Gardener

Chapter 21

Head Gardener

                   
I gazed at the palace servant that was also my friend and felt older than my twenty-three years, when my mother forced me to come here for a better life I don't think she could have ever imagined something quite like this would happen.

             "We need to move her..." Baem and Ryu moved forward. "Without anyone touching her for an extended period of time." Sorn added quickly before they could touch Mei.

  
               "Do we have a sling for injured?" Kalini asked after a moment of thoughtful silence.

  
               "Yes actually," Baem added chuckling slightly before sending two guards to fetch it for us. "It was beneath your bed," he replied shrugging slightly as he gazed at me, "And I found myself thinking. Why not...?"

  
               I smiled softly, "Thank you for believing in me Baem," he smiled at me before tousling my hair.

  
               I shoved him away with a well-placed glare, "I'm going to enjoy being able to do that." He laughed softly while I fixed my hair. The guards returned just as I thought to retaliate.

  
               We laid the sling as close as possible, without touching her. "Now how are we going to do this?" Kalini glanced around the circle of people waiting for ideas. While everyone stood around nervously gazing at each other waiting for someone else to volunteer I crouched low and slipped my arms beneath Mei's still frame and then with a small bit of effort lifted her from the ground shuddering slightly at the sickening feeling that overtook me.

  
               I felt my eyes flutter, time slowed, it felt as if I gazed out at the world through a veil of shadows. I heard whispers, just beneath the song of the Ancients seductive voices nauseating in their intensity. I took a deep breath before setting her as gently as I could into the sling. I sat back on my heels ignoring the whispers and waiting for the wisps of the Void to disappear from my skin. "Goddess..." I breathed before glancing up to find everyone staring at me. "What?" I pushed myself to my feet. "You were all taking too long and I couldn't stand to see her lying on the ground anymore." I sighed softly. "She's my friend..."

  
               "How do you feel?" Sorn asked carefully.

  
               "That's a hard question to answer considering all that has happened in the last few days." I replied honestly.

  
               "Is the Void inside you?" She tried again.

  
               I gave her a look that questioned her intelligence. "If it were, do you really think I'd reply honestly?" I countered not unkindly.

  
               Everyone relaxed, "That's definitely Lys." Baem said rolling his eyes at my smart remark.

  
               I gazed around the circle of people and saw that the only royalty before us was a Prince that no longer held his title. I furrowed my brow. "Where are the foreign monarchs...where are the people and their guards?" I questioned curious.

  
               Amida answered, "They departed while Kalini and Sorn went in search of you...this is a war they cannot fight, something none came prepared for and many cannot afford to die or be infected when they have no one to replace them...it would be catastrophic. We did the best we could as Gardeners and not politicians to ensure that if they chose not to aid us, then at least they would not initiate war with us in this time of weakness because if we fall...surely the Void will come for them next." Amida turned to Sorn, "Your father, King Teaon of Dangilere leaves you in his steed as well as his most trusted guards, he promised to send half his army to aid us in whatever we may need. Several others volunteered food and Healers. We took what was offered graciously, the highest ranking military man here is the Captain of your father's guard detail and we were not willing to let him lead us." He glanced at the Prince. "There is no royalty, there are nobles and those suitors who wished to stay and aid us like Jaiyaan and Bae. We have many of our soldiers and our guard and most if not all of the recruits...but as Sorn said they would destroy us if they came upon us now."