Jonen felt an unnatural warmth burn his stomach. He gasped as his eyes shot open. Multiple women stood around him as they examined him. His ankle and head throbbed. The unfamiliar surroundings set him on edge, but multiple hands grabbed him at once.
He groaned at the groggy feeling in his head, “Where am I?”
“You’re at the Temple of the Goddess in Vimgraunt,” Nara smiled, “High Priestess of this temple.”
Jonen blinked a few times before he saw the women around him giggle. Many waved at him playfully as their hands covered many of his wounds. He wasn’t sure how he had gotten into an infirmary bed. Let alone how all his clothes were removed. He lifted to confirm that indeed, all of his clothes had been removed. Jonen cleared his throat and used his uninjured hand to secure the blanket on him over his more intimate areas.
Where had his clothes gone? Where was Mira? Who are these people?
“Uh, thank you,” He coughed, “I assume you are all healers? How bad do I look?”
“These stitches are atrocious! The magic ones need work. They aren’t secure enough,” The white haired, wrinkly old human scratched under her skin, “Many broken bones. Fractured arm and ribs on both sides. The infection is almost burned out now. Child, what in Zrud did you get into?”
She crossed her arms and waited for his response.
“Uh,” He lost all his words for a few moments, “Bad fight.”
“Well, I hope you are least won,” A grey dwarf chuckled.
Jonen cautiously laughed. He didn’t feel comfortable around all the chatty healers whispering incantations or speaking in languages he didn’t understand. One healer would grip a wound and push energy into it. The hot, burning sensation hurt as it healed him. After one wound calmed down, the next hand began. He felt like a fancy toy that the healers fought over.
“High Priestess! Healer Gimma!” A familiar voice called out from behind the crowded room, “Can I try? I’ve been practicing!”
“Were those your magical stitches? Pitiful, but better,” The old woman pushed large glasses up her nose, “Patient, do you mind if a younger student attempts a spell?”
Jonen’s eyes widened as he recognized the voice, “Tella? Shouldn’t you be with Mira?”
“His ankle is broken,” Gimma poked at the purplish skin with a finger, “Can you reduce the swelling!”
“I’ll try!” She pushed her way through the crowd to the foot of Jonen’s bed.
She wrapped her hands gently around his ankle. Her fingers felt hot against his skin, but gentler than the other women around him. He smiled as she scrunched her face to concentrate on the spell. Tella whispered something and Jonen yelped.
The explosive pain caused him to jump. One of his hands slammed his mouth shut to keep the eruptions of curses from flying out in a temple. The girl swung her arms down in frustration.
“What did I do wrong?”
“You pushed too much energy in a small area,” Gimma grabbed his ankle, “His wound can’t handle that energy. You have to grip firmly but push gently. The body accepts it better this way.”
Without looking, the older woman firmly grasped his ankle with an ironclad grip. Jonen winced at the initial grappling, but the burning sensation now faded away with his swelling. He sighed in relief and laid his head back down.
“Sorry Jonen!” Tella’s head bowed in defeat, “I’m still trying to learn.”
“Why don’t you join Mira in the bathing chambers?” Nara patted the girl’s shoulders, “We don’t want you sick from the rain, either.”
“Yeah, Tella. She needs to relax,” Pallik’s voice came from the other side of a separating curtain, “They won’t let her in here unless she’s getting healed. You know she’s probably sprinting on the roof or something.”
Jonen’s slight panic faded away as he realized Mira was nearby. He and the children were safe. Mira was safe.
“But! I’m hungry.”
“Do you think she would let you go hungry?” Her brother laughed, “Go see what she’s up to so she doesn’t stalk around the temple.”
“Okay!” Tella ran from the room while the other women chuckled at her.
Jonen leaned back in the bed as the healers grabbed at him. He kept a firm grasp on the blankets near his groin when one of them approached and started to move it out of the way. Gimma rolled her eyes at his furious blush.
“I’m checking your wound.”
