Page 25 of Restoring the Ngozii

Letting my gaze sweep back to Kari, I answer as efficiently as I can. “The three of us are bonded together as a single unit, giving us a connection like no other and my powers, which had been lost to my ancestors.”

Kari’s eyes widen, her blonde eyebrows rising as she opens her mouth in awe. “Your powers? That sounds quite amazing. What do these powers entail?” Her excitement is quickly squashed as she makes an ‘oops’ face and cringes back.

I wave a hand in dismissal at her, not needing an apology. “I can’t answer that as I have yet to discover the extent of them.”

We stare at each other for a moment, her mouth opening as if to say something, and my heart seems to lift in a moment of bonding and kinship when the caves light up, causing us all to gasp and go running for the balcony. At the sight of the portal, we rush down through the halls to the lower level, meeting Vahru and the human man Kari called Jeff as they pull a cart loaded with boxes that rattle with bottles.

It takes all of my control not to grow ridiculously excited. Relief washes through me, but I pinch my lips into a line and march right to them, needing to make sure that my people will not be harmed by this so-called antidote he’s made.

“Priestess, Jeff and I, along with a fellow colleague, have brewed our immune boosting tea with the juice of your planet’s fruit and a seaweed from our planet that has regenerative properties. We’re ready to heal the sick.” He grins as his eyes find Kari’s, and she smiles back, proud as can be. Gasps ring out around us as people begin to crowd in, listening in for news.

I reach over and grab a bottle, eyeing the strange looking liquid. It’s a disgusting color of watery mud with tiny bits floating in it. “Are you certain this will save them?”

Vahru steps forward, crowding my space, and I feel my mates step forward, their arms brushing my back. I see Kari’s small, pale hand grab Vahru’s large purple arm around the bicep from the peripheral of my vision, but my eyes are locked on the swirling, crystal pools of the man before me. He’s my brother, my blood, and I won’t let him walk all over me just because he’s older. I’m the leader here, and I have every right to question his integrity. We hardly know each other, after all.

He leans close, his voice low and sharp, meant for my ears only. “Listen carefully, Priestess, I know that we have our own issues and will deal with that another time,believe me, but this is about sick people. I’ve given this immune tea - minus the two new additions - to many, including my ownfatherafteryou poisoned him, and saved their lives. You don’t have to trust me, but trust the medicine.”

We stare at each other for a long moment, and for some reason I examine too closely, I let my gaze fall to Kari, searching her eyes for the answer I can’t find within myself. Her gentle smile and nod give me the confidence I need, despite the hatred I have for myself in relying on her. Nodding, I turn and wave for them to follow me.

Priestess, your mates are proud of you. You’ve made a good decision for the people today.Seuke’s voice rings in my mind, love and pride soaring down the bond and into my heart, making my eyes water as I stutter in a breath to soothe myself.

To admit that it’s been difficult without the voices of my guides is too much for me to speak aloud. I’ve relied on these disembodied voices to lead me, give me answers, to show me what to do when my mother wouldn’t. When Xenshay came and they disappeared, I was lost and afraid. It seems I made some rash decisions as well. Choosing to listen to my mates, to let them be my new guides, is turning out to be the best decision I’ve ever made. They want what’s best for me and my people, and they often have perspectives I don’t. Without them, I’d be failing as a priestess.

I couldn’t have done this without you, my loves. I must show you my thanks later when we’re alone.Looking over my shoulder, I wink at them as I continue on around the corner, hearing their twin groans in my mind. Now is probably not the time for such things, but they needed to know how much they mean to me.

Rounding the corner to the sick cave, I enter and tell the families within we need help administering medicine. We have a cure. As Vahru and Jeff set up the cart in the back of the large cave room, I quickly direct the warriors and families to help as they line up and take bottle after bottle, rushing to their sick ones to trickle what they can into their mouths. I grab several bottles and help those I can, leaving bottles beside them after they’ve gulped a few sips.

After what feels like an eternity of administering medicine and waiting, a mother wails from the front of the cave near the entrance, my voice called by the warrior nearby. My feet rush across the cave, my mates hot on my heels as I drop beside the last boy to get sick. The mother weeps as she cradles her son before he sits up and smiles at me.

