Lawgiver’s Blade: Chapter Three Part Four

June 5th, 2019  |  Published in Lawgiver's Blade  |  1 Comment

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She must have dozed off herself because the next thing she knew her father was shaking her awake. Tamasa was standing behind him with two bowls of a rich, spicy stew. Hunks of meat floated in the rich gravy.

It wasn’t pig slaughtering time yet and meat had been growing short so Alidra wondered who she’d traded with and what she’d offered them to get it.

“Thank you.” Imalia was sitting up and felt warmer to Alidra than earlier but still far too cold.
“I think the sleep did you good, mage Imalia,” Tamasa said.

“I do believe you’re right,” Imalia said. “I think I may live.” She sounded surprised. “Though I fear Lilat is right and my magic is gone forever.”

“Forever is long time, Imalia,” Tamasa said.

“I know, but I have no sense of my magic returning. If I do not sense at least a trickle in the next moon or two I will remain empty.”

“Lilat returned to check on you while you were sleeping,” Denri said. “She was overjoyed to find you sleeping. She says your kin are sending someone and they will be here soon as the high mage has authorised magical transport for them. It seems you are highly thought of.”

“It’s lucky that I made extra stew,” Tamasa added.

“High Mage Kadria is kin.” Imalia said. “We even lived under the same roof in Fasrat before Rindalam’s blessing fell on her when the previous High Mage was killed. I wonder who she’ll send? My husband is dealing with a crop failure in Larid Province. I hope they don’t call him away.”

“A plague and a crop failure in the same year?” Denri asked. “That’s bad luck.”

“It’s a bad year,” Imalia agreed. “I hope Tarin is okay. He should be, he’s stronger than me.” But she sounded like she was trying to convince herself.

They ate on in silence for a few minutes before there was a knock at the door and Lilat entered with a small girl about Alidra’s age and a man who bore a striking resemblance to Imalia.

“Vessin!” Imalia said from where she was sitting and eating, supported by Tamasa.

“Mummy! You’re alive!” She sounded so relieved for someone so young. Too relieved. Alidra’s stomach clenched with the certainty something was wrong.

Imalia hugged her tightly. “I am and better for seeing you, sweetness.” She looked up at Vessin. “Hallo, Vess. Kadria dragged you away from Fasrat?”

“No dragging needed for you, dear sister,” Vessin said before turning to Tamasa.

“You must be Tamasa, Lilat said that you were looking after my sister.”

Tamasa smiled and inclined her head. “I have done what I can, Mage Vessin… I only hope it is enough.”

“If my sister is sitting up and eating rather than screaming in agony and convulsing on the floor it has helped.” His expression sobered and he knelt beside Imalia. “Kadria is sending someone to finish your route so you don’t have to worry about that.”

“Thank goodness,” Imalia said. “I’m glad she found someone. I was worried.”

“Of course she did,” he said. “But unfortunately she can’t spare anyone here to deal with the injury you were treating .”

“I suppose not,” Imalia said. “It’s not life-threatening.” She frowned. “Has Kadria told Tarin?”

The little girl, who was still clinging to her, suddenly burst into tears and Vessin looked grim. Alidra’s stomach flipped again as she remembered the relief in the girl’s voice when she’d seen Imalia wasn’t dead.

Imalia went very still. “W-what happened?”

“I’d hoped to wait until you were stronger,” Vessin said. “We don’t know exactly, but he’d finished his mission this afternoon when a freak storm blew in.” He trailed off. “After it cleared the farmers found him dead in the fields. I’m so sorry.”

Imalia made a broken sort of noise and Tamasa barely grabbed the bowl from her hand before she collapsed on to her side and curled into a fetal position, sobbing.

Tamasa put the bowl to one side and gently hugged her.

“I’m so sorry,” she said.

Imalia continued weeping quietly.

Tamasa squeezed her hand. “I know it hurts but you have someone to live for, Imalia.” She nodded to where her daughter was still clinging to her. “She needs you.”

“Stay with me mummy!” The little girl sobbed.

“Dear heart!” Imalia hugged her “You’re wonderful. I’m so blessed to have you. I miss your father but I’m not going anywhere.”

“I miss daddy too,” she replied. “But he’d want you to stay with me.”

“Lilat says that you’ve probably burned through your magic permanently,” Vessin said. “Why don’t you and Kilit come and stay with me in Fasrat? At least until you are feeling better. Even magicless there’s still plenty you can do in the family business.”

“I think I’ll do that, Vess,” Imalia said. “If Kadria will permit it anyway. I want to be as far from Keralyn and its messy politics as possible – at least until my soul stops hurting quite so much with its losses. Being in the mage city would pour vinegar on my wounds.”

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One Response to “Lawgiver’s Blade: Chapter Three Part Four”

  1. torvawk says:

    Becka,

    A plague, failed crops, and a freak storm that kills one with power? Not to mention the plague has a weird effect on those that are doing the healing, that glowing. It sounds to me that it is a lot more than just bad luck. 😛 It seems wide spread and designed to target those with power to address them. I feel you are on the verge of letting me in finally on some of the plots you have brewing under the covers.

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