He found it difficult to relax with that man people standing around his bed. The High Priestess, as an elf, towered over the dwarves and humans. He naturally looked at her with his question.
“You know Mira well?” He asked in elvish.
“As much as she’ll allow,” Nara smiled.
“Ah, I see,” Jonen took the sly hint to not speak.
He held her emerald gaze for a long moment. Their unwavering gaze sparked the gossipy healers around them to speak. Nara rolled her eyes and decided to ask her next question.
“How do you know her?”
“I feel that would be better discussed when we have some privacy,” Jonen looked down to the blanket on his lap, “And… when I am fully dressed.”
The healers giggled again. The High Priestess shushed the women.
“I will call for you in the morning,” She nodded curtly and exited the room, “Also, everyone employed by this temple has a basic understanding of every language. There’s no reason to distinguish by race.”
Jonen blinked, “That’s not what I—”
“You’ll be here all night,” Gimma gave a malicious grin to Jonen, “You’ve got a hoard of students prepared to get you back to full health. I was told you wouldn’t mind volunteering for them.”
He highly doubted anyone would have volunteered him for this.
“Can I get a break to eat at some point?” Jonen gulped.
The group laughed. Jonen took a deep breath and understood that he would be in for a long night. Just as he got comfortable enough to sleep, another round of healing began. When they learned he only fluently spoke elvish and some dwarven, most healers stuck to those two languages to communicate with him. After understanding them, he could finally relax. Most of the swelling went down immediately. Gimma held his foot as he rotated his ankle to pop the bones in and out of place.
“If you stay off of this, you should be able to walk normally,” She reassured him, “With the split you had, you won’t even have a limp after about a week.”
“That’s amazing,” Jonen laughed.
“Yes. Mira did a good job,” She chuckled, “I don’t know what you did for her to help, but it’s a good thing you did.”
“I honestly don’t either.”
At some point in the night, he couldn’t keep himself awake anymore. His mind drifted off to the grassy plains again. His dreamscape repeated as it always had. The sun warmed his skin and the plush grass beneath him felt like a bed. He looked around for Shayleigh again. There wasn’t any buzzing bugs of smoke from the fire he knew to be in this memory. He sat up in his dream and saw a woman in the distance with bouncy red curls. Jonen blocked the sun from his eyes with his hand and peered at her. The woman stretched as if she didn’t suspect him there at all.
“Mira?” He called out.
The woman turned, but she was too far away for him to recognize her face. It seemed as if the moment she saw him, she ducked further into the grass to avoid him.
“Wait!” He yelled.
Jonen woke to a stack of clean clothes neatly folded on the table next to his bed. His muscles throbbed from the violent healing sessions from the previous night. His skin no longer required stitches and he could put pressure on his foot again. Though he felt a bit unsteady on his feet, he was almost good as new.
A crisply folded note on top of his clothes caught his attention. The delicate script informed Jonen that the High Priestess summoned him to her office the moment the healers released him for the day. He had never been inside of a High Priestess’s office before and heard not many were entered. The office was directly attached to her private chambers and no man was allowed to enter there.
Jonen quickly dressed but hesitated as he saw the hideous scar on his leg and stomach. The healers took their time binding each area of flesh to minimize scarring, but the stitches couldn’t be undone easily. Most stitches had to be physically sawed out of his skin. The scar near his groin was permanent, one healer explained, as the muscles already bound together. As he adjusted the shirt, he noticed Mira’s handprint lightly scarred his arm where she closed the wound. The skin barely mismatched his natural tone and was hard to notice without concentrating on it.
“Goddess,” He shook his head as he buttoned up the shirt, “How am I going to explain that?”
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
“Good, you’re up and standing,” Gimma pulled the curtain back and pushed her glasses up her nose, “That’s a good sign.”
“I’m still tender in a few areas, but I feel much better,” He tucked the shirt into his britches, “Thank you.”
“Unlucky for you, that nectarberry increased your infection. Don’t overeat the next few days until the berry’s juice passes through your system,” Gimma folded her arms, “I’ll want to check your wounds to make sure everything is healing fine.”
