Lex of Rhule

Chapter 4: Left to Fate

   They made their way past the stables and The Taverns Inn in complete silence. Lex concerned about his father and Clare was eager to see Kairi again.
   They passed a few villagers out in the circle. Some still wearing long cloaks from the rain and some shed them happily now that the storm was gone.  The smell of freshly baked hosted bread made his stomach growl in frustration. The smells where overwhelming so he did his best to ignore his stomach. The soft breeze smelled of rain and blew cool on his face and neck.
   One man walked by whistling a merry tune and waved  as he passed them.
It was great to see the townfolk out and about after being locked in their houses for nearly two weeks because of the storm.

     No doubt with  it coming to an end the town would soon be full of people. Shopping had to be done before winter and the travelers wouldn't stay very long .
Feeling the cool damp air on his face. Lex couldn't help but wonder how many of the villagers and travelers alike will be spending some down time keeping Rory busy tonight.
With that thought he couldn't help but smile.
Clare made a hissing noise and looked into the distance.
" We need to hurry!"

A look of confusion passed over Lex.
She looked at him as if she had seen a ghost.
" Zander is in grave danger and we must go now! I can sense Kairi from here she will meet us there. We must hurry!"

    With his heart pounding and the blaring of wind in his ears he raced after Clare.
Mud was flying everywhere but Shadowmere never faltered. True to her word she ran faster than ever before down the rocky dirt path leading away from town.
   Everything passed in a blur but he could see the smoke coming from the chimney of their small cottage he dug in his heels and the mare sped through the field that surrounded his fathers house and the smithy.

     Seeing Clare dismount from her horse he came to a stop and jumped unceremoniously from Shadowmere only for his knees to buckle as he came splashing down in the mud.
   As he stood he could hear faint hooves pounding in the distance. He turned to look and coming down the path was none other than Kairi ,wild hair blowing in the wind.

Wiping the mud from his brow he turned to Clare he grabbed her hand and rushed  inside of the cottage.

~~~

   Clare stood beside his father checking his pulse which Lex could see racing underneath the skin in his throat.
He looked as if he was having a nightmare.
His body was drenched in sweat and he kept repeating the same words he had told him the other night.
    The door slammed open and in came Kairi with all sorts of bags and baubles.
She began going through them and pulling out crystals and dried herbs the She began a soft lilting tune and the crystals began to glow as she whispered words he had never heard before.
She passed the crystals to Clare .

   Clare closed them in between her palms and blew on them. Golden light formed around her hands ,gold sparks rose as if in slow motion and without warning she slammed the light into zander's chest.

   Lex jumped to his fathers side but was frozen solid with one look from Clare's glowing golden eyes. His fathers back bowed off his bed as if he was being lifted by some invisible force.

   Lex was afraid,
He had never seen magic before but in rumor it was nothing like this.
He wondered if he should stop her when she began to sing.
      Clare's voice was beautiful but eerie.
It sound both near and far and reverberated in all directions. Like bells and strings from lands unheard of her voice was extraterrestrial and it sent shudders down his spine.
"Li'etha gul'dur,
Na,
Tanka..harwar-

Engwarea-
Esta sinome .
Elandolil."
Lex waited staring.
" It means ward against magic and heal. Peace to the ill one, may you find rest here, Elf kin.
Offered Kairi.

Lex could feel the power wrenching through her song. And was confused when he heard the translation.
" What does she mean, elf kin?"
Lex asked.
" I will leave that to be answered by Clare or your father." She said with peculiar look in her blue eyes. Prancing away she turned a full circle and winked as she disappeared into the kitchen.
What an odd girl, thought Lex as he began to think about the last part of the song and what it could possibly mean the golden light began to grow faint as his father drifted slowly back on to his bed.

   He began to worry until he noticed his father's pulse was no longer racing but steady. His face no longer burning still. Pale but alive.
He leaned in to get a closer look And Clare reached a hand to stop him  only this time it was a tired caring look he saw in those now familiar evergreen eyes.

" I've done all I can,but he needs rest . His heart and his  have to be strong
for the spell to work I've done my part... the rest is up to him. Your father was a good man when I knew him. And he would have to be a great father for you to go through so much to help him. Let's hope that is enough to bring him back to us."

   Lex watched her enter the kitchen. He wanted to wake his father but didn't know what the outcome would be. And after all he had done to save him these past few days he didn't want to risk anything so he slowly stood.

   Stretching the ache out of his knees he went in search for Clare.
When he entered the kitchen he had expected to find her but instead found Kairi sitting with her legs folded and her palms facing outward on top of their eating table.

"Umm, are you seriously meditating on our dinner table?"

   He got no response so he sat in one of the chairs and began to hum a tune he had picked up from his father in the smithy.
He was halfway through his rhyme when Kairi fell from the table
.
" Where on earth did you learn that?and why in the world are you pulling at my energy without my permission?"

Lex looked as if she had slapped him.
"What!!! I'm simply humming a childhood song and I am not taking your energy. You wouldn't have fell if you weren't sitting on top of my eating place."

   Kairi blushed then her mood shifted from easy going to fuming.
With her blonde hair wild and curly tied in a knot on one side to hold it from her face. And a look of pure anger. She looked like a mad girl from stories he heard as a child.

   He didn't know whether to laugh or flee.
She turned away then she turned back to him with a finger dug into his chest.

" You may not know what is going on but I assure you when Clare returns you won't be so quick to open that mouth of yours to me again. I will sit where I want to meditate and you will not hum another tune around me until you talk to her!"

    Lex was stunned the fun playful herbalist he had known for years had never , not once been so upset with him. Not even when he let all of her salamanders go just because he wanted to see where they would hide. She had simply laughed at his explanation. Saying that it was good to wonder and even better to test your ideas.
But now she was furious and it was his fault.
"I am s-" he began but she shook her head and left without another word.

   Lex walked solemnly to his room.
It felt as if an eternity had passed since he had gotten out of this bed that morning.
He began the task of unlacing his boots.
  Kicking his boots to the side he walked over and looked in the mirror by the basin that still sat on his dresser.
He looked tired and needed rest. His green eyes a pale gray from lack of sleep.
He decided he would rest while Clare was out wondering if she was okay after all she had done for his father.
He couldn't help but feel guilty for what had happened with Kairi.
All thoughts faded as Lex slipped into a dreamless sleep.

Sorry for the shorter chapter. But please don't forget to vote! And all comments on the story are welcome . Thank you for reading !!!