Zerik lay on the floor, his body still, seemingly lifeless. Soliyah couldn’t believe she was seeing him in such a way again. She knelt to his side and pushed him onto his back. Her mind flashed back to the experience in Terim. She swore she could see blood spurting from his neck, his eyes opened wide with fear. She immediately felt panicked. Her heart began racing, her breath became shallow.
“Delig?” A deep and booming voice yelled out and brought Soliyah back to the present moment. The blood was gone. Zerik’s eyes were closed. He looked peaceful, but Soliyah was still afraid he was dead. Several voices began calling both Delig’s and Rivelle’s names.
“Zerik!” She called to him as she felt his chest for breath and a heartbeat. With all the yelling and commotion, it was impossible to feel or hear. She wanted to yell for everyone to shut up but knew there was no point. Instead, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. In and out. In. Out…. And there! There it was. Soft, and slow. Or was that her own heartbeat? She winced, trying to quiet her surroundings.
“Sol,” his voice penetrated her mind. “Soliyah.” She felt a sudden and strong sense of relief. She almost laughed as the fear she held onto finally released tears on her face.
“Zerik!” She laughed out his name.
“Sol…” She felt a sudden push against her shoulder and fell back from Zerik’s body. She opened her eyes. Someone must have knocked her down, as there were several rushing from one end of the platform to the other and all over. She looked back at Zerik, relieved he was alive. But what about the girl, she wondered.
She crawled over to Rivelle’s body, pushing strangers aside, and lay a hand on her chest. A few voices spoke out with concern, but others hoped she could save her. They must think I’m a healer, Soliyah realized. She looked at Delig, still lying on the floor next to her. His chest was clearly moving up and down. He was alive. She closed her eyes and tried to quiet the room and listen for signs of life, but it was too loud. She was too distracted and couldn’t hear a thing. She was afraid it meant Rivelle was lost, but she couldn’t be sure. She opened her eyes and looked at Delig once more. He was coming to, his head slowly shaking from one side to the other. The woman next to him was trying to help him sit up. Once he gathered himself, he looked over to Rivelle, then to Soliyah. Their eyes met and he was clearly begging her to tell him she was alive.
“Everyone quiet!” She suddenly yelled and the room fell silent. She nodded to Delig, closed her eyes, and pushed her hand on Rivelle’s chest a little harder. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Nothing. Again. As the last of the breath left her body, she thought she heard a faint noise, but it was gone as quickly as it came. She took yet another deep breath and waited. So faint, she realized, but there it was Rivelle’s heartbeat. Her eyes popped open and she smiled and nodded to Delig. Comprehending her message, his face relaxed in relief as tears streamed down his face. He crawled over and brought his forehead to touch Rivelles. Soliyah sighed in relief and removed her hand from Rivelle's chest. She was elated that she didn’t have to tell him his daughter had died. She looked around the room and saw everyone still watching.
“She’s alive,” she finally told them and shouts of relief, celebration, and joy filled the room. She moved over to Delig's side. “We need to get them to a safe and quiet area.” Delig nodded and moved to pull himself up.
“You take Rivelle, I’ll take your friend.” He stood and moved to lift Zerik over his shoulder.
“Delig! Delig!” A voice called from not far off. “Where are you taking them?” But Delig ignored everyone and everything as he made for the front door.
“Delig! Is there no back door?” Soliyah asked him as she moved to stand. He nodded.
“Follow me!” He shifted Zerik on his shoulder and moved to go, his face turning red with the effort. Soliyah leaned over and placed one arm under Rivelle’s neck, the other under her knees, and stood. Despite her height, she was as light as a feather. She was grateful as she turned to follow Delig out. They walked through a short hall and turned right, and Delig kicked through a door into the sunlight. Luckily, no one was around.
”Delig!” A voice called out from behind Soliyah. She turned to see a small man running after them. When the sun hit Soliyah’s face, he was right behind her. “Delig!” Delig turned to the voice. “Take them to my home.” Delig nodded and turned. Without a question or word, Soliyah followed.
