Lilly was shocked by the Lady’s candor. “I—” Lilly took a moment to collect her thoughts. “Alric is my King and my friend. He’s never asked for more than my loyalty and friendship.”
“But you wanted more?”
“At one time… perhaps. But Alric is a great man. Far too special for a mere soldier like me. He deserves a woman who can share all parts of his life. I know I can’t be that girl.”
Lady Adain was silent a long time before her lips curved in a sad smile. “I think you would have made a very good Queen, more so because you recognize that it is not your path. Wisdom comes in many forms, Lilly. Do not discount your own.”
Lilly didn’t know what to make of the woman’s cryptic words, but the idea that this powerful, magical being might know something about her future path was intriguing. Too intriguing to let lie.
“If it’s not my path—which I agree with you—then, what is? I’m a warrior who suddenly finds it hard to hurt anyone or anything. The duty I trained for my entire life is becoming more impossible with every passing day. Yet, I doubt I’m young enough to train with a healing house. I doubt any would have me, even if I did work up the nerve to try. After this mission…” Lilly swallowed hard to hold back some of her emotion. “I don’t know what’s to become of me.”
Lady Adain reached for Lilly’s hand, turning it over and tracing the lines within, as her eyes narrowed. Her touch was comforting, and Lilly felt the tingle of the woman’s power.
“Your future is clouded, Lilly, but it runs with that of my grandson for the foreseeable time.” The Lady shook her head with a smile and let go of Lilly’s hand. “But any charlatan at a village fair could tell you that. What I can tell you is that Luc and Shilayla have many lessons to teach you on your journey. As many, perhaps, as you have for them. Once your quest is complete, perhaps the lines of your future will be clearer. For now, that one great task lies as the most pivotal thing in all three of your lives. Accomplish that, and then, we will see what can be seen. Many lives are depending on the alliance between your King and our people. That is the most important goal.”
Lilly sat up straighter, ashamed to have to be reminded of her duty. Such moments of insecurity and weakness were not something she’d suffered from before her unwanted healing talent manifested. She felt the fire of embarrassment heat her cheeks as she nodded in respect to the Lady.
“You’re right, of course.”
“Don’t take it so hard, child,” the Lady said in a gentle tone. “All people, myself included, have moments of doubt. I would think less of you did you not worry over the future and your role in it. Your concern speaks well for your heart. Too many warriors believe emotions are weakness, but it is quite the opposite, I assure you.”
Lilly struggled through the remainder of her meal in silence, glad when the Lady took her leave. She certainly had given Lilly a great deal to think about.
Certainly, Luc was a handsome man, and he kissed like a dream, but he wasn’t for her any more than Alric was. Alric was a royalty. Luc was fey. Neither was something Lilly could become, and neither man could be what she was. There was no middle ground. No hope for a future. Only the bittersweet moments of the present.
With a resigned sigh, Lilly got to her feet and left the dining hall. She would go over her gear in preparation for the journey ahead while she had a few moments.
She was in her room, doing just that, when a young healer arrived to escort Lilly back to the healer’s hall. She arrived to find young Petr already there, helping weed the herb garden. From the smile on his face, it looked like he was having fun. Lady Vi met Lilly as she walked up the path and motioned her to sit with her on a stone bench beneath a graceful tree where they could watch Petr and the others from a distance.
“Petr spends time with us each morning while his father attends to his duties. When he was younger, we tried to casually observe him and discover a reason for his size and pallor, but we had no luck. Over time, he became dear to us, and we enjoy the mornings with his cheerful presence in our garden. He’s also learning a great deal of our herbal art, so the time is never wasted.”
“Sounds like a good solution,” Lilly agreed. “You can keep an eye on him should there be a problem, yet he gets lots of sunshine and exercise to grow stronger and learn at the same time.”
“I don’t want to alarm Petr. In fact, I don’t want him to know he’s being assessed at all. The boy is different enough from his peers. I prefer to keep our observation as discreet as possible.”
“I will do whatever you ask, if it’s within my abilities.” Lilly worried that her talent was so raw and new, she couldn’t be as offhand about it as these professional healers were.
Vi patted her hand. “Good. I’ve asked Bertrand and Mirim to continue weeding the garden with Petr. They will stay on either side of you and the boy, watching and helping if necessary. I’d like you to go work with Petr. Just talk to him and—here is the hard part—try to touch your power as it rises so I can follow it to the source of Petr’s weakness.”
“You can do that?” Lilly was shocked at the idea.
Vi’s mouth set in a determined line. “I will try my best, though I have never attempted it with a human healer before. This ability and the volume of my own talent is what made me leader here, though there are others older and more skilled. But, by being able to link with almost any healer in our group, I can sort of borrow their skill and, more importantly, share it with others.” Lady Vi sat back and regarded Lilly with kind eyes. “Your lack of training will actually be of help here, I think. A more disciplined talent wouldn’t let me near enough to latch on and follow.”
“So, my lack of skill is a good thing?” Lilly had to chuckle at that. All along, her lack of control over her wayward talent had been something to fear and detest as it pulled her in directions she didn’t want to go. Now, it seemed, it was actually a boon.
“In this case, yes. But don’t worry that we’ll let you leave here still as open as you are. I will teach you some control exercises myself before you go and will instruct Luc in the further methods you should learn. He studied at this hall as a child, as most do, so he has enough basic knowledge to help you progress as you journey together.”
Lilly felt relief wash over her. She hadn’t been looking forward to going out into the world again where every disease and injury called out to her new talent. At least she had some hope that she’d be learning to control the power that tugged her to and fro.
“Go to Petr now and breathe deeply. Leave yourself open. When I join with your healing power, you will probably know. It may give you a tingling sensation in your hands.”
Lilly stood as Lady Vi shooed her in Petr’s direction with a kind smile. Lilly wiped her suddenly sweaty palms down her tunic and set off with determination toward the boy. When he caught sight of her, she smiled at his warm greeting, glad to see him looking so happy.
“Good morrow, Master Petr. Can I help you?” Lilly crouched beside the boy in the neat row of the garden. It was kept free of weeds and debris, and it was clear that these people paid a great deal of attention to this small plot of land.
Petr chattered to her about the plants they were tending, but the moment she put her hand on his back, her power flared to life hotter than before. She looked up to see the two healers Vi had told her about, one on each side, not far off, but pretending to work in the garden while they observed. She felt the tingle in her palms that Vi warned of, glad to feel some indication of the healer’s presence. The tingle increased to an itch that begged to be scratched, but Lilly held contact with Petr, hoping to give Lady Vi and her people a chance to see what was wrong.