play the harp. But he would play again. He was certain of that.Tears filled his eyes as he uncurled his hands. "Thank you."Rhyann smiled at him, then accepted Sheridan's help out of the stream. After picking up her boots and stockings, she followed Sheridan and Morphia
back to the camp.
Aiden felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked at Ashk, surprised as much by the tears in her eyes as by the delighted smile.
"I'll play again," he said, his voice rough.
"That you will, Bard. That you will." Ashk kissed his cheek and helped him
stand.
When he turned toward the camp, he saw Lyrra standing there. He took a step toward her. She ran into his arms.
"There was nothing I could do," she said, still weeping. "If I could have
traded my hands for yours, I would have done it, but there was nothing I
could do."
"Lyrra, my love, even if you could have offered, I wouldn't have let you."
He ran one hand over her hair, thrilled by the feel of it. "Come on, now. No more tears."
Lyrra eased back and rubbed her cheeks dry. "No more tears." With their arms around each other, they walked back to camp. * * * Ashk waited until the evening meal was done. Seeing Aiden's hands had shaken her. Seeing Rhyann restore his hands had shaken her in a different way. She knew the pentagram Rhyann wore gave her a comfort that might well be illusion. The witch sitting beside her was a stranger-and a powerful one. Since they were most likely traveling in the same direction for a while, she needed to know just how powerful Rhyann was-and she needed to find a way of asking without giving offense."It's time, Ashk," Aiden said.Yes, it was time. Ashk sighed, allowing herself that one indulgence before she sat up straight. She had to believe they could win. Despite what she'd
heard from both the baron and the Fae, she had to believe.
"An army is marching toward the southern end of the Mother's Hills.
They've already crushed two counties when the barons there tried to stand against them. Our forces are still too scattered. The barons are gathering and leading their men at best possible speed, but they may not have time to come together as an army of their own."
"What about the Fae?" Aiden asked.
Ashk smiled grimly. "I don't know if it's fear of me or the Huntress, or if they've finally seen the enemy in a way that makes the danger to Sylvalan clear even to the most stubborn among them, but they're all on the move as
well. I just don't know if they'll be in time to hold the Inquisitors' army." Or defeat it."The storms will slow down the Black Coats' army," Rhyann said quietly.Ashk looked up at the clear night sky. "What storms?"
"Rain will turn roads into rivers of mud," Rhyann said, her voice sounding dreamy in a way that made Ashk shiver. "Creeks and rivers will rise, becoming impassable, and stone that had held a bridge strong for a hundred years will tumble into water. Wind will sing so fiercely no other voice will be heard. And lightning will be fire's steed. Yes, the storms will slow them down, and your people will have time to gather."
"What makes you certain there will be storms?" Aiden asked.
Rhyann smiled at him. "I can taste them on the air. I felt them in the water.
The Grandmothers will not let the Inquisitors harm Sylvalan."
"They didn't do anything to stop the Inquisitors before now," Ashk said,
suddenly feeling like she was standing on a cliff that could crumble beneath her at any moment.
"Did the Fae do anything before now?" Rhyann countered.
"No," Aiden replied. "To our shame, we did not."
Rhyann brushed her hair back. "The wiccanfae did not ask for help, and the House of Gaian doesn't usually interfere in the lives of others."
Aiden shifted uneasily. "The witches who died by the Black Coats' hands didn't ask for help because they didn't know there was anyone they couldask."
Rhyann nodded. "They have forgotten much of who and what they are. Just as the Fae have forgotten who and what they are."
Ashk stiffened. "Meaning?"
Rhyann gave her a considering look. "Do you not know the story of how the Fae came to be? It is an old story. Have your Grandmothers never told you?"
Chills raced through Ashk. "No, I've never heard the story. Have you?" She
looked at Lyrra, who shook her head.
"Do you know the story?" Aiden asked, leaning forward. "Could you tell us?"
"Do you really want to know?" Rhyann replied.
"Why wouldn't we?" Ashk wanted to throw another log on the fire, but she doubted it would ease the chill inside her.
"Because you're the Hunter," Rhyann said gently.
Ashk twisted around to stare at the witch. "Why would that make a
difference? And how did you know?"