Zerik and Rivelle were lying on their backs on a stone table, not a part of one touching the other. Delig leaned up against the wall, the red in his face finally dissipating as he caught his breath. Soliyah watched Rivelle and Zerik. They looked so peaceful. But why wouldn’t they wake? She took Zerik’s hand and squeezed it. Nothing. The small man whose home they were in appeared from another room, holding a small bowl in his hand.
“Permit me to try and wake them?”
“Who are you?” Soliyah asked him.
“Vedra, this is Conly. He’s our town’s herbalist.”
“A healer?” She’d never heard of an herbalist before. Delig shrugged and Conly huffed.
“Personally, I don’t like that term, but I can’t deny it’s been used to describe me from time to time.”
“Do you know what’s happened to them?” Delig asked. He shook his head, no.
“I’ve never witnessed anything like it before. It was…uhhh… quite remarkable.”
“Not from this world,” Delig added. “Like magic.” Soliyah shook her head, no.
“I’ve not seen magic like that,” she said and immediately regretted it.
“You’ve seen magic then?” Delig looked at her, hoping for an answer. She hesitated. What could she say? Her mind was racing when a sudden whimper broke the silence. They all looked down at Rivelle and Zerik, but both were still. Had one of them even made the noise? Conly moved to speak but the noise could be heard again, and this time, they saw Rivelle’s face twitch.
”Rivelle?” Delig moved to her side. He rested a hand on her forehead. “Daughter? Can you hear me?” Her eyes seemed to flutter beneath her eyelids but didn’t open. She whimpered once more, as though in pain. Delig looked at Conly. “What is it, Conly? Can you help her?”
“I may have something.” He moved quickly, placing the small bowl on a small table to the side of the room.
“How can you help them if you don’t know what ails them?” Soliyah asked as he rummaged through different drawers atop the table. Clearly, he was looking for something. He grunted in frustration as he opened and closed each drawer.
“Ah,” he sighed. “Here it is.” He pulled the drawer out completely and shoved the tips of his fingers and thumb inside. He sprinkled some sort of herb into the bowl, put the drawer back in place, and poured a little water from a pitcher nearby. He began pressing the herbs in the water with a strange tool that looked like a rounded stick when he looked to Soliyah.
“I’ve used this herb before, to wake someone from unwanted sleep.”
“Unwanted sleep?” She asked, confused. He nodded.
“After a collapse. Whether from exhaustion or illness.”
“Does it work?”
“Sometimes,” he admitted.
“It’s harmless though,” Conly assured her. “It can’t hurt them.” He finished pressing the herbs into the water and placed the bowl on the table again. He grabbed a couple of cloths from a drawer beneath the table, folded them, and began pouring the liquid from the bowl onto them. Once damp enough, he placed one on Rivelle’s forehead, and the other on Zerik’s. Soliyah watched Zerik for a reaction, but nothing changed. “I’m not certain it will help,” Conly explained. “But it won’t hurt.” Delig nodded. They continued watching them, hoping for them to wake.
An hour passed, most in silence and neither of them woke. Soliyah intermittently attempted to reach out to Zerik, but she could neither hear nor feel him. She reached out and touched him, hoping it might help. She walked over and took his hand in hers. It was cold. She held it in both of her hands and closed her eyes.
”Zerik?” Silence. She sighed and took a deep breath. “Please Zerik. Answer me.” Stillness. Silence. She suddenly felt very alone. His presence couldn’t be felt at all, and it scared her. She knew he wasn’t dead, but why couldn’t she feel or hear him?
More time passed and Rhiella came to see Rivelle and Delig. Upon entering, she broke into tears and fell into Delig’s arms. Delig had to comfort her, hold her, wipe her tears, and assure her their daughter would be okay. Soliyah watched and secretly wished someone would come and comfort her. But no one would.
By nightfall, Conly brought them blankets and offered to let them stay the night. There weren’t any beds, but they could sleep on the floor. They took the blankets and thanked him. He changed the cloth on their foreheads for the third or fourth time, even though it didn’t seem to be making a difference.
