They followed Aris up the carpeted staircase. Llew had never seen such opulence: the stairs were bordered by an ornate wooden balustrade, and the walls were covered in richly colored floral wallpaper. Throughout there was a warmth and sense of comfort that made her feel she never wanted to leave.
Although the stairwell was impressive, she was nevertheless unprepared for Aris's room. A luscious beige carpet covered the floor, while heavy red and gold drapes framed the windows, and the matching bed covers shone against the dark polished oak paneling and carved bedposts.
“I thought we deserved to recuperate in the best Osurnu had to offer,” Aris said, noting the way they were taking in their surroundings.
“And to show us what we'll be missing when we get back to reality?” asked Cassidy.
“So, what happened?” Aris asked, ignoring Cassidy's comment.
Anya sat in one of the large armchairs, which were upholstered in the same material as the curtains and waited expectantly to hear what had happened since she, Aris and Emylia had left the others behind.
Jonas briefly described their encounter with the riders, how they were surrounded, yet prevailed. When he got to the part about Cassidy's injury, Aris studied the young man, seeming unconvinced that he had been struck down so severely.
“We all thought he was a goner, for sure,” said Alvaro.
“But Jonas said it wasn't—” Cassidy paled slightly.
“But then Llew put a hand on him and, wow! He just healed right up.”
“Well, Llew, it doesn't look like you can keep your secret any longer.” Aris walked to the window, taking in the gray evening. “But I think we will discuss it after you have all had a chance to wash up. There's a bathhouse attached to this place. When you're all presentable, we can talk about it over dinner.” He turned back to face them, taking in the disappointed expressions of Cassidy, Alvaro and Anya. “We will talk about it. Now go. And Jonas, stay with Llew. I don't want Braph taking us by surprise.”
Jonas nodded and moved toward the door as Alvaro asked, “Who's Braph?”
“Something we'll discuss over dinner,” said Aris. “And get Emylia to take care of that,” he said, nodding at Jonas's shoulder. Llew hadn't realized he'd been injured. She could have fixed it for him. She still could.
Aris shook his head. “Only seven men. That shouldn't have happened.”
Jonas shrugged, though he looked a little guilty. Llew didn't understand.
“That is why you don't heal Aenuks. Could be days before you're back to full power.”
Oh.
Llew felt herself being tugged from the room and turned to see Anya's hand gripping her shirt, dragging her toward the girls' room.
“What are you doing?”
“Do you have another shirt?” Anya waved her other hand up and down, indicating Llew's bloodied ensemble. “We're going to find you something to wear.” She pulled Llew into the room and began sifting through clothes in a travel bag.
The room was almost identical to Aris's, except that the color scheme was a rich royal blue.
“What's the story?” Jonas leaned against the door frame.
“Ah, here it is!” Anya stood up with a bundle of material in her hands. She let it fall open and held it up before Llew.
“A dress?” said Llew.
“Nice,” said Jonas, making room for Emylia to slip past him.
Llew scowled at him. “Aris wanted you to get that shoulder seen to. Get in here.”
He pushed away from the door frame and entered the room.
“Well, despite whatever else you may be, you are a girl, after all,” said Anya.
“A floral dress?” Llew studied the blue material with little white flowers printed over it. “With lace?” She ran a finger along the lace trim on a short sleeve, frowning at the scratchy feel of it.
Emylia smiled as she delved into her luggage to locate her small medical supply.
“It's pretty, Llew. It'll suit you.”
She gave Jonas a dirty look.
“I think it will look nice on you,” Anya said, hurt.
“Thanks. It's... Lovely. Thanks.”
Anya smiled. “The boys will love it.”
“Sure will,” said Jonas.
Llew felt her cheeks flush. “I thought you had a shoulder needed seeing to?”
“I'm afraid I'm going to have to get you to remove that shirt,” Emylia said to Jonas. “It would be best if you girls returned to Aris's room.”
“Aris wants Jonas with me at all times,” said Llew. “And it's not like I haven't seen it all before.”
“Anya?” Emylia looked pointedly at the girl.
“I'm getting married soon!”
“Exactly,” said Emylia. “Now, return to Aris's room in the meantime, please.”
Anya didn't bother to stifle her huff but did as she was told.
