elements, Earth, Air, Fire, Water and Life present, her contact with the life spirit was strong and she picked up the probe and after giving it to the healer, took her hand and showed her where the piece of the Abyss was embedded in the boy’s shoulder.
“You must dig for it. I shall keep the boy alive while you do.”
The healer sighed again. “This boy’s father is the village headman,” she said. “Do not let him die.”
Yani put one hand on the child’s heart and another on the pulse in his neck. She let the life spirit flow over her like gentle waves in a summer sea.
“Begin,” she said.
The healer was blessedly skilful. Only the boy’s weakened condition had made her reluctant to clean the wound more deeply. Soon she let out an exclamation of triumph and held something up. The villagers shouted with pleasure. Yani was too busy to pay much attention to it. With the draining power of the Abyss out of his body, the boy could absorb the life spirit she was passing to him and Yani felt the thread of his life suddenly thicken and grow. Already his breathing was deeper. She sighed and relaxed for a moment. Now for the little girl.
But as she got up to go to the girl, the village headman caught her arm.
“No waste time with her. She not important. Spend healing power on son.”
Yani couldn’t believe her ears.
“Who are you to make such a choice?”
“I Father. Girls not matter.”
Yani’s mind filled with hot red light.
“What kind of father...? What kind of animal makes such a choice between his children?” She shouted. The man shrank back.
There was silence and in that silence, the woman sitting by the head of the boy began to sob.
“Lady, don’t harm us,” cried the healer, catching Yani arm.
“Don’t worry,” said Yani. She turned back to the man. “And who is it who bears the sons that you find so valuable? The boy has had all the healing he can manage for the moment. I will heal the girl now.”
“If son die, I kill you,” muttered the headman.
“Go away you nasty man,” snapped Yani, kneeling at the girl’s side.
Afterward passing her life force to the girl she was tired to the bone. “I need food,” she said to the healer who was hovering nearby. It was really sleep she craved, but she must leave here as soon as possible. If Daria Symina was looking for her, Yani’s presence here would bring danger to these people.
A couple of women bought her food. One of them, who seemed to be the children’s mother, kissed Yani hand’s and wept. Yani blessed her more from force of habit than any real intention. The woman could not understand a word Yani said in any language.
“What language do you speak here?” Yani asked the healer, whose name was Mab.
“It is serf Mirayan, Lady,” said the healer. “She is thanking you, and I thank you, also, for these are my grandchildren.”
“Why are there two languages here? How is it you can speak the same as me and they cannot?”
“Only those who have dealings with the Princes of Earth learn to speak noble Mirayan,” said Mab. “Once upon a time I worked in the Symina household as Lady Daria’s nursemaid.”
“Daria’s nursemaid!”
“Yes,” Mab smiled ruefully. “Such a sweet little baby. Now when she is here at the manor house she lets her blood beasts roam freely and her men raid our villages. They do not care that I once suckled her.”
“They never find you here?”
“There are many caves in these hills,” said Mab. “And they do not really look so hard. We have an agreement...” Her face changed as if she had said something wrong and she looked quickly over her shoulder.
“The Symina are not fools,” she went on quickly. “Their wealth comes from lands such as these. Without us there would be no wealth. They do not come here often. The Pimenovs who own the lands over the mountains are their deadly enemies. Lord Malov has taken land further south which is much safer for them.”
“Daria told me her brother killed their parents.”
“I think that would be true. Malov Symina is a beast. Far worse than Daria because he is colder.”
“A death mage?” Yani asked.
“Yes. But he never had much power himself without his demons. Daria has the magic in this generation. A cruel family, the Syminas. Cruel even for the Princes of Earth. They have always leaned towards the Abyss.” She peered into Yani’s face. “You should sleep lady. You are tired to death.”
“I cannot stay here,” said Yani. “I shall lead the lady Daria to you.”
Mab nodded. “When you leave, go over the mountains to the east. Those are Lord Pimenov’s lands. You will find shelter there. I will get you food for your journey.”
Yani’s back ached. She lay flat for a moment to rest her tired muscles.
It only seemed like a moment later that she opened eyes again, but from the blanket that lay over her she knew that she’d been asleep for some time. She sat up quickly. Impossible to tell how long had passed in this dark place. There was no sign of Mab, but a number of women were seated nearby staring at her with a strange intensity.
“How are the children?” she asked.
None of them seemed to understand her, so she got up and looked for herself. The little girl was now sleeping quite naturally and the boy had some colour in his cheeks. The children’s mother was still sitting by their heads. She took Yani’s hand and kissed it again.
“Where is Mab? Mab?” she asked the woman, thinking she must surely recognise the name.
Was it the torch light or did anxiety flicker across the woman’s face?
She pulled Yani down and said something urgent to her.
“I’m sorry. I don’t understand,” said Yani, unease growing. The woman repeated herself again even more urgently. Then suddenly she stopped, let go of Yani’s hand and turned her face away.
Someone touched Yani’s shoulder. A woman leaned down and passed her a bowl of stew. The hot savoury smell of it made Yani’s mouth water. She took the stew and thanked the woman.
“Where is Mab?” she asked this new woman.
The woman merely shook her head and walked away, and Yani took a spoonful of the stew. The children’s mother looked around quickly to see if anyone was watching, put her hand on the hand Yani was lifting to her mouth and said something urgent. This time she pointed towards the opening of the cave.
Did she want her to leave? Yani jerked her head towards the opening of the cave and the woman nodded vigorously and actually pushed Yani.
“Right,” said Yani. “But first some food.” She put the spoonful of stew to her lips.
The woman let out squeak of protest and dashed the stew from Yani hands. The earthenware bowl fell to the ground with a clatter.
“What?” cried Yani, but the desperate look on the woman’s face told her that the stew had not been safe to eat and that she should go. Now!
She jumped up and made for the opening, wishing she had her weapons.
The cave was suddenly hushed. Yani’s scalp tingled with the feeling of all those eyes watching. There was a flurry along the walls and a black mass rose to intercept her. In the torch light it resolved into a group of men, led by the fleshy-faced headman and the blacksmith.
“Where you going?” demanded the headman.
“It’s