“Thank you,” He nodded.
“Yes, Irae usually tends to the patients,” Gimma shook her head, “But she’s spent the last week healing other Travel Knights. I didn’t want her collapsing from exhaustion.”
“Others?” His ears perked up, “Where are they?”
“The catacombs. None of them made it,” She shook her head, “I’m guessing from bandit attacks.”
“Can I see them later? I may know them,” Jonen shyly put his hands into his pockets, “I can at least let someone notify the families.”
“If that will bring you comfort,” She shrugged indifferently, “Irae and the High Priestess will be giving final rites and rests soon enough.”
“Speak of,” Jonen held the note out, “High Priestess Nara wants me to report to her office.”
“Yes, yes,” Gimma rolled her eyes, “I’m aware. Most guests are directed there on arrival.”
He nodded and followed her into the hallway. Just before the very end, Gimma turned swiftly and knocked on the door. He heard a groan and shuffling of papers before footsteps approached the door. An exhausted Nara opened the door and looked between the pair. The sleepless bags under her eyes gave away her groggy mood. She still wore the outfit from the night before, with a small smudge of lip stain on her sleeve from when she fell asleep on her own arms. The black stain of ink was swept into her blond hair as if she had quickly scrubbed it off her face.
“Thank you for bringing him here,” She rubbed her eyes, “How is Pallik?”
“He is practicing in the yard with the guards,” The old woman responded, “I believe Mira is with them as well.”
“Good,” The elf yawned, “See that Sunodagh or Pallik can give our new guest a tour after our meeting. In half an hour, perhaps?”
“I’ll see to it,” Gimma bowed.
“Jonen, please come in,” Nara waved over her shoulder as she walked further into the room.
He stepped inside and looked around. Simple wooden furniture sat around the room. Golden elven script decorated the wooden wardrobe closest to the door. He read it casually as Nara sat at her desk and stacked her papers and scrolls. She pointed to the wooden bench directly across from her desk for him to sit on.
“Vanora bless those who cannot see the light in the rain,” Jonen pointed to the wardrobe, “I haven’t heard that phrase in a while.”
She held her hand up to stop his idle chitchat, “I am going to ask some rudimentary questions everyone who stays at the temple is asked.”
“Yes, High Priestess,” Jonen nodded subtly, “I will answer any questions you have for me.”
“Full name and occupation, please.”
“Jonen Lafayette de Sfagroth in northern Vanora,” He paused as she scribbled the words down, “Third ranking knight in the Travel Knights.”
“Travel Knight?” She looked up from her paper to meet his sapphire gaze, “Mira said you were a mercenary.”
“I don’t know why she said that.”
“And at third rank? Impressive. From magical talents or years served?”
“I’m only twenty-six, High Priestess,” He bowed his head slightly, “I’ve been with the knights for seven years. I have some magical talent, but not enough to brag about. My most recent promotion was after the incident in Berkshire.”
“I would’ve expected someone much older to hold that rank,” She nodded and tapped her quill on the paper, “But, that doesn’t mean you didn’t earn it. After all, second rank is the next position, correct?”
“Yes, High Priestess.”
“Next question, what is your purpose in this area of Zrud?”
“Tracking down a wanted criminal in connection to the incident in Berkshire,” He stated plainly.
Her quill stopped. She looked up to him before finishing her written sentence. Nara plunged the quill into the inkwell without another word. She fanned the paper lightly to dry the ink before she placed it into a desk drawer. Nara rested her elbows on the desk and intertwined her fingers as she studied him. Jonen wasn’t sure why she peered at him with such an intensity, but her glittering emerald eyes seemed to kind.
“Those were all the official questions,” She narrowed her gaze at him in suspicion, “Are you willing to answer my other questions?”
“High Priestess,” Jonen held his hands up defensively, “I am not here to cause you any trouble. I want answers too. I will happily trade information.”
“Fine. Question for question?” She accidentally rubbed more ink against her face.
“I’m fine with that.”