“Right, shirt.” Emylia turned away and sorted through her small bag of first aid supplies as Anya flounced out.
Llew pushed the door closed and leaned against the wardrobe. Jonas unbuckled and shrugged off his vest and then the shirt, hooking them over the back of a chair. Even just standing there, muscles worked under the skin, it was almost enough to distract her from her plan to help him.
“Can't I do it? I mean—” she waved her hands about, “—magically? Or whatever it is I do?”
Emylia gave them both a questioning look.
“'Fraid not, Llew,” said Jonas, angling himself so Emylia could examine the wound more closely. “It's kind of a self-preservation thing. Aenuks can't heal Kara. You're Aenuk, I'm Kara.”
“But I'm Syaenuk. Aris said so.” Whatever that means. Llew pushed herself off the wardrobe and grabbed Jonas's wrist, and felt nothing. She squeezed. Jonas just stood watching her, his face unreadable. Nothing. Not a single zap. Nothing outside the usual tingle she felt when she came in contact with his skin, anyway. Nothing like what she'd felt when she had touched and healed Cassidy. And the cut remained.
“That's just stupid.” She backed away and folded her arms, pouting.
“It's deep,” said Emylia, studying the small wound on Jonas's shoulder. “But it's clean. It should heal up fine.”
Jonas looked over his shoulder at Llew, and she pretended to study the dark wood grain beside her, before looking back with a bored expression, as though a half-dressed man standing in front of her was something that occurred every day; hell, it nearly was true these days. She couldn't control the color of her cheeks when he smirked, though. She glared at him, and he returned his attention to Emylia's ministrations. Llew found her gaze drawn once more to the creature tattooed down Jonas's side. There was something about it that seemed to fit so perfectly with its wearer: it was fearsome and protective.
“Thanks, Em,” said Jonas, pulling his shirt back on as soon as his shoulder was wiped free of blood and bandaged. Emylia gave a friendly smile and set about clearing her things away. Jonas shrugged his vest back on and opened the door, nodding at Llew to go through ahead of him. Anya was waiting in the hallway. She lifted the dress bundled in her fist and Llew thanked her again as she took it and went to move past. Anya cleared her throat, and Llew turned back to her. The blonde girl held out a pair of puffy white leggings, heavily laced at the bottom. Llew felt herself color but snatched the underwear and continued along the hall and down the stairs before her cheeks started to cook. She supposed she needed something to wear under the damn dress.
“Are you going to join me in the bathhouse?”
Jonas shrugged. “Let's see the set-up, first.”
They reached the bottom of the stairs and the hotel clerk directed them around the corner to the bathhouse.
“Men's showers on the right,” he said, with a suspicious look at the two of them, his eyes narrowing as they took in Llew and her bundles of lace.
The door to the men's bath opened and Cassidy and Alvaro stepped out, looking more pleasing to the eye with clean clothes, fresh skin and damp hair. Alvaro glared at Jonas.
“Where's your change of clothes?” he asked.
“Aris wants me to guard Llew.”
“I can do it. You need a bath, too.”
“Aris wants me to watch Llew,” Jonas repeated.
“I'll stay and help.”
“It's tough being cute.” Cassidy leaned in to Llew. “Good thing you came along. They used to fight over me like this. It was so irksome.” He smoothed his hair behind an ear and batted his eyelashes. “I'll see you boys – and girl – upstairs.”
Llew smiled at his retreating back. “Well, I'm going to get this blood off me.” She pushed open the door to the women's bath. “Play nice while I'm gone.”
There were a couple of women drying themselves and dressing as Llew entered. They paused to watch as she selected a cubicle. She supposed it wasn't usual for a girl to get around in a blood-soaked shirt and trousers.
She stripped off, then stood under a cool stream of water and watched the reddish-brown liquid circle at her feet before it fell through a grated hole in the floor. She'd never experienced a shower before, but she could definitely see the idea catching on.
After drying herself off with a towel provided by the hotel, she held up Anya's dress. It really was a nice dress... for somebody else to wear. She reminded herself that she didn't have another option, and slipped the fabric over her head, letting it fall over her. The dress was light and floated about her legs. She ran her hands down her sides, feeling her curves, and followed the line of the dress as it flared out from the waist. She darted a look around the bathhouse to make sure that the other women had left, and then she spun around, feeling the dress fly out. She grinned, then laughed as she spun on the spot until she felt dizzy. She steadied herself against a cubicle wall until her giggles subsided, and she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. She ran both hands over her damp hair and, for possibly the first time, mourned its short length.
