Sarabande: River of Falcons Book 4

62. Upwellings

"Are you sure you need this many?" Arnica asked.

"Quite sure," Drift replied, pocketing another handful of juniper berries. "All right, let's get out of here. This place gives me the creeps."

They hurried out of the overgrown garden with its thick stucco walls. There was no gate, so they had to go back through Nautilus's cottage, which was just as she'd left it, except that it was covered with a layer of dust. Drift led the way, sweeping cobwebs out of their path. They slammed the front door firmly behind them. "Onuma should do something about that place," Drift said.

"What do you mean?" Arnica asked.

"Like burn it down," Drift replied. "I'm glad she had the old tree cut down, but the rest of the place should go, too. Okay, let's get to the well and see what we can do for Summer, June and Sarai."

"Don't give them juniper," Arnica warned.

Drift laughed. "Don't worry," she said. "It's not for them. It's for you."

Arnica chuckled in turn. "Very funny," she said. "Oh, by the way, Drift, have you given any thought to how to bring the water back? Because I don't see how you're going to heal them without the magic water, and the well's bone dry right now."

"Don't worry about it," Drift said. "Come on, let's run. I have a feeling we need to hurry."

"Run?" Arnica asked in surprise. "I don't run."

"Sure you do," Drift said, placing a hand on Arnica's shoulder, so that Arnica shimmered and took the form of a deerhound at the same time Drift did. Arnica's deerhound seemed very surprised. It twisted its head around to peer at its own body. Then it sat down and scratched an ear with a hind leg. Drift's deerhound barked sharply. Arnica's stood up and cocked its ears. When Drift's deerhound bounded off down the path, Arnica's followed.

When the two deerhounds loped into the little clearing in the very center of the Garden, they were met with surprise by a large gathering of Fena elders. "Don't worry," Summer said. "It's Drift. And, um, is that you, Arnica? I'm impressed," she added as Drift and Arnica shimmered and appeared in place of the two hounds.

"Drift guided it for me," Arnica explained. "What are all of you doing here?"

The clearing was crowded with dark-cloaked women. Every able-bodied elder was there, along with most of their students. Summer, Sarai, and June were standing in the front of the group, next to the old well. Someone had placed torches on stakes in the clearing and their smokey flames spread a warm, flickering light over the many faces.

Onuma stepped forward and gave Drift a quick hug. "I got your sending," she said. "It was very clear and strong. You've gotten better at them."

Drift smiled. "Thank you for getting everyone up and out in such a hurry. I'm going to need their help tonight. Actually, the Palace is going to need their help. But first, we have to bring the well back to life."

"I'm sorry, Drift, but it's been dry all fall. I don't think there's much hope for it."

Drift approached the rim of the well. She leaned over, staring into the inky blackness. She closed her eyes for a moment, then said, very simply, "Ovum Regina, do you hear me? I need your help. Ascendo accessus magicus." Then she stepped back.

There was a roaring sound and the ground began