“Who was the target? Was it Mira?” Nara asked.
“Isaan Naybellos, her master,” He paused, “We weren’t sure she would be there. How well do you know the two of them?”
“What does he look like?” She ignored his question.
“Blue skinned elf, greying black hair, glasses. I’m sure there aren’t many around this part of Zrud to compare him to,” Jonen held up a hand to stop her next question, “How well do you know them?”
Nara sighed and leaned back in her chair. She rubbed at the bridge of her nose and looked at him. He waited patiently for her response.
“I have known Mira for about five years,” She took in a deep breath, “She has not spoken of her master. I know nothing about him. Officially, Mira has confessed sins to me in our time together. It is hard to parse her personality, but…”
“But…?” He leaned in to listen.
“Mira would only stop for baths and a night’s rest,” She intertwined her fingers, “Sometimes a full day to ask questions and leave without a word. Many here did not enjoy her presence.”
Nara waited for him to respond. When he didn’t, she continued.
“Four years ago, Mira carried a gravely injured Tella into the temple. Pallik was tied to her back, as he was too weak to stand. He could barely talk. She would not tell us what happened, only demanded that the children survive,” Nara sighed, “She threw a bag of gold and trinkets that, clearly, didn’t belong to her to pay for their treatment. Mira stayed at the temple for two weeks and did anything she was asked. She waited for them to wake.”
“What… happened?”
Nara grabbed a glass of water from beside her desk and took a sip. Remembering the honey-eyed woman stalk about the temple sent shivers down her spine. She knew exactly who and what Mira was and had to keep the secret from everyone else in the temple. Not even the healers knew.
“When Pallik finally woke up, he cried and hugged her. She wouldn’t let anyone speak to him. She was and is extremely protective of the pair. Once he regained his strength, she cautiously backed off of him. Soon after he explained what happened at the village,” Nara shook her head, “Then, Mira told him he needed to earn their keep here and she would be back. Then, she left. He stood at Tella’s bedside until she woke up, but she was still too weak to get out of bed for nearly half a year. Every few months Mira would appear in the temple to check on them.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know,” She anxiously laughed, “She wanted him to learn as much as he could, including dwarven so he could take care of Tella. About a year after they arrived, Mira brought a couple from some small village nearby and they took the children away.”
“That doesn’t sound terrible,” Jonen looked at her sad expression.
“Tella still has nightmares of what happened. Pallik informed me that a monster came to their village and destroyed everything. People, plants, animals. All gone,” She lowered her gaze to the papers, “Their parents hid them outside of the village. They saw the monster fight a man with large, glowing eyes.”
“The wraith?” Jonen blinked, “That must have been the beginning of the attacks.”
Nara snorted and shook her head, “That creature has been here over a decade. Hangral only recognized its existence when it became an inconvenience for them. The attacks are just more targeted now.”
“Do you think Isaan controls the wraith?”
Nara blinked. If he had traveled with her this long and not seen her shift forms, then she did not want him to know. She shifted causally in her seat and looked to him.
“You don’t know?”
“We assumed as much,” He shrugged, “After the attack in Berkshire, I collected as much evidence of the wraith and Isaan as I could. Our intel showed many of Isaan’s known associates died tragically in recent years.”
“He is dangerous,” She whispered, “Whatever he commands, she has to follow.”
“I have seen that,” Jonen ran his fingers through his golden locks, “I don’t know how it’s allowed here.”
“It’s not.”
“How the bloody void can he get away with that?” He growled under his breath.
“Because she cannot say anything and will not allow us to,” Nara said plainly, “If he finds out that someone from the temple alerted the authorities, she will have to kill everyone here.”
“Oh.”
The two sat in silence a moment before she drummed her fingers on her desk and wondered what to say next. Jonen cleared his throat and looked back at the door.
“Where’s her master?”
“He’s missing,” He placed a hand on her desk, “The wraith killed nearly an entire army. We brought so many soldiers to fight. When I woke up, I thought I was gone.”