Sobered, she turned back to her pile of bloodied clothes, and the oh-so-white knickerbockers. She shook her head, but then imagined a gust of wind catching the dress and having nothing underneath. No. That would not be suitable. Not that she loved the idea of a gust of wind showing those things off, either, but they would have to do. So, she put them on, then gathered up her clothes and boots, paused to take a deep breath as she prepared to face Jonas and Alvaro, and pushed her way through the door.
She walked a few steps and turned back to face the men standing either side of the doorway. Both were silent for several moments.
“Llew,” Alvaro said.
“Llewella,” Jonas corrected him quietly. Evidently, he'd also taken a shower – more swiftly than Llew – as his hair was wet and his skin was clear, but he hadn't taken the time to change clothes.
She dropped her gaze, trying to control her blush and the almost irresistible urge to grin at Jonas. Somehow, his using her full name was exactly what she needed to feel comfortable in that dress. For the first time in years, it felt safe to be a girl.
Alvaro's irritation was brief; he couldn't take his eyes off her.
“Stop staring or I'll punch the both of you. And you—” She pointed at Jonas. “—will stand and take it because you know you deserve it. Let's go.” The admiring looks were welcome, but they were already making her feel uncomfortable. She turned on her bare heels, with both boys – for that was how they were behaving – falling in behind.
Walking through the reception again, they were greeted with a friendly acknowledgment from the distracted manager, followed by a look of wide-eyed wonder as recognition struck him. Llewella smiled shyly and started up the stairs.
At Aris's door, she readied herself for the reactions to come. It wasn't a big deal. So, she was a girl in a girl's dress. Nothing to get all worked up about. But they would. She knew they would.
Jonas leaned past her and knocked.
“Well, well,” Aris said, opening the door. He continued to open the door wide and graciously gestured for Llew to enter. Jonas and Alvaro followed close behind.
Cassidy stared. “Wow, Llew.”
Anya beamed, taking full credit for Llew's appearance. Anya had also thought to dig out a spare shawl and dress shoes for Llew to wear to dinner.
Llew – Llewella – found walking down the cobbled streets of Osurnu in a dress very strange. The few people out in the evening looked at her differently. She was so used to moving through Cheer with the aim of being unnoticed that she felt like some sort of floral beacon. Cassidy and Alvaro were fascinated by her, and for the first time she drew more of their attention than Anya. The other girl didn't seem to mind, and she chose to walk with Emylia and Aris.
They enjoyed a dinner at a tavern a little way from their hotel, a reputable establishment by all appearances with surroundings to match their accommodation and even, Llew was surprised to find, cushioned dining seats. She had never experienced such luxury.
Warm bread rolls were brought to their table, and suddenly the fact that they had not eaten for far too many hours overtook them. Politeness be damned: they all dived into the meal with enthusiasm.
Once their initial hunger was sated and they were settled in the more civilized nibbling of their meals, Aris informed the group of their situation. Llew was a Syaenuk. They'd all heard of the Aenuks of Turhmos, a fearsome race notorious for the devastation they caused when they healed. But to achieve the kind of healing Llew had done, it would have taken at least half a dozen ordinary Aenuks.
“So, what's a Syakaran?” Llew asked during a lull in the conversation.
“Ah,” said Aris, sitting back and linking his fingers across his belly. “While the Aenuks are traditionally from Turhmos, Kara are native to Quaver. They have somewhat superior strength and speed over the rest of us. Syakara are, or were, the more pure bloodline – stronger and faster again. Unfortunately, it seems Jonas is the last.”
“You hope to find more, ain't that right, Aris?” Alvaro piped up. “A woman?” While he directed the comment to Aris, he looked at Jonas as he spoke.
“That's right.” A little warmth returned to Aris's voice. “I heard there was a family moved overseas some years back, just as your family managed to leave Turhmos. We're hopin' their blood is still good. But it's complicated. I mean, if it was simple, we'd get a Syakaran born to a pair of Kara now and then, wouldn't we? But it just don't seem to work that way.”
