At the door she took a deep breath, straightening her spine and donning a calm smile as Mike opened it for her. She inclined her head ever so slightly to him in thanks, aware that there were a great many eyes now focused on her. She stepped into the sunshine with the royals right behind her, showing their determination to see her off as far as they could.
“May the heavens bless the traveler!” She recognized the voice, belatedly realizing that it was the man she heard orating in the church. The cry was taken up by other voices in the crowd, the roar almost deafening as people showed their support? Faith? She wasn’t really sure what.
At least people weren’t throwing flowers or palm leaves. She already felt a bit sacrilegious at the procession. She was only a normal girl who’d been thrown into a world where she was trying to survive and thrive. She had no desire to be a messenger or avatar of the gods, or even the target of the mesmer and a Dark One. All she wanted was to live peacefully and comfortably, and now she was off on a war raid.
Just where was the sensibility in that?
Chapter Two – Flight
Jade couldn’t decide if it felt like a funeral procession or a parade. There was hope in the faces around her, but it was simply a mask over the shadow of sorrow. They knew disaster had fallen upon the royal family, but dreamed she would deliver what she promised.
She felt her danger sense tingling, but it was her keen vision that picked out the tiny figure trying to push through the crowd. She saw the exact moment the young boy managed to make it to the front, only to trip and go flying forward in front of the crowd. Diving toward the little one, her heart lurched as she realized she was too far away to catch him. It was only after he hit the ground hard that she realized she could have used her wind magic. Mentally cursing herself, she continued to race forward even as the boy sniffled and began to cry.
“There, there; it’s okay. You’re all right.” Jade was there, her hands lifting the small child. With a twitch of her fingers, the dirt flew away from his clothes and face as she straightened his clothes and hair. The tiny boy stared at her in awe while she healed the small scratches he’d gotten. He couldn’t be more than three years old, and he was gaping at her with huge blue eyes. She smiled at him, asking softly, “What’s your name?”
He tucked his thumb into his mouth and mumbled around it, “Henwy.”
Smiling, she nodded as she remained crouched at his level. “It’s nice to meet you, Henry. Can I help you find your parents?” He nodded and she beamed, scooping him into her arms as she turned to meet the curious gazes of the crowd. She turned to the little one, asking softly, “Can you see them?” As he shook his head in denial, she nodded again.
Concentrating, she made them lighter until they started to float into the air. Over the gasps of the crowd, she heard a panicked voice from her left. “Henry? Henry, where’d you go? Henry!?”
She pinpointed the mother as a harried looking young woman who was clutching a small baby girl to her chest. She was searching the area around her frantically, ignoring the fact that everyone else broke out into excited whispers at Jade’s display. Motioning to the woman, Jade asked Henry in a whisper, “Is that your mom?” When he nodded, she smiled, lowering them back to the ground and walking towards the woman. The crowd parted before her until she was face to face with the woman.
Her eyes were wide with fright as she realized Jade was holding her son. She dropped into a deep curtsey, saying softly, “Lady Jade, I’m so sorry if my son has bothered you!”
“Please, stand up. He was no bother at all.” Jade let little Henry down, and he was smiling up at her as he grabbed her hand.
“Mommy, we fwew!” Henry happily announced his news, much to the horror of his mother, who’d started to stand up straight only to freeze at his pronouncement. Jade reached forward, touching her shoulder gently and pulling her upright. She tucked a curl behind the baby girl’s ear, smiling.
“You have very beautiful children. Take care now. Stay with your mother, Henry. Okay? Don’t make her worry.” She gave the little boy as serious of a look as she could manage with a smile, and he nodded solemnly, transferring his tiny hand from hers to his mom’s.
“Thank you.” Her voice was almost lost in the cacophony of voices all around her, but Jade waved her thanks off and turned, walking back through the parted crowd to the walkway, nodding to the royals before she continued on as if nothing happened, head held high.
Her babies had been sitting so quietly on her braid, and she smiled as a thought occurred. She paused, holding her hand out. One by one, they alighted as she gave them trails of dark sparkles that could be seen in the bright sunshine. “Fly around me; let them see your beauty.” She mentally asked her babies to obey, and they happily flitted through the air to the ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ of the crowd.
She may not be able to do much, but she could leave them with an image of confidence and wonder. She could give them hope. So she smiled until they reached the gate.
The makeup of the crowd shifted from civilian to uniformed guards. As she passed through the gates of the inner wall, all civilians except the royal family were left behind. Instead, she was met by a group of people supervised by Marcelle. Several people behind her were tending to animals that, if she had to describe, were something of a cross between a horse and a reindeer.
“Jade! You’re here. Wonderful. Let’s get you set up with a capall and then we can be off.” Marcelle walked over, greeting Jade with a kiss to the cheek. Jade reached out, grabbing her hand before she could pull away. She sent a healing surge through the woman, easing her exhaustion and giving her a personal vitality buff. Marcelle visibly straightened, a grateful smile on her face. “Thank you. I needed that.”
Nodding, Jade smiled and said softly, “I’ll be right there. Just going to say goodbye.” Marcelle nodded, and she turned back to Victor, Camille, and Will. She scanned the assembled crowd, and noticed one person conspicuously absent. “Your dad decided to not let Brodie come, didn’t he?”
Victor and Will exchanged glances before looking back at her. Victor nodded. “Yes, he decided...we couldn’t risk anyone else…”
Jade smiled, patting him on the shoulder. “It’s okay, I understand. I’ll bring them back for you. Have a little faith in me.” She hugged each of them once more as she said quietly, “I’ll stay in touch. It’s going to be okay.” They nodded reluctantly, and she turned, approaching where she spotted Christopher holding the reins of a slimmer capall. She smiled at his nervous look and asked quietly, “Is this one for me?”
He started, only now seeming to notice her as he quickly nodded. “Jade! Yes, this is Daisy. She should treat you well. Do you know how to ride?”
Shaking her head, she smiled. “Not at all, but I’ll learn quickly, I’m sure.” I kinda have to, she added mentally. He nodded, helping her up to the padded saddle as he explained the different commands Daisy was used to. She paused, looking down at him from her high seat. “You’re not coming, are you?” It was more statement than question.
He shook his head. “No, I’m no good in the forest. But you’re in good hands. They’ll take care of you.”