Lisle and Healer Deloren stood in Gareth’s small room where he sat on the side of his cot, looking back and forth between them. Lisle could hardly stand still. She clasped her hands behind her and tried to settle herself down. Deloren was going to teach her the healing technique that she did with her hands. Lisle had seen Deloren use this healing method a number of times and was thrilled to be learning it now.

Her thoughts tumbled over each other in her excitement.  As Ell’s Hand, Lisle would need healing skills to aid those who needed her. She would be like Healer Deloren. Not only that, but as Ell’s Voice, she was learning all that Bryllint could teach her about the Book of One and the history of Gaea and the Guardians. It was all so exciting! Happiness bubbled up inside and Lisle started to bounce up and down on her toes.

Deloren looked at her, her lips curving upward and dimples appearing in her cheeks. Then she turned her attention to Gareth. “Gareth, thank you for agreeing to help with Lisle’s initiation.”

Gareth’s smiled in response. A smile which widened considerably when his attention was caught by the movement of Lisle’s anticipatory bouncing.

“Gareth?” Deloren drew his eyes back to her own. “Remember how I held my hands over your leg and it felt warm?” Deloren demonstrated by holding her hands, palms down, just above his leg.

“I remember. Eased the pain. Made all the difference.”

“Just so. The body utilizes the energy according to it’s need.” Deloren turned to Lisle. “Lisle please hold out your hands, palms up.”

Lisle managed to stop bouncing and did so, looking up at Deloren to see what she would do next. Deloren took several deep breaths. Lisle could feel the stillness that radiated from Deloren. Without conscious intention, Lisle mirrored her and took several deep, calming breaths.

Deloren’s smooth alto filled the room around them. “Thank you my One, for the Blessing of Healing given long ago. Thank you now, for bestowing this Blessing upon your daughter, Lisle, that she may serve as healer for those in need.” Then Deloren lifted a hand and drew a circular pattern with her first finger in the air before her. She made the same motions again, drawing the circles on the palms of each of her own hands. When she was complete, she gently took hold of Lisle’s hands one at a time, and drew the pattern with her finger in the same manner on Lisle’s palms.

Deloren released Lisle’s hands and looked into her eyes. Lisle felt like she dove into a vast lake of sapphirine blue as Deloren’s eyes enfolded her in a loving embrace. Mesmerized Lisle didn’t respond when Deloren instructed her to place her hands in the air just above Gareth’s leg.

Deloren’s lips twitched, and she repeated her instruction. Lisle looked at Gareth shyly, then ducked her head and held her hands above his leg.

“Gareth, would you show Lisle the location of the wound on your leg?”

Gareth pointed to his thigh and Lisle moved her hands over the area he indicated. As she did so, Deloren placed her own hands above Lisle’s, just barely touching the backs of Lisle’s hands. The healer stood quietly, eyes closed. Lisle closed her eyes in response and wondered what would happen. Would she feel anything?  Her question was soon answered as she felt Deloren’s hands rapidly heat up. Lisle could feel her own hands tingling and pulsing with warmth. Deloren moved her hands away. Lisle felt increasing heat now radiate from her own palms. Her hands felt burning hot. Could that be right?

She opened her eyes and looked to Deloren for assurance, even as Lisle still held her hands in position above Gareth’s leg. Deloren smiled and nodded assent.

“That’s warm,” said Gareth. “as warm as Deloren does it, Lisle.”

Lisle looked at her hands, expecting to see them reddened and burned. But they looked perfectly normal, despite the fiery heat that radiated from them.

“The channel is open Lisle, and you can do this on your own now. Practice as often as you can, on yourself and others.”

“C…can I d…d…do this for Ell?”

“Yes, it will be very good for her. And once you and Ell have undergone the Ritual of the One, you will be able to channel this healing energy even more strongly through her, as her Hand.”

Lisle felt the heat leave her hands and she dropped them to her sides and moved away from Gareth.

Gareth looked back and forth between Deloren and Lisle, “Is that all I get today?”

Deloren chuckled, “Now you’re just being greedy. I’ve seen you traipsing all over the tunnels without even a stick for support. You hardly need healing energy anymore.”

Gareth grinned and winked at her. Then he groaned and grabbed at his leg. “Oh, the pain! Ow, it’s terrible!”

“Get on with you.” Deloren cuffed him on the shoulder. “Come on Lisle, we’ve real injuries to attend to.”

“Ta!” Said Gareth to their retreating backs.

Out in the tunnelway Lisle turned to Deloren. “W…we do?”

“No, but we can’t let him think he’s our only one, now can we? Besides we’ve gathering to do.”

