CHAPTER 15
BABIES AND BOO BOO’S
Children don’t understand a simple fact about their parents:
We are walking the same course of life. Parents are just a bit further down the path.
Our job is to train you, guide you, give you a heads up when challenges or pitfalls are coming your way.
We aren’t trying to control you.
We’re trying to help you.
Remember that when you decide to turn a cold shoulder on our well-intended efforts.
A soft hand rested upon his shoulder.
“High Elder.”
Delnar stirred, his smooth scalp pushing against his plush bird-feather pillow.
“High Elder,” whispered the voice again, followed by another gentle nudge.
The candles had all but faded in the private bed chamber of the Iskari leader, which made the hovering black robe look all the more ominous when Delnar opened his eyes.
Yawning, “Yes? Cordell,…is there something wrong?”
The portly man reached over to grab the robe resting over a nearby chair and held it open. “I am sorry to disturb you, High Elder, but you have been summoned by The Hand.”
****
Moving swiftly along to corridors, Delnar waved his hand, willing greater light about him. Flames sparked in metal sconses, matching his stride, bringing shadows to life.
As he approached the guest wing where Dax and been cared for, he stopped short.
The walls were lined with the royal guard as before…
But they were all on bended knee, one hand across a thigh, the other resting upon the shoulder of a fellow soldier.
A sign of mourning.
The door to the chamber was wide open.
Without a sound, the High Elder rushed past the guard and into the room.
Where the room was once filled with life, saplings and wilted plants now squatted in septic pots. The incense used by The Hand was still drifting across the room, but even the rare crystals looked dull and cracked.
It took a long moment for the High Elder to take it all in before he noticed the circle of figures surrounding the center bed.
Four tall figures, standing amid the familiar robes of his brothers and sisters of the Council. One of the bald heads turned towards him.
“High Elder,” Elder Jiin started…
“What’s going on,” Delnar cut him off, “is Dax—”
“We thought you,” Jiin added quickly bowing his head in tears and slowly backing away, “would want to be here.”
Each figure mimicked the motion, a wave of red, moist eyes, retreating from the bed in turn as the High Elder approached them.
It was then Delnar gasped.
Once lavish sheets were now flat and withered, drenched in a milky-green film.
A dead-grey stain, darkest around Dax body, seeped into the fabric and leeched out across the cloth to the edges of the bed.
Even the pillows had sunk in, now looking more like fruit left out to rot in the sun.
In the very center, lay Dax’s body.
He looked so tiny and frail, sunk into the center of the massive piece of furniture, prone and motionless.
Tears forming in his own eyes, the High Elder walked respectfully to the side of the bed and reached out a hand to give his friend his last goodbyes.
“I ain’t paying rent…just because I’ve been stuck in here, Blueberry.”
Delnar snatched back his trembling hand and covered covered his mouth.
Dax peeked out from swollen lids, half of his trademark grin crawling up a single side of his face. His voice barely above a whisper, he added. “An if these yahoo’s keep starin’, I’m gonna charge for tickets.”
The High Council laughed softly.
Delnar looked about those gathered, then at The Hand. “He is…”
“Daxänu will live,” the Hand answered, a content grin upon his own face. “This one is exceedingly strong.”
“Don’t…call me that,” Dax grunted, his grin turning to a frown. “My name is Dax. You got that,…tree-man?”
The High Elder looked around the circle and blinked the moisture from his eyes. “You all knew he was fine?”
The Council met his confusion with open smiles.
Delnar tried to frown, “That was…cruel. Appreciated…but cruel.” He patted Jiin on the shoulder, “Where’s…”
“Dax must rest, High Elder,” replied a Hand.
The High Elder nodded, “Yes, but where is…”
“It is important that he is not over-excited,” one cut him off. “There is still much healing to be done,” injected another.
Perplexed, Delnar glanced at each of his Council members. One by one they looked him squarely in the face stoically, then averted their gaze.
It was then that he noticed a crumpled shape in the large chair positioned under the open window along the far wall of the chamber. One of the thick comforters from the bed, now wrapped around a withered figure.
Several tufts of dark grey hair lay draped over the comforter and arm of the chair.
Delnar silently looked up at The Hand.
The male evolu slowly nodded and raised a finger to his lips.
“I might not like much from home,” Dax said between weak coughs, “but I have to admit—I’m grateful these know-it-all’s can heal.” He tensed hard, coughing, “Or I might not have made it…”
One of the female Hand leaned over Dax, lifting a shallow dish to his lips. “Drink deeply, my prince. This will ease your cough and when you awake, you shall be much stronger.”
Dax opened his mouth, allowing the fluid to trickle past his pale lips.
In less than a minute, he was fast asleep.
Delnar scooted closer to The Hand and looked up at the male. “What is going on?”
“If you would be so kind as to bring new bedding, we will prepare Daxänu before we leave.” Walking to one of the tables, The Hand unlatched an elaborately carved wooden box and oped the lid to reveal half a dozen crystal vials. “With your permission, High Elder, I will instruct Elder Jiin in the ways of administration of the oils we have to complete the healing.”
For the first time, Delnar reached out and touched The Hand directly, gripping the evolu’s slender forearm firmly.
At the same instant, the sound of many swords being unsheathed echoed in the hallway.
The Hand looked to the High Elder, then down at the grip, staring until Delnar let go.
“We have done all that we can do, High Elder. Now we are called home to put our knowledge to the test once more.”
Delnar watched The Hand, the expressions on the evolu’s face, and noticed the tone had changed. It was…less than what it was.
Something was wrong.
“What of Lady Alaria?” His eyes went to the figure in the chair. “Is she…?”
“She yet lives. But light within her has been spent.”
“Is that why Dax…Daxänu is getting better now?”
The Hand turned to face the High Elder, strain now plain on the healers face. “The Omä-es gave her life for her only child, as any good mother would. Against our counsel she performed a healing bond between her and Daxänu. The boy will live and once more grow strong.”
Elder Jiin entered the room once more, this time followed by large plants writhing across the floor on supple vines and leaves. The plant slithered silently, keeping pace with the Elder.
The three Hand surrounded the chair and with perfect unison, lifted Lady Alaria onto the plant. Tiny leaves and vines sprouted instantly, budding and rolling out to meet the tender adjustments to the evolu’s body weight. Jiin walked about the plant, giving commands with the click of his tongue.
Delnar turned back the The Hand, “And the Lady?”
The Hand watched as Elder Jiin followed his mates out into the hallway. “She has made her will known. No one is to reveal to Daxänu that she was here, or that she assisted in his healing.”
He turned to stare at the High Elder, his face once again stoic. “She desires you to know that she now understands why her beloved chose your people for his home. Though our cultures are vastly different, your hearts are tender and good. Of this, there can be no fault.”
“But isn’t,” the High Elder started, confused. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Delnar’s heart beat uncomfortably in his chest. The last thing the Iskari would want is the reputation of killing the princess of the evolu people. “Surely there must be something we can do for her?”
It was then that The Hand placed his own hand on Delnar’s shoulder. His smile was kind. “You already have, dear Elder. You have shown us that in discipline, we have lost a measure of compassion and heart. Something your people exude. It is this she admired most. She will forever be grateful for the love and support you have given her son, allowing him even the remote possibility of healing.”
Turning, the Hand closed the small box and latched it, setting it by the bed.
“But you said the Lady has healed Dax?”
Ducking beneath the doorway, The Hand looked back, again displaying a genuine smile. “She healed his body, yes,…but his soul she leaves in your tender care.”
