Freyja's Fire - Chapter 18 - A'mara Books

18

(Wirnday, cont.)

Erion Sands

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Still naked, Kolt accompanied Gemina into the tent where his brother lay unconscious.

Kolt instantly knelt beside the man and kissed his brow. His hand gently smoothed the hair of the paler man. He spoke some quiet words that Gemina didn’t understand.

Watching him, she suddenly realized their amulets weren’t just matching, they were identical. Whatever had bonded them together had been fundamental to their very beings.

Kolt suddenly stood again, giving Gemina no time to avoid seeing what had been hidden behind the bed. “My brother lives, but his life hangs in a delicate balance. We need more treatment for him or he will still die.”

Gemina felt concerned. “That’s why the doctor was trying to get into contact with our best healer. Stella can heal almost anything.”

“And he could not speak to this healer? Then we must go to her,” Kolt said, determined.

“How can you be strong enough to travel already? You were so sick!”

He came closer to her. “Because I was determined to be healed,” Kolt replied. “Which reminds me...”

He lifted her mask, then lowered his head and met Gemina’s lips with his.

Surprised, but entranced, she kissed him back, conscious of not getting too close to his naked body.

“I promised to kiss you when I got stronger,” he explained as he pulled away and replaced her mask. “Thank you for helping me heal.”

Gemina nodded, unsure what to say. Her lips still tingled from his touch – a touch which made her wish they were the only two people around – and with nothing like a plague to worry about.

“So, where is this Stella?” he asked gently, looking into her eyes, his dark violet eyes drawing her into an infinity that she didn’t understand.

“She’s on a quest into the Fire Swamps,” Gemina said. “I’ve never been there.”

“Is there anyone here familiar with these Fire Swamps?”

“Most of that group are sick – or have left Erion. Adrick, however...”

“Let’s go speak with this Adrick then,” Kolt suggested.

“Can we find you some clothing first?”

“While my brother’s life hangs in the balance?” he asked. “How does my body offend you?”

“It doesn’t!” she protested. “But we have been taught to keep our bodies to ourselves – particularly the, uh, sexual bits.”

He shrugged. “Help me make a loincloth then. But tell me when I can be naked again. Clothing feels so restrictive!”

“I will,” Gemina promised. “Tell me what we need.”

“A rope and a long piece of cloth.”

Gemina found an old piece of sheet, torn for use as bandaging. The widest piece met with Kolt’s approval. She found a piece of cord which she handed to him. Intrigued, she watched, almost forgetting he was still naked. He tied the cord low around his waist, then he took the piece of sheet from her. Slung between his legs, each end came up and over the cord. He left a good amount hanging in front and behind. She could almost forget that she knew exactly what he covered up. Almost.

She felt her cheeks reddening again.

“It doesn’t embarrass me, why should it embarrass you?” Kolt asked, lifting her mask and pressing his lips to hers again. “Thank you for everything.”

“Do you always thank people like this?” she asked.

“Not always, just one who nurses me back to health.”

She felt her blush deepen. “Let’s go find Adrick,” she suggested before he continued with his thoughts – or kisses.

Thankfully, it wasn’t too hard to find Adrick. “Do you know where to find Stella?” Gemina asked as they reached him.

Adrick’s mouth hung open. He shook his head. “The Fire Swamps is all I know – probably where we found her friends before. You can’t be serious about going there!”

“Kolt’s brother will die without Stella!” Gemina protested.

“I can’t go with you. I can’t even send any guards with you or anything!”

“I will be with her. I grew up in the Çtara rainforest. I can protect her from anything,” Kolt promised.

When Adrick looked baffled, Gemina translated. “Sister Naemi says Old Çtara is like Old Velantian.”

Doc and Sister Naemi joined them and the situation was explained again as they patiently listened.

“What do you know of this illness?” Doc asked Kolt.

“I am no healer,” Kolt explained. “But I know what my brother’s soul told me. He will die without Stella’s medicine.”

Doc frowned. Sister Naemi was quiet with thought. Gemina wondered what would happen next. Who would win the stalemate? She was equally fearful and excited about the idea of traveling into the Fire Swamps with Kolt.

“We have other medicines we can try still,” Doc replied. “I have only given the cheapest one. We have two others that work for some of the more stubborn cases – if they don’t trick me again, that is...”

“But you said that something was wrong with this one. That’s why you tried to contact Stella,” Gemina said, remembering the strange device with writing on it. “So, maybe we need something different.”

“How much time do we have?” Sister Naemi asked Doc.

“If the medicine works, the patient should begin to recover within hours. If it doesn’t, then the patient lingers maybe two or three days,” Doc replied. “How long does it take to ride to the Fire Swamps?”

“Three days,” Adrick replied.

“Too long! Everything is too long!”

“But we know this disease spreads like wildfire,” Deby said as she joined them. “Three days may be too long for the sailors, but it could save the guards.”

“Is Gemina a good rider?” Sister Naemi asked.

“Very,” Adrick replied. “We all learned from toddlers. And Gemina can get fresh horses along the main road. It won’t help once they’re in the Fire Swamps though.”

“I will get travel packs made up,” Sister Naemi committed, then left the tent before any word of thanks could be given.

“I’m not happy with this, Gemina. But I see no better option. Kolt, I am trusting you with my cousin’s life. You will return her in good health!” Adrick charged.

“On my life I will do this,” Kolt promised. “We will leave as soon as we have mounts.”

“You will let Sister Naemi put travel packs on the horses first. You will need food and a way to sleep halfway comfortably,” Adrick said.

Only a few minutes passed until the horses stood outside the tent, with Sister Naemi securing the packs to the mares.

Then, Adrick gave Gemina a boost into the saddle of the chestnut.

Kolt went up to the palomino and started taking things off the horse. The comfortable cushion for his rollmat was left on the ground along with the tent and the saddle itself. He left the harness on the horse and lightly filled the panniers with the food rations from both horses. His rollmat went on the horse between the panniers. Then he mounted the horse with ease, using his knees to grip gently.

Adrick shook his head with surprise.

“We will travel faster if the horses aren’t carrying unnecessary weight,” Kolt replied. “Ready, Gemina?” he asked.

She nodded.

Aurelia burst out at that moment. “Gemina! Adrick, tell her she can’t go!”

“I must, Aurelia! Lives are at stake,” Gemina answered her cousin.

“I have approved it,” Adrick informed. “We have to do something until supplies can arrive from Castel Velantia.”

“Be safe, Gemina!” Aurelia cried, giving her cousin a pat.

“And you keep helping Sister. We are both needed for our different tasks.”

Aurelia nodded.

“We must get going,” Kolt intruded.

Gemina nodded to him, feeling the tears trying to spill from her eyes. She had never gone anywhere without her brother and cousin before!

Kolt grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “Let’s go. We ride at a jog unless otherwise stated,” he said as they moved out.