Alora: The Wander-Jewel (Alora 1)

Beth pouted her lower lip, but she didn’t protest aloud. Wesley looked as if he might object, but his mother’s expression quelled any complaint. As Kaevin pulled Alora to her feet, she realized her head ached a bit. She wished she’d found a private place to steal a kiss from Kaevin instead of falling asleep. The two trips required to transport the four adults to Laegenshire would put a strain on their bond, but it was too late to worry about it now.

“We’ve been waiting forever.” Jireo greeted them after they moved her uncle and grandmother, and then Graely and Brian, who couldn’t seem to stop smiling. The three stood in the rear as Graely moved to the front and called for attention. “It’s not just the council. Graely invited some of the other citizens, including my parents, to take part in the discussion.” He pointed toward a couple sitting near the back of the room.

“I notice everyone has their weapons,” Kaevin whispered, nodding at Jireo’s scabbard. “Did Morvaen post guards?”

“Four warriors are outside the door. And the entire force is on alert if the bell rings. He’s not taking any chances this time.”

“Why? What happened before?” Alora asked.

“A surprise attack by Water Clan during a council meeting. We lost two council members, including Valor. He was the only Stone Clansman with discernment. That’s why Nordamen is so excited you have the gift.”

Alora nodded, noticing that the movement made her head throb. “Kaevin, does your head hurt?”

“Yes, but I don’t think my father wants us kissing during the council meeting.”

“I can’t really hold your hand, even though the bandages are off.”

He pulled up his sleeve. “Put your hands on my arm.”

She wrapped her hands around his arm. But as the pain eased in her head, she noticed a new pain in her stomach. “Something feels bad here.”

“Something feels wrong to me as well, but my gift is different from yours. I only sense impending danger, and I’m still learning how to interpret my feelings. The gift is common to all clan leaders, but my time has not yet come. Sometimes what I read as a gifted warning is simply anxiety.” He shifted, glancing about the meeting hall. “Do you feel evil? Could Vindrake be coming here?”

“I don’t know. It’s weak, but it doesn’t feel like it’s a long way off. It feels close. It feels like I ate something bad and I need to throw up. What are you sensing?”

“It’s... I don’t know. My heart is racing and my chest feels tight. I’m uncertain of the meaning.”

Raelene’s voice echoed through the meeting hall as she explained how the soulmate bond enhanced Alora’s gift. A debate ensued about the wisdom of attempting to end the bond and lose the augmentation. But Graely and Charles were adamant the couple was too young for the responsibility and danger associated with being soulmates. The discussion moved on to the organization of a future expedition to search for the other soulmate couple and a method to eliminate the bond. Alora’s anger distracted her from the vague nausea.

“Wait,” she spoke out. “You’re talking about our lives and our future. Don’t you think we should have a say in this as well?”

“Alora, we’ll speak later. In private.” Charles stood and raised his voice so she would hear him from across the room. “We’re only trying to protect you—you and Kaevin. You’re too young to realize all the consequences of such a decision.”

“Father!” said Kaevin. “Do you—”

Graely interrupted. “Kaevin, this is not the time for you to speak. As Charles said, we’ll talk at another time.”

“But Father.” Kaevin’s voice was shaking. “There’s something wrong!”

At that moment, the sound of yelling and screaming voices from outside penetrated the room. The wooden door burst open, and someone ran inside.

“Fire! There’s a fire in the healing house!”

Chapter Fourteen

Pandemonium broke out as the meeting hall emptied. When Alora spilled out the door behind Kaevin, she saw smoke billowing from the window of the healing house across the square. Four men emerged from the door, one after the other, carrying patients.

“Oh my God! Are there any more people inside?” Alora ran toward the door, only to be jerked to a stop as Jireo grabbed her coat from behind.

“Don’t do something reckless, Alora. Laethan’s giving the orders, and he’s already evacuated the last of the patients.”

“But I want to help.”

“You really are as impulsive as my sister, aren’t you? If you want to help, go fetch buckets of water from the well and hook the handles on Kaevin’s arms so he can carry them.”

Her headache and nausea forgotten, she threw herself into the arduous work of filling buckets from the well and transferring them to others to throw on the fire. But it soon became apparent the building was a loss, so water was used to wet the nearby houses to prevent the spread of the fire.

Once the fire had consumed the building and died out, she followed the rest of the tired and sooty group inside the council house, now crowded with the patients and the citizens who’d been fighting the blaze. She and Kaevin leaned against a side wall beside Jireo and Brian. She noticed that Brian’s white Spyder jacket was totally blackened, and wondered if Karen would throw a fit when she saw it. Her headache settled into a steady throb, so she tugged Kaevin’s sleeve up to press her hands against his arm.