“So, one of my folks must have been a Syaenuk, too?” asked Llew.
Aris nodded. “At least. I'm unfamiliar with the Aenuk lineage, so one or both.”
An unpleasant thought was forming in Llew's mind. If they were Syaenuks, it would have been very difficult for someone to kill them. And her mother had gone missing in Quaver.
“Are there other knives like Jonas's?”
“Yes,” Jonas said, looking directly at her. He knew what she was asking. Relief washed through her. So, the chances of Jonas being the one who had killed her mother were slimmer than if he'd been the only one with a knife like that. It didn't rule him out, but it was something.
“I must dig out my book of legends for you, Llew,” said Anya. “I know I brought it with me, but I think it might be tucked in the bottom of a bag. Had I known I would be meeting a Syaenuk, I might have packed with more care.” She smiled in bright-eyed awe. “However did you get by in Cheer without anyone knowing you were there? I never even heard a rumor.”
Llew shrugged. “I never died until a couple of weeks ago.” She almost laughed at herself for being able to discuss it so offhandedly. “Small cuts and bruises don't cause anything like the mess we had back there on the trail.”
“What I want to know is how your folks ever got out of Turhmos to begin with. There must've been an almighty hunt when they lit out,” said Aris.
“I was born in Quaver. I guess it would've been hard for Turhmos soldiers to follow them there.”
Aris laughed. “Undoubtedly. What worries me is how they managed to cross the border in the first place and how many have managed to before or since.”
It was yet another question Llew couldn't answer. But while she had the opportunity, Llew was going to ask her own.
“Can all Aenuks heal others?”
“Not like you did.” Aris shook his head. “One Aenuk could heal a minor flesh wound alone without too much trouble. A knife wound, like a cut? Sure. One Aenuk could do that. But when the wounded person is at death's door... “
“I ain't never seen what you did today, Llew,” said Jonas. “Turhmos have a lot of Aenuks. I've killed... dozens, hundreds. I've seen the way they swarm to heal injured Turhmos soldiers. I've seen them use their injuries to drain Quaven soldiers. But I ain't never seen what you did. That was— Thank you.”
“Yeah, thanks,” Cassidy finally found his voice. He had been listening intently, realizing for the first time how close he'd been to death and the debt he owed to Llew.
“So, who's Braph?” asked Alvaro.
Aris and Jonas shared a look before Aris nodded.
“He's Jonas's brother.”
“Half-brother,” Jonas said under his breath. Aris's eyes shifted to Jonas briefly, but otherwise it went ignored.
“Of course,” said Alvaro, sitting back in his seat.
“Braph's mother was Jonas's father's first wife, but she died in childbirth to what would have been Braph's sister,” said Aris. “Braph's mother wasn't Syakaran, so he was never going to be more than Karan. And, I'm afraid, Braph was never going to be Jonas's biggest fan.”
Jonas dropped his head, scowling.
“After their father and Jonas's mother were killed,” Aris continued, “the boys were separated between relatives and Braph went on to spend a great deal of his time inventin' things. He didn't find much appreciation for his creations in Quaver, so it seems he works for Turhmos now.”
“Great,” said Alvaro. “That's just great. So, we've got a crazed Karan after us, who wants Llew for some reason.”
“Yes, why is he after me?”
Aris and Jonas shared another look. “Did you see the device he wears on his wrist?”
Llew nodded.
“Well, it seems that device allows Braph to perform magic.”
“Magic? How?”
“We don't know how it works,” said Aris.
“Well, what does he want me for?”
“I don't think you want to know,” said Jonas.
“Yes,” she said firmly, holding his gaze. “I do.”
Jonas gave a small shrug. “From what we've heard, he would drain your blood.” Jonas watched her, gaging her reaction. She didn't flinch. “Then he would process it, condense it, and use the resultin' crystals to power the device, allowin' him to do... well, just about anythin'.”
“So, he's not just a crazed Karan, he's a magician, too.” Alvaro glared at Jonas, making it abundantly clear who he thought was to blame for Braph.
“He's ambitious, I'll give him that. But he's not known for making friends,” said Aris. “That he seems to be here on his own is a good sign for us. If he was working with Turhmos, I can't promise you'd still be here with us right now.”
“Lucky me.”