His silver eyes have small bags under them, there’s still a hint of blood in the corner of his mouth, and his breathing is still slow. He smiles at me and takes a deep breath, his voice quiet and tired-sounding. “Thank you, Priestess, I feel much better already. The pain is lessened, and I don’t feel like coughing anymore. Asánte.” He slowly leans back into his mother’s arms, eyes closing as he rests.

Her face lifts to mine, tears still flowing like rivers from her eyes as she stares at me. “Asánte, Priestess. You are truly blessed, thank you for saving him. Thank all of you!” Her gaze swivels to encompass those behind me as tears brim my own eyes.

Leaning forward, I rest my hands on both of their heads, whispering a prayer to the goddess. “Asánte, Wakike Wonékano. Tafa hali lea kutu goza na ponya. Amína.” Tears flow down my cheeks as I slowly pull back from them and stand, turning to take in the scene of so many others beginning to rouse or weep at the results happening so rapidly.

I can admit to myself that even I did not expect this to happen so quickly, I assumed it would take time. This is a miracle beyond anything I imagined. Walking to Vahru, I bow my head in thanks. “Thank you, brother, for helping my people. I owe you a debt that is massive and probably unpayable for what you’ve done here today.” When I look up at him, I’m a bit proud to see the shock in his gaze.

He clears his throat, his gaze dropping to Kari’s proud smile before lifting to mine. “It’s all part of my job, helping people. Uhm, I recommend letting them sip on this throughout the day and moving forward until they feel better or one hundred percent. Keeping a steady supply of this in their system will help them heal faster.”

The warriors near us stand at attention as I turn to meet their gazes. I raise my voice enough for everyone to hear as I call out, “Please continue to administer the tonic until they feel better. Keep it in their systems. The bottles will remain in this cave until everyone is healed.”

“Yes, Priestess,” rings out around me, and I smile before turning back to Kari and her crew.

“Come, chat with me.” I turn on my heel and head out of the cave, listening as I hear shuffles of footsteps behind me. A smile pulls at my lips as Seuke uses our bond to tell me he’s behind us all. I lead them to my sanctuary cave for privacy since my people don’t dare come into my sacred space.

I stop by the brook and turn, watching as they all enter the room, the look of awe on each of their faces. “What can we do to prevent this from occurring again?”

All eyes turn to Jeff as he shuffles and clears his throat. “I’ve been thinking on that, and there are a few things that are possible. First idea, cull the deadly plant, but seeing as you all enjoy the fruit from it, that’s unlikely to be a top option for you. Aside from making the fruit or juice a part of everyone’s daily diet, you need more ventilation to prevent the pollen from getting overwhelming. It needs somewhere to go. Seeing as these are caves, it could take years of digging to complete such a task, though.” His thoughts peter off as he thinks, a sinking and confused feeling settling in my chest.

I gasp as my vision tunnels and changes. Hands grasp at my arms as the sounds around me fade, and I once again see the vision of Goddess Wonékano creating my ancestor.She kisses her forehead, granting her the glowing power that flows through my veins, but then something new appears, she grants the priestess two mates. Her voice is ethereal as she tells her to populate the planet, to use her powers to make it her home. The priestess then does as she’s told, bringing forth pools of water, trees and other plants, and then opens the ground to find the crystal-filled caves. She tells her mates that her people will be happy here.

The vision fades as the goddess’s voice rings in my ears, new visions slowly coming into focus.

“The people grew complacent, lazy, and the priestesses only sought power, becoming obsessed. Once that power was taken, the mates no longer found, the planet began to die, along with the people.” The planet grows dark, plants dying, water drying up and going underground, the caves the only source of life left. “It’s up to you now, Tavionna, to save what’s been lost, to heal your people and give them a better life. You have my blessings, daughter.”

Sighing as my body slumps into the arms around me, tears trickle down my cheeks as I gasp for air. My mates hold me close and guide me to sit on the edge of the brook as they brush my hair from my face. “What is it, Priestess, what did you see?” Seuke’s voice is gentle as he soothes me.

I meet each of their gazes as they swipe away my tears. “I saw how to fix this. I know what to do.” My voice is a whisper before I stand, stepping to the center of the room. The others eye me with concern, but I pay them no mind as I feel the pride swell in the bond from my mates.

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