“G….gathering!” Lisle skipped ahead down the tunnel to get her pack and waved at her teacher as Deloren took a different turn to pick up her gathering supplies.

“Meet you at the Mouth,” said Deloren.

Having grabbed her pack and a warm outer layer, Lisle raced out the tunnelway and waited at the entrance leading to Guardian Cavern for Healer Deloren. She shivered as the early morning chill seeped through even the outer layer she had pulled on, and gazed out over the mountainside, out to the horizon, way off in the misty distance. Lisle felt her gut tingling in a happy way. This morning is filled with wonderful things, she thought, as she took a deep breath of the fresh morning air. First the initiation and now we’re to hunt medicinal herbs for making a healing balm for Ell. Deloren told her yesterday that dragon skin required the healing herbs that grew in the grey stone outcroppings surrounding the base of Guardian Mountain. It was best to harvest the herbs in the early morning. That’s where they were going now.

Lisle clasped her arms, slapping her hands against her upper arms, and walked from one side of the tunnel and back again. A fall chill was in the air this morning, marking the time for the Ritual of the One almost upon them. She felt her stomach give a lurch. She had so much to learn and so little time to learn it.

Deloren sauntered along the tunnel toward her, a smile playing about her lips. “Ready Lisle?”

Her calm, friendly manner put Lisle right at ease, and she skipped up to Deloren, abandoning worry. As they walked out together into the early morning mist, Lisle saw the sun, a flat, white disk that would soon burn off the mists leaving the day so bright she’d need the hat she had stuffed into her pack.  As she skipped along beside Deloren, Lisle’s thoughts ranged ahead to where they would gather the herbs. Then they would take them back to the kitchen to make into balm for Ell. Perhaps Terris would have something nice for them to munch on while they worked.

A familiar, loud buzzing caught her attention and she looked at her shoulder knowing she would see Moss settling onto her accustomed seat atop her pack.

“D..Day of the One M…Moss.”  

Moss reached up an arm, burnished spring bright green by the strengthening sun and patted Lisle’s neck.

“Thank you for joining us Moss. You’ve a sharp eye for the herbs and we’ll welcome your help,” said Deloren.

Moss chittered in response, her sharp-chinned face looking forward eagerly.

They settled into a rhythm, hiking down the stony mountain path and Lisle’s mind filled with thoughts about healing herbs, and making them into poultices, balms and teas. She thought about how she was now initiated into energy healing and how she could help Ell and others who might need her. A new feeling arose within her. It started slowly in her heart, a gradual expansion and a growing excitement. Maybe she was more than she had been. Maybe she was someone who could make a difference.

The gloom of the stone-walled space in which Gareth lay, suited him. He was deep inside Guardian Mountain, the twists and turns of the tunnels leading to this small cave were confused in his mind. He had no idea how he would get out. That is, if he had any desire to get out, which he didn’t. His only desire was to lie here and suffer. He deserved it. He was a failure as a protector. The only thing he had ever really cared about in his life and he had failed miserably. He turned his face toward the wall and saw only grey stone, flecked with black. Perfect, he thought.
​
Gareth heard scuffing footsteps enter through the cave opening at his back. He recognized the light steps as the Healer Deoren, who visited each day to change the wraps on Gareth’s leg and tend his wound. Gareth knew his leg wasn’t healing as it should. He heard the inhalations of distress and softly voiced exclamations as Deoren unwrapped his leg, inadvertently jostling the painful appendage and causing him excruciating pain. Gareth gritted his teeth and bore through it.  

He didn’t know what the healer looked like. He never turned over or engaged her in any way. He listlessly tolerated her ministrations and waited for her to go away. But he couldn’t avoid her voice, low, melodious and calming. Deoren chatted as she worked. Over the days she had told Gareth all about Guardian Mountain, and how it was honeycombed with openings small and large, housing the Guardian’s Contracteds, as well as an enormous community of Flier Folk. She waxed eloquent about her own Guardian, Del, going on and on about how beautiful, wise and brave he was. She more than once made the point that Gareth should get well so he could get up and view the wonders of Guardian Mountain for himself.

The chatter only served to drive Gareth deeper within himself. He didn’t want to hear about the other’s in Guardian Mountain. He didn’t care about the wonders of the light- filled spaces . He especially didn’t want to hear about her brave Guardian. They all deserved to be here. He didn’t, lying abed, wounded even before the fighting began.

His mind looped back over familiar, painful territory. Three times Ell was in terrible danger, three times it was Terris or Moss who saved her. How was that even possible? Tiny Moss? And how about Terris? When Gareth first met Terris he was a cowardly, greedy little man, hoarding food like a tree climber. Then he changed. Gareth had to admit to himself that Terris had changed. So much so that Gareth considered him to be a friend, a man Gareth respected and trusted. Terris has done better protecting Ell than I have. I’d choose him at my back any day.