“I’ll go see about food,” he told them once finished, and left them alone again. He returned several minutes later with a plate of food to share. They thanked him and he nodded. He stayed with them for a little while after that but then retired for the evening. Soliyah and Delig simply sat in silence, watching Rivelle and Zerik lie still. Soliyah had to admit, she was bored, but her anxiety wouldn’t let her leave.
“Might as well get some rest,” Delig interrupted her thoughts. He rose from his seat and spread the blanket on the floor next to the table upon which Rivelle lay. He grunted and groaned as he got to his knees. Before lying down, he took Rivelle’s hand in his own and kissed it. “Rest and heal,” he whispered. Then he lay down and closed his eyes. Soliyah watched as he tossed and turned for the first little while, but recognized sleep as it took over him. Soliyah tried to stay awake, hoping it would somehow encourage Zerik to wake also, but when her eyes began to burn, she decided it was time to sleep.
She awoke to light shuffling noises and immediately sat up, hoping to find Zerik awake and walking. She looked up to his table and saw him in the same position she’d left him in, his eyes closed. Sighing in frustration and disappointment, she slowly stood.
“Sleep well?” Delig asked a tinge of laughter in his voice. Soliyah gave a small laugh in response. He was already seated at Rivelle’s side, holding her hand. She noticed his blanket was covering Rivelle up to the middle of her chest. “She felt cold. Thought the blanket might help,” he explained. Soliyah nodded and felt Zerik’s hand, also cold. She spread her blanket over him and then stretched out her neck and sat at Zerik’s side. “What awful luck,” Delig huffed. She looked at him and he motioned to Zerik. “You and your friend,” he clarified.
”I don’t think your daughter’s fared any better.”
“Perhaps not,” he sighed. “But you two were just passing through, weren’t you?” Soliyah nodded, hoping he wouldn’t ask too many questions. To her surprise, he started crying. “I’m so sorry,” he muttered. “I don’t know what’s happened.” He covered his eyes with his hand. “I don’t know what’s happening to my daughter, and now she’s…” He sobbed.
“I’m sure this isn’t your daughter's doing,” Soliyah tried to assure him. “At least, not intentionally.” Delig sniffed and wiped his hand down his face, gripped his beard for a few seconds, then let it fall. “She seems kind.” She paused. “You have a lovely family.”
“Thank you.” She looked back at Zerik, wishing she could communicate with him. She didn’t really feel like talking out loud. “Have you no family?” She winced internally and took a deep breath. He wanted to talk, to get to know one another. Was there any way to avoid it, she wondered. She sighed as she thought of Tryte. It had been four years since she’d last seen him. Was he even alive? “Are they waiting for you?” Delig interrupted her thoughts and they shifted to Zayver. Her heart grew heavy as she remembered him and pictured his smiling face. Without realizing it, she smiled and gave a small laugh. “Vedra?” She sighed again and looked back at Zerik.
“He’s my family now,” she finally answered.
Rhiella arrived sometime later with food. Soliyah ate in silence as Delig and Rhiella shared a whispered conversation. She could feel Rhiella looking at her from time to time but chose to ignore it.
At midday, Conly came and brought three strangers with him, a woman and two men. He ushered them in and then stood at the back of the room. The woman was the same who’d encouraged Rivelle to touch Zerik. Her dark hair was tied back and she wore a cloak with some sort of embroidery on the shoulders. She looked official. Likely a member of the town counsel, if not the Keeper. She looked severe, but not angry. The two men beside her were short and stocky, built like boulders, immovable. It looked as though they were the woman’s enforcers. They both nodded to Delig, then looked at Soliyah.
“Come with us please,” the woman said. Soliyah looked at Delig who kept his eyes downward, then back to the woman.
“Where to?”
“All will be explained,” she answered. The hair on Soliyah’s arms and neck stood as one of the men moved to go around Delig and Zerik. Something felt wrong. She shook her head, no.
