Page 8 of A Conduit of Light
Theblack veins swirled continuously along the hardened jade polished stone.Itwas smooth and cool in my hands, heavier than it looked to be and a memory returned to me.
Therewas a small clearing inFelgren, yellow wildflowers spread through the tall grass, and me—straddled across the back of a lumen, its white patches of fur blinding in the afternoon sun.Ilaughed in reverie and spread my arms wide, feeling free and loved.
Loved.Iremembered feeling loved.
“Karus, you’re awake!”
Ijumped, startled in my memory by the lilting sound ofMoira’svoice coming through the door of my room.Shewas gasping, carrying a small woven basket full of fruits and cheese.
“Isthat a cinnamon bunIsmell?”Igrinned, placing the stone in my pocket, rushing over to help with her bounty.
“Cooksaved you one, but wanted me to remind you to eat the fruit first and blah, blah, blah.”Moiradisplayed her sharp-toothed smile and pulled out a sticky, cold bun, a sweet glaze smeared atop its light brown center.Moiralicked her fingers asItook my prize to my bed and sat down to devour the treat.
“Ithought you’d be out picking demorte.”
“Ihaven’t seen new blooms yet.Here, have some water.”
Igulped the cold beverage eagerly, unsure of whenIlast drank and muttered a thank you.
Moirafluttered around the room, picking up lost hosiery, bits of paper, and books.Shereturned them to the stack in the corner of the room, and she sang in a playful tune as she worked, poking at the embers of the dying fire in its hearth,
“Solong as you keep to your bed at night,
Shewill not harm you, she might, she might.
Don’tlet anger in your heart or your head,
Herdarkness will find you and you will be dead.
TheBlightressmay find you and you will be dead.”
Ifound myself humming along to the song, absently picking at a square of cheese and swaying my hips.
“Shesounds awful, thisBlightress.Westill don’t know what angered her, do we?”Ispoke absentmindedly asIpinned my long hair back into a half plait, some of the white strands falling across my face in typical defiance.
“Karus…?”
Iturned, pins sticking out from my lips, and looked atMoirawho had spoken so seriously thatIwondered if something was wrong.
Moirastared at me, wings beating furiously behind her tiny frame.Sheonly did that when her heart was beating fast.Herdragonfly wings tended to follow its rhythm.
Iblinked, confused at her tone and flustered state, my mind a whirl of chaos in the sudden change between us.
Shakingmy head,Itook the pins from my mouth and set them on the vanity, resigned to whatever state my hair was in, and desperate to change the mood.
“Canwe ride today?I’msure the channelers won’t be training with the lumens on their first day, andIhaven’t seenParvusin so long.”Igave her my best warm smile and reached into my pocket to palm the stone.
“Yes, we can ride today.”Shenodded, glancing out the window at the patch of gray looming in the morning sky. “ButIdon’t like the look of those clouds.Youknow how the lumens smell after a good rain.”
“Well, we’d better race the storm then.”
Andwith one last bite of a soft yellow pear,Ipulled on my boots, ready to discover something new.
* * *
“Hello, handsome,”Iwhispered to the lumen nuzzling my ear and giving me a lick in return.
Parvuswas the runt of the pack, but strong in his affection.Helicked my ear again with his enormous tongue, the size of a dinner plate, andIfelt pieces of hair rip from my head.Iplaced a saddle on his back and buckled it tightly before climbing on.Raucawhined behind us, wanting to come along as usual.Iwhistled for her to follow as we shot out of the cave,Moiraflying ahead, her iridescence sparkling in the few rays of sunlight slitting through the trees.