A dark, provoking voice insinuated itself into his thoughts, slithering and cold. Would Terris choose you to guard his back? Would Lisle? How about Ell or Moss? Why would they? You’d just get yourself shot and be useless to them. You are pathetic, a useless worm of a man.  

The voice chilled him to the bone, and a feeling of horror shuddered through Gareth’s body. The inner voice had a creeping quality, entwining itself into his awareness so cleverly that Gareth never suspected the thoughts were not his own.

Mind wandering, Gareth remembered his childhood and growing into a young man. He had never had reason to question his abilities. He led and others followed. That’s just the way it was for him. As a boy, the other children looked up to him. They sought to earn his friendship and respect. He had never questioned the fact that he didn’t have to earn their respect. It came naturally.  

But not anymore, said the voice, turning his attention away from the memories of self-respect as if they had never happened.

No, thought Gareth. Not anymore. How can I face Terris or worse, Lisle or Ell, even Moss? What must they think of me, always wounded, useless? I am pathetic.

It’s that Guardian’s fault. She thinks she’s so special. She’s not.

The idea stunned Gareth. It appealed to him, even as his logical mind objected. Maybe it was the Guardian’s fault, he thought. He’d never have been shot if not for her. He’d have been sitting in a tavern with Lur, enjoying himself. Then he’d never have felt this pain.

It’s her fault. She’s to blame.

Yes, thought Gareth. It’s her fault. Anger sparked, burning away at the grey folds of depression wrapped about him.

The following day, Healer Deoren found Gareth in the same position she always found him in, lying on his side, back to the door, staring at the greystone wall. He had been withdrawn and sullen ever since they brought him in. She unwrapped Gareth’s leg, noting the sudden grimace of pain on his face. He surprised her by turning his head and staring at her, dark eyes hard. He said nothing, his eyes piercing her.
 
Deoren didn’t like the looks of those eyes and she didn’t like the looks of Gareth’s leg. The area around the wound was hot and reddened, swollen, obviously painful. The wound itself oozed a yellowish fluid, the edges white, un-healing. No, she didn’t like the looks of this at all. Deoren looked back at Gareth’s face. The man still stared at her. Unnerved, Deoren checked her own inner responses, an integral part of her healing practice. She felt a creeping sensation, something revolting spreading within him. It felt like infection, but none she’d ever encountered before. It worried her considerably.

She rewrapped Gareth’s leg with fresh herbs and bandaging, her increasing anxiety driving her to work as quickly as she could. She didn’t want to be there any longer than she had to. There was something wrong here and she needed to find out what.  She left Gareth’s bedside deeply concerned for the young man. What was preventing him from healing? What was that awful creeping sensation she felt inside him?

Deoren looked up and noted gratefully, the carefully tended lanterns hanging at regular intervals along the passageway deep with Guardian Mountain. The light reflected back from the walls in countless tiny sparkles. So beautiful, she thought, then shook her head and sighed deeply as her thoughts strayed back to the angry, young man she’d just left. Dispiritedly, she traced the long, familiar route to the Cavern. There, she would immerse herself in the loving wisdom of her Guardian, Del. Maybe together they could find an answer.

Lisle, and the kind woman she now knew as Healer Delorin, made their way down the mountain path accompanied by a clatter of flyer folk in the air above them. The thought crossed Lisle’s mind that clatter was exactly the right name for the whirring, noisy flock hovering overhead. She glanced over at Delorin, glad for the healer’s solid bulk between herself and the sheer drop-off where the edge of the path met nothing but sky. She had had enough of that view on the way up, and her legs were shaky from her exertions both physical and emotional over the past several hours. As her mind returned to what lay ahead, her gut constricted painfully and her breath caught in her throat. Worry over her companions, especially Ell, turned into a monologue of ‘what if’s’ in her mind.

Half-sliding down the gravelly path, stones rasping underfoot creating miniature rock slides, they arrived back with Lisle's companions. Lisle skidded to Ell’s side as the whispering cloud of flyers above them, divided, the majority streaking to Ell, and others continuing to Terris who slumped beside the Guardian.

Lisle was relieved to see that Ell was awake. She lay prone upon the path, in the same position as when they’d left, but her eyes were open now. Her wounds oozing a sluggish, deep crimson.

Delorin quickly checked Ell, Terris and then Gareth, before returning to Ell. When Ell lifted her head weakly and looked at Delorin, then looked pointedly at Terris, Delorin admonished her. “They’ll do for now. You’re the one in need.” Ell subsided with a deep groan and laid her head back down.

