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Neleh raced to Duv, who lay stunned on the cavern floor. His breathing was forced, but Neleh sensed his consciousness deep within her. She knelt next to him, her hands going to each side of his head.
Melding with her aoutem, she explored his body for injuries. When she found none, she pressed her forehead to his head and breathed easier. I am here.
She turned to Areenna. “How do I wake him?”
Areenna went to her knees next to Neleh and did what Neleh had done, exploring Duv’s body with her ability as a healer. She found no broken bones or muscle damage; yet, his mind was off.
Areenna drew back. “The blow to his head is causing this. Try I can, to heal him, but he is your aoutem—better that it be you to bring him out of it. If you wish, I will join with you and guide you.”
Neleh nodded, welcoming Areenna within. Then, with Areenna’s voice in her mind, she followed the instructions and, working carefully, she brought up the ability to heal. As soon as she did, everything in her world went dark. She adjusted herself to the healing blindness, and when she was settled, found the glowing outline of the area of injury in Duv’s head.
Following Areenna’s instructions, she called on the energy, and white light formed around her hands. She cupped each side of the rantor’s head, and went into Duv’s mind.
Direct the energies here and here, Areenna instructed, showing Neleh a mind picture of the exact area that needed to be soothed and healed. It took but a few seconds for the healing energies to repair the areas of the rantor’s brain that had been concussed. When she sensed Duv’s awareness of his surroundings, she urged the giant cat to its feet.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, Neleh buried her face in his coat. “Thank you,” she whispered to Areenna.
Standing a short distance from the two women, Mikaal surveyed the damages to the machinery in the cavern, and at what few bodily remains were left of the clones. “The clones are dead. Nevaeh is free... No, the world is free.”
Lifting her head, Neleh turned to them. Noslen, Roth, Timon... We must get back to them.
Areenna looked at Mikaal and at the Staff. “We cannot bring Duv.”
“You go. I will follow.” Neleh closed her eyes and sent her senses roaming down the mountain. A moment later, she opened her eyes. “They are waking.”
Mikaal looked at Neleh. “They will need healing. They have been sleeping in the cold for too many hours now. You and Areenna must go. I will bring Duv and meet you below.”
Before either could argue, Mikaal pushed the Staff to Areenna, who took the ancient wood, grasped Neleh’s hand, and lifted it parallel to the ground.
Worry not of Duv, little one, I will return with him. Help Areenna you must. Along with his silent words, came a gentle embrace within her mind.
Neleh nodded, grasped the Staff, and when she did, the white mist came forth to swirl around them. An instant later, they stood in the scooped-out overhang where the three men were gaining a sluggish consciousness.
Setting the Staff down, Areenna pushed her senses to the three at exactly the same time as did Neleh. A moment later, Neleh looked at Areenna. “They waken, but their muscles are locked from the cold.”
Areenna went to the three and, kneeling between Roth and Timon, touched Timon’s face. He was in a strange half awake, half asleep state, and his nose was turning from red to black.
Neleh, who was between Timon and Noslen, touched Areenna on the shoulder. “Timon’s nose—it is what we call the cold sickness— is dying from the cold. It must be warmed, but carefully. Too quick and it will be damaged—too slow, it will die.”
Areenna nodded and bent over Timon. She closed her eyes, rubbed her hands together, and then whispered the formula for fire, calling it from deep within her. When a low level of flame covered her hands, she placed both several inches away from Timon’s head, and held them in a way that warmed his face without putting too much heat on his nose.
While Areenna worked on Timon, Neleh bent over Noslen. She found no areas of the cold sickness. Closing her eyes, she called up the healing ability of a Woman of the Village and carefully built the healing warmth as she slowly moved her hands over him, projecting just enough heat to loosen his frozen muscles.
It took her twenty minutes to rouse Noslen, but when his eyes opened, she exhaled, smiled, and then quickly lowered her mouth to his. Their lips met, and a flash of heat burst across their mouths. She raised her head, and a low sigh escaped from between her lips.
“Help me sit up,” Noslen said, his voice a barely perceptible croak.
She bent lower again, slid her hands under his arms, and lifted him. Noslen helped by pushing backwards with his feet, biting down on his lower lip when a muscle cramp sent a flash of pain through him.
“It will pass soon.” Neleh looked at Areenna, who patiently worked on Timon. Then she stood and went to Roth, whose face showed the pain of trying to move his stiff, frozen muscles.
“Stop trying to move, Grandfather,” she ordered him. “I will warm you.”
His eyes locked on her. The tip of his tongue slid out to moisten his lips. He tried to speak, but could not. “Be easy,” she whispered as she closed her eyes and began her warm healing.
A half hour later, the five Nevaens sat in a semi-circle. Neleh handed out the dried dar meat, and passed a water skein around as Areenna explained what happened, taking them from the point where they had succumbed to the powerful Dark Master through Mikaal and her arrival in Iceland and, joining with Neleh to complete the Trinity, destroying the clones.
“What of Fasil and Lessig?”
“Either they are still trapped within their cavern, or dead, for the clones received no help. As soon as we return, find out for certain I will, once Mikaal joins us with Duv.”
Before Roth could speak again, she closed her eyes and pushed her senses outward. An instant later, she touched Mikaal and joined with him.
Where are you?
Stopping, Mikaal grasped Duv’s fur and the huge rantor stopped. I am perhaps ten hours from you, if I do not stop. Returning is not easy, the ice makes footholds hard, and very slow. And I am holding Duv back. He wants to get to Neleh.
Areenna looked down at the Staff of Afzal, lying on the cavern floor. Release him. His claws will give him traction and speed. Let him run.
As you wish, my Princess.
Smiling at his silent words, Areenna bent and picked up the Staff. She turned to Neleh. “Duv will be here soon.” And then she disappeared.
Less than a minute later, she returned with Mikaal.
Mikaal released the Staff and went to his father, who was now bent forward, stretching his muscles as best he could, as were Timon and Noslen. “You are all right?”
Roth stopped his stretching and sat straight. He laughed, then shook his head. “I’ve been better.”
“And worse too,” Mikaal reminded him. “How are the legs?”
“Better, the cramps have eased.” He held out his arm. “Help me up.”
Mikaal grasped his father’s hand and pulled him gently to his feet. The moment he was upright, he embraced Mikaal tightly. When he released him, he took a tentative step forward. Roth wobbled, steadied, and then took another step. Within moments, he was walking easily.
“Let’s get these other two on their feet.”
An hour later, Roth, Timon, and Noslen were ready, just in time for Duv’s return.
As Neleh knelt and hugged her aoutem, she turned to the others. “It is over, is it not? The rule of the Masters?”
Mikaal, Areenna, and Roth looked at each other and, at the same time, they nodded.
Neleh stared at them for a moment. She looked at Noslen, who met her eyes openly, and then turned fully to Roth. “Can we go home now?”
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FOLLOWING THE AUTHOR INFORMATION IS
A SPECIAL PREVIEW OF
TALES OF NEVAEH VOLUME V
The Legend of
AILISH