“I’d rather stay, thank you,” and she turned back to Zerik, pretending to ignore them. She stole a quick glance at Delig who’s head remained cast down, but his eyes were moving between her and the woman.
“I’m afraid you don’t have a choice.” Her voice was calm but stern. Soliyah surmised it was likely very effective on many, especially youngers. She looked at the woman.
“I’m afraid it is you who are mistaken. I do have a choice, and I choose to stay here.” The stocky man next to the woman moved toward Soliyah, but the woman put her hand in front of him to stop him. The other kept slowly creeping toward her from the other side. Soliyah looked at him, met his eyes, and smirked, daring him to try anything.
“There’s no need for a scene,” the woman said. “We simply wish to speak with you privately.” Soliyah lowered her feet to the floor and could feel the energy readying to fight within her, despite her exhaustion. She knew she could draw her dagger quickly enough to slit the man's throat before he even reached her.
“As I said, I’ll not be leaving Zerik’s side,” Soliyah started and suddenly, out of the corner of her eye, she saw the man beside the woman lunged at her. Despite having been focused on the other, Soliyah met his attack with ease. She sidestepped him and brought her left fist to his nose. She could feel the break before he even yelled out. Quickly, she grabbed his shoulder and spun him around as he fell to his knees and brought his hands to his nose. Her dagger released into her right hand and she held it against his throat. “Don’t move,” she ordered him. His eyes widened and he froze.
“Heed your own words,” the woman advised and Soliyah looked up at her.
“I’ll slit his throat,” she threatened, but the woman sighed and motioned toward Zerik. Confused, Soliyah looked over to see the other man holding a blade to Zerik’s throat. How could Soliyah not have seen that’s what he was readying to do? She’d simply thought they were going to attack her. She sighed, feeling foolish.
“As Keeper of Kolrest, it is my duty to keep our community safe.” She stepped closer to Soliyah. “By any means necessary.”
“I’m no threat,” Soliyah told her.
“Says the woman holding a knife to one of my protectors.”
“Protector? He attacked me!”
“You refused to cooperate.”
“You’re holding a blade to my friend's throat!” Soliyah yelled and held the blade tighter against the man's neck. She could feel the fear and discomfort emanating from his body in sweat. “Release your man or I’ll be forced to kill this one.”
“You’re not the one in control here,” the woman responded, still in her calm, quiet, and severe voice. “I’ll release your friend when you agree to come with us.” The man holding the knife to Zerik’s throat shuffled to center his balance, awaiting the order to kill. Soliyah looked at Zerik’s still-sleeping face.
”Wake up!” She screamed in her mind.
“Don’t do anything foolish,” the woman interrupted her thoughts.
“Zerik!” She closed her eyes, hoping to hear some sort of response, but nothing came.
“Come now, and blood need not be spilled.” She moved to stand right in front of Soliyah. “We only wish to speak with you.” Soliyah took a deep breath and tried to think of a way out, but she was trapped. She didn’t believe the woman would order the man to kill Zerik, but she couldn’t be certain. She looked over to Conly who was cowering in a corner, clearly afraid for his life. Delig was no longer looking at the ground, but looking right at her, a plea for peace in his eyes. She looked once more at Zerik. He hadn’t moved at all. Clearly, he wasn’t aware in any way, or he would have risen to help. She was and felt utterly alone. She slowly lowered the blade from the man’s neck and raised her hands. The other man came from behind and took her by the arm and took her dagger. The woman nodded but didn’t smile. “Thank you,” she sighed. She turned to Conly. “See to Borav’s nose and then send him back to counsel,” she ordered and Conly nodded. “We’ll send another to come and keep watch over the stranger.” She turned back to Soliyah and the man holding her by the arm. “Let’s go.” Whatever energy Soliyah had left suddenly abandoned her body as she felt herself being dragged from the room, watching Zerik’s still face.
“Zerik?” She called out in her mind. “Please wake up.”
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Ⓒ April 2023. Beki Lantos. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, or transmitted in any form by any means without prior written permission of the author.