Several of the flyer folk alighted on Gareth’s injured leg. “Tend to Ell and Terris you,” and he tried to wave them away. They lifted off, hovering briefly, then landed again. He dropped his hand limply and looked away, the corners of his mouth tilting down and a crease deepening between his brows.

With Ell and Terris in many good hands, large and small, Lisle sank down beside Gareth. She stared at the arrow protruding from his leg, wincing at the pain she knew it caused him, and thought that she really should do something about it. Glancing up at his face she saw that his cheeks burned red even as the rest of his face was pale and sweaty. He held his face turned away, lips pressed tightly in a hard, straight line and eyes staring intensely at the ground. Lisle felt a wave of emotion emanating from him, but was sure she was mistaken. What does he have to be ashamed of? 

Nervous now, afraid of the pain she would cause him, she reached with trembling hands for the shaft of the arrow.

“I’ll take care of that Young One,” said Delorin looking over her shoulder at Lisle. “Just make him comfortable and I’ll be there shortly.”

“I’m alright, Lisle. Stop fussing,” said Gareth, looking at her with hard eyes.

“I’m n…not f…f…fussing,” said Lisle, stung by the anger she felt beneath his words. She dropped her hands and scrambled up and away from him. “Can I h...h...help it if y…you always end up looking like a q…q…quill climber?”

Gareth jerked his face away, his cheeks staining a deeper red, and was silent.

Lisle looked at him, lips pursed in frustration, then she shrugged. If he didn’t want help, she wouldn’t give it to him. She’d tend to Ell and Terris. As she moved down the path toward her Guardian a small contingent of three flyers supporting a fourth, injured flyer between them, landed gently beside Ell.

“Moss!” Lisle was elated to see her friend and relieved to have something else to think about besides Gareth. She stepped quickly over to the little group and knelt down. Moss pushed herself upright carefully with the aid of the flyers supporting her. One of her wings hung, bent at an uncomfortable looking angle. The rest of her seemed unharmed.

“M…Moss, you…you’re alright!”

Moss smiled up at her, an expression more like a grimace, and nodded her head. Tendrils of moss green hair straggled about her  sharp-chinned face. Her tunic hung limply on her shoulders. She held herself upright with one tiny arm braced against her companion, and gestured delicately with the other arm toward Ell.

“Ell’s g…going to b…be al…alright,” said Lisle as she followed the direction of Moss’s gesture with her eyes. “I h…hope,” she whispered.
  
With Delorin’s efficient aid, and whatever it was that the flyer folk did, it wasn’t long before Ell was able to stand. Terris too, woke, and after a few disoriented minutes, stood up beside Ell.

Delorin moved to tend Gareth and he waved his hand at her as if to shoo her away. She stood in front of him and closed her eyes. Then she overlapped her hands on her chest and took several slow, deep breaths. When she opened her eyes, she put her hands on her hips and just stood there, staring at him. He relented, ungraciously gesturing toward his leg. Gareth made no sound, even as the color drained from his face when Delorin wrenched the arrow from his leg and bandaged him carefully. Gareth looked briefly at her then, and lifted his chin in thanks. Delorin acknowledged that with a head bob of her own.

With Gareth standing, bandaged leg held up, leaning on his bow, the companions began to move slowly up the path with a cloud of hovering flyer folk over them, and Delorin walking behind.

Moss was lifted into the air by her staunch flyer companions once again and joined the hovering clatter.

Lisle moved up beside Terris and Ell. “Th..that was the b…bravest thing I e…ever saw. T…Terris y...you saved us.” Then she looked at Ell, her eyes filling with tears.  “Ell y…you saved T…Terris. I th…thought I was g…going to lose you b…b..both.” Hot tears overflowed, rolling down her cheeks.

Terris patted her awkwardly on the shoulder and said nothing. He looked at her, his lips compressed, twitching back and forth as if not knowing quite what to do with themselves. Color suffused his cheeks and neck and he blinked rapidly, looking away.

The clatter of flyer folk moved like one being back up toward Guardian Cavern, quickly disappearing from sight, carrying Moss away with them.

Ell, once again led the way, though much more slowly this time. Her movements were stiff and looked painful. Lisle followed close behind, walking beside Terris, his hand on her shoulder. She felt his weight as he leaned upon her, and was glad he at least allowed her to support him.

Gareth waved away Delorin’s offer of an arm to lean upon, growling, “Tend those as needs you.”
​
Together again, wounded, hurting and now silent, the companions aided by Delorin, trudged up Guardian Mountain toward the Cavern, each sunk in their own thoughts.