“How exactly did you survive?” Her eyebrow quirked, “I have not seen many that have lived past the wraith.”
“I’m not sure,” He shook his head, “If I’m entirely honest, I had a dream of my late fiancée. She sent me back.”
“Perhaps the goddess decided it wasn’t your time,” Nara furrowed her brow, “Odd, though. From what I saw of your wounds, you barely lived.”
“Mira was caring for me when I woke up. She offered to take me to a healer after I begged for help,” He bit his lip, “I know I’m lucky to be alive. I saw all the dead around the house.”
She winced as she imagined, “That sounds horrid.”
“As far as I know, I’m the only survivor,” Jonen lowered his head, “I don’t know how.”
“You’re extremely lucky,” She reached over and gave his hand a light squeeze, “Don’t take that for granted.”
“I guess so,” He scratched his head.
“You should be extremely thankful she brought you here,” Nara sighed.
The non-hostile negotiation of information continued as each of them tried to push what they could get out of each other. Without knowing what to share, it turned into a friendly standoff until Jonen decided to ask what he needed to know.
“About Mira…” He leaned into whisper, “Do you not know she’s a blood mage? How does that not concern you with the temple? Considering how one is made.”
“That is something only I and the Healers Gimma and Irae know,” She raised a hand to stop any argument, “We do not speak of it outside of this office.”
“Should I be concerned with how she became a blood mage?” Jonen implied what he worried about.
“As long as you are a guest in this temple, Sir Lafayette,” Nara lowered her voice and peered at him, “You will not arrest anyone. Especially Mira.”
“I didn’t plan to!” He gasped, “What kind of man do you take me for?”
“I don’t know you, Sir Lafayette.
“On my honor, I won’t do that to Mira.”
“She is welcomed here if she is not under orders. That must be why she brought you here,” She took a deep breath, “You can’t use her as bait for her master. I won’t allow it at my temple.”
“I don’t intend to do that at all!” He raised his hands defensively.
“Her master forbade her from submitting to any authority. She only follows my command because she see me as the master of this temple,” She sternly spoke, “I don’t want violence to ruin this sacred ground.”
“I do not blame her master’s commands on her,” He shook his head, “I only worry if he also has that… ability.”
Nara intertwined her fingers and rested her elbows on her desk. She narrowed her eyes at the knight and waited until he met her gaze. She hardened her features and shook her head. She needed to know what this man’s true intentions were.
“Jonen, you know what she is, don’t you?”
“What do you mean?”
“Mira brought those children here and confessed to me that she did not understand what she was feeling,” She leaned in, “She doesn’t understand guilt, Jonen. She saw the destruction of their entire village and brought the children here because she felt guilty for the first time.”
“I don’t understand what you’re getting at.”
“How can someone that doesn’t feel guilty about her horrendous crimes be anything but a monster?” She scoffed, “I know you don’t care what happens to her but—”
Her words enraged him. This wonderful woman that cared for him, despite her master, didn’t deserve to be spoken to this way. The elf coldly glared at him as he clenched his fist. No temple he ever worshipped at treated anyone this way. Is that what she ran into constantly?
“What kind of killer would bring me to a temple to get healed? Or rescue two children? Save a village of farmers?” He furrowed his brow, “She knows kindness, or I wouldn’t be here.”
“Even if she’s robbed? Killed? Tortured? Surely there’s nothing left to save in her. She’s destined for the void.”
“Her master ordered her to do that, I’m sure. That doesn’t mean that anyone has any right to treat her less than human!” He shouted, “She’s more than some thrall to a wicked man!”
Jonen lowered his head and covered his mouth. He yelled at a High Priestess in a temple. He feared he would truly end up in the void at the end of his life at that moment.
“I’m sorry, High Priestess. I should not argue—”
“Good,” She smiled, “You passed the test.”
“What?” He couldn’t hide his surprise.
“I needed to make sure you aren’t using her,” She smoothed the wrinkled fabric on her lap, “I want you to remember your words if you are with her for a while… because it is something we all say to ourselves when she is here.”