Alora: The Wander-Jewel (Alora 1)

“Leave him here for now,” said Graely. “Go quickly.”

A cloud of smoke billowed out of the council house, making visibility nearly impossible.

*****

Vindrake shuffled close to the burning council house, waiting for his opportunity. With his knife at the ready he edged closer to Alora and Kaevin. He cursed his bad timing. He couldn’t reach Alora without being seen. But a sudden shift in the wind moved the smoke to provide a perfect cover. Lunging for Alora, he grabbed her arm in time to prevent the transport. But even as he tugged, Kaevin held her fast. Alora screamed. His only chance was to kill her and run. Pity—I’d rather not mar her beauty. He shifted his hand to grab her hair and pulled her head backward, raising his knife to slash her throat.

Chapter Fifteen

Charles choked on the heavy smoke. His eyes were stinging so badly he was forced to squeeze them shut against the acrid assault. But he kept his hand on Kaevin’s arm, waiting for Alora to transport them to the safety of the ranch. He felt Kaevin’s arm jostling beneath his grasp and heard Alora scream. What was happening? He reached into his pocket, retrieving the ceramic knife that was now his constant companion. Then Kaevin’s arm was wrenched away from him as he heard Bozeman growl and snarl ferociously. What could make his good-natured golden retriever rabid with anger? A man’s voice shouted in pain, Bozeman yelped, and all was silent. Charles called out for help, frustrated by the thick smoke obscuring his vision. He couldn’t slash with the knife for fear he might hit Alora or Kaevin.

He heard Graely’s voice. “What is it? Kaevin? Are you still here?”

“I’m here!” Charles called out. “I lost my grip on Kaevin. But something happened to make Alora scream.”

He heard Bozeman whimpering, and knelt on the ground, groping with his left hand, knife still at the ready in his right. His fingers found fur, and he felt his way up to Bozeman’s head. The dog whined and licked his hand. As he moved his hand back down to the Golden’s side he found dampness. He felt a hand on his back and tensed his knife hand.

“Charles? Is that you?” He relaxed at Graely’s voice, sheathing his knife.

“Yes, it’s me. I don’t know what happened, but Bozeman’s bleeding. I can’t find Alora and Kaevin. I think she transported them.”

The wind shifted, thinning the dense smoke and revealing Bozeman, on his side, with a dark stain on his fur.

“This had to be Vindrake’s doing,” said Graely. “We can only hope Alora and Kaevin arrived safely at the ranch.”

“Is someone hurt?” cried Laethan, arriving behind Charles.

“It’s just my dog, Bozeman.” He bit back his emotion.

Graely gave a tight-lipped smile, examining Bozeman’s mouth. “I believe Bozeman got his teeth into Vindrake. I see blood on his mouth, but it doesn’t appear to be bleeding.”

Laethan’s face was set with grim determination as he probed Bozeman’s side, eliciting a yelp. “Good boy. I’ll take care of you. I bet you have a nasty taste in your mouth.”

*****

Kaevin opened his eyes, shivering as he lay in the cold wet snow. He shook his head and blinked, trying to clear the fog from his pounding head. He felt a body next to him. It must be Alora. Where were they? He writhed up on his elbow. Alora lay motionless next to him, her face pale and her lips blue with the cold.

“Alora!” he croaked, reaching with his bandaged hand to her face. “Alora, wake up.” He edged over to place his lips on hers when he spied the blood on her neck. Fresh red blood was flowing down, soaking into her sweater. “Alora!” Was she dead? No, he was still alive, so she must be alive as well. He placed his mouth on her unresponsive lips and kissed her. Nothing happened. Kaevin looked around desperately. He recognized this place. They were at the ranch, lying right where he’d first seen her playing in the snow. He could see the house, but it was too far away for anyone to hear him calling. Perhaps he could use her gift to take them to Jireo, like he’d done that night at the dance. He put his lips on hers and concentrated on Jireo. But nothing happened.

Kaevin could feel his strength ebbing, blackness closing in, his vision narrowing. He kept their mouths together, tasting his own salty tears as they ran down his face. With a surge of panic, he realized she was too weak. She was going to die. They were both going to die. He tried to stand. He needed to carry her to the house. But he collapsed while still on his knees, his vision swirling. He pulled himself to lie with one bandaged hand stanching the blood flow from her neck, and rested his head on her shoulder, his lips pressed to hers.

*****

“You might as well sit down,” said Beth. “There’s nothing you can do. You can’t help anything by pacing.”

“They’ve been gone too long.” Jireo responded without breaking stride. “They should’ve been back. There was another fire,

and that’s no coincidence. I must find Kaevin. Before it’s too late.”

“I agree. Two fires in two different buildings. Someone had to be behind those fires,” Brian said. “Graely should’ve let me stay and help.”

“That place is dangerous,” said Karen. “I don’t want you to go back anymore.”

“I’d go back if you’d let me,” Wesley declared. “I like doing something that has meaning. In Laegenshire, I’m not just winning medals, I’m fighting against evil.”

“It’s not your fight,” argued Karen. “It would be different if you were a soldier and someone had attacked the United States, but we don’t even know these people.”

Jireo stopped to stare at her, and her face reddened. “I don’t mean anything personal by that. You understand, don’t you?”