Part 21 (1/2)
The small, but firm voice responded. ”Because this is my home where I do as I please.”
Eve gently brushed Max's hand off of her arm. ”It's okay, Max. I don't know why, but I feel very safe here.”
”Eve is correct. I mean her no harm. I only wish to heal her.”
Lysander moved next to Max. ”And the rest of us?”
”I will not harm you, for the time being.”
”How rea.s.suring.”
Eve squeezed between Max and Lysander. ”Really, it's okay.”
She crossed the floor into the shadows. The figure spoke to her for a moment then had Eve lay on the table. Max tensed at the sight, but Melody took hold of his arm.
”Wait, Max.”
Max waited nervously as the figure placed a small, thin object on Eve's arm. The figure then held her hand closely over it. To Max's surprise the object sank into Eve's arm. A moment later Eve sat up, moving her arm about freely. She hopped off the table and ran back to Max.
”She fixed it!”
Melody grabbed Eve's arm and examined it, astonished. ”But how? It takes skilled use and understanding of the spirits to heal bones that quickly.”
”Nonsense, acolyte, I used a basic technique.”
Melody let go of Eve's arm and faced the figure. ”Basic technique? I have only seen the Revered Mother of our order heal a broken bone in that manner.”
A long sigh escaped the figure. ”Has that much knowledge really been lost?”
”Knowledge, what do you mean? Who are you?”
”My apologies, I am Alexandra.”
”I didn't mean your name. Those in the camp told us that. Who are you that you can manipulate the spirits so willingly?”
”You should not be so rude, acolyte. I suppose; however, that we need to get to the business at hand. First, some more light would be nice.”
Torches at the darkened end of the building flared to life, fully lighting the figure. Max's mouth dropped open.
”You're the girl from the alley!”
Max drew his sword, ready to defend himself and the others. Alexandra spread out her arms, the open palms of her hands facing them.
”That will not be necessary, Maxwell. I have no intention of attacking you again.”
”How can I be sure? I don't even know why you attacked me the first time, or how? One moment you stood at the far end of the alley, the next you had a hold of my box. And, how do you know my name?”
”Unfortunately, in the alley I did not know who you were. I mistook you for a thief. You see, I had a box similar to yours taken from me. When I saw you with that box at the tavern I thought it mine. I jumped to conclusions and overreacted. I apologize for my rashness.”
Alexandra walked to within a few feet of Max and curtsied. ”Now that I know who you are I certainly mean you no harm.”
Free of the shadows, Max studied Alexandra's appearance. Her face was the soft, round face of a child's. Her hands, like her face, were unusually pale; together they gave her the appearance of a fragile porcelain doll much like the ones a villager in Swift.w.a.ter made from the river's clay. Max feared that if he touched her she would shatter. He sheathed his sword.
”What about the rest? How did you get from one end of the alley to the other without me noticing?”
Melody fixed her gaze on Alexandra. ”If she can heal a bone with that much ease, I imagine there are a lot of things she can do; mesmerizing you long enough to attack being only one of them.”
”But she can't be over, what, eleven years old?”
”I am nine, actually. To your credit, you did much better than most in resisting me.” Alexandra gingerly rubbed the side of her face. ”I certainly did not expect you to backhand me.”
Max shuffled his feet. ”You did attack me.”
”I am not looking for an apology. You fought back as, you should have. I misjudged your abilities.”
Max straightened. ”What about my name?”
”Ahh, yes, Maxwell Laskaris, son of Lieutenant Peter Laskaris.”
”How do you know that? You're not old enough to have met my father.”
”I have many resources. I also know about the rest of you: Lysander, Melody and Evangeline.”
Lysander crossed his arms. ”I a.s.sume, by resources, you mean that rabble out by the fire who are in violation of the law by not wearing collars. We also have reports of theft and other trouble in town. Where are your parents, Maxwell and I need to speak with them concerning all of this.”
Alexandra's pale cheeks flared red. ”The lacarnians are not pets! I will not have them wearing collars as if they were. As for the trouble in town, that has nothing to do with us. Those in my camp pay for what they bring here and are strictly prohibited from fighting or doing any harm.” Alexandra took a deep breath. ”As for my parents, they are long dead. I run this camp.”
”Do you expect me to believe a little brat is running this place?”
The fire in Alexandra's cheeks rekindled. Her hands tightened into fists. ”You are here by my invitation, or you would not have made it through the forest.”
Max stepped between the two. ”Why did you invite us here?”
Alexandra turned from Lysander. ”I need your help.”
Lysander crossed his arms. ”Why would we do that?”
”Because I have information about things you all want, things like the Lifestone.”
Lysander snickered. ”Lifestone? That's a myth.”
”Perhaps, but the head of the Protectors has quite an interest in it nonetheless. If the Lifestone isn't enough, I also know of a person who can open your box, Maxwell.”
”Really? Where?”
”The forest of Urania.”
Melody shook her head. ”Urania's a forest that was once the home of all lacarna. Now, though, it has grown so thick that none can navigate it. That, and no one knows what dangerous creatures still live inside of it. You can't go in there, Max.”
”But, if there is someone there who can get this box open...”