Page 6 of The Lost Guard's Healer

Aldus gives a bewildered smirk that shifts his beard. “You will have to ask her that.”

“This Fae Queen,” I say. “Her name is Clio? Clio De’Kalo?”

Aldus shrugs. “We don’t know her name. People just call her the Fae Queen. They say she is with Arthur Bearon. That is a name we know well.”

“Oh?” I ask, feigning ignorance.

“The Grandson of the old Queen of the Oathlands, yes. He and his brother… Ryon, I believe.”

Well. That stings me a little.

“Anyway,” Aldus goes on. “The Lord Bearon rules now with his Fae Queen. A lot has changed in these past two weeks.”

“I can see that,” I say as I almost stumble on a rock.

“Stay,” Aldus says. “Rest here a moment.” He has a gentle hand when he helps me to sit on a nearby tree stump.

It’s a relief to know that Arthur and Clio still live. I have no way of knowing if my daughter May made it out of the attack alive, but I have to hold on to hope.

A glowing ball of golden light swoops through the air in the distance. A fairy? Like from the old stories? I shake my head and crack a smile. I had underestimated Clio, and I feel bad for having been so short with her for so long. It had only been near the end when I’d seen how good she was, and how strong of heart and mind. I hope I get the chance to apologize to her.

I ask more questions, and Aldus seems happy to entertain them.

“Those who had magic in their bloodline simply woke up one day to discover they could access their magical abilities,” he tells me. “They could summon magic, or fly, or control the elements, and many other unique gifts.”

“And that three-tailed fox I saw earlier?” I ask. “Where did he come from?”

Aldus raises a hand to encompass the field. “From all over. The fiorin have been revealing themselves these past two weeks.”

“Fiorin?”

“That’s what we call the magical creatures,” Aldus says. “We believed they had gone into hibernation, or simply vanished from existence once they were cut off from the magic that gave them life. People are looking into where the creatures were and how they have come back, I believe.”

I look up to see a short, older woman is approaching us. Her long auburn hair is tied back loosely, which emphasizes the round fullness of her face. Up close, I see she might be closer to Aldus’s age, with thin lines around her eyes as she gives me a broad smile.

“I see our guest is awake,” she says, coming to a stop before us and clasping her hands behind her. Her tanned complexion is a shade of maroon, more red than brown.

“Magdalena,” Aldus says. “I was hoping we would see you.” He turns to address me. “Tarin. This is Magdalena Othas, a village elder.”

“Oh, shush,” Magdalena says with a wave of her hand. “My mother is an elder. I am still a… youngster.”

They share a quiet laugh.

Their deliberate, controlled speech has a formal air about it. It reminds me of the way people used to speak in the olden days. A way that some people make fun of these days on account of how stiff they sounded.

Magdalena says, “I hope you do not mind me saying. You are far thinner than when you were first brought in. Allow me to have a meal prepared for you. You must be starving.”

“Galene has been tending to him,” Aldus says with a defensive air. “Our guest is well cared for.”

“Of course,” Magdalena says with a polite smile. “I simply meant we have some sister wives preparing lunch, and that I can spare a plate for our Oathland guest.”

“That is very kind of you. Thank you,” I reply. “You’re a… village elder, is it?”

“Some day,” she says. “In training, you might say. Though some already see me as one. But, no, my mother is the elder. I’m sure you will meet them. They are nice.”

“Everyone here seems very nice,” I say, not counting Galene. “I’m embarrassed to say we have the Wildland folk wrong back home.”

“But of course you do,” Magdalena says diplomatically. “As do we, with you Oathlanders, I’m sure. It has been so long since our people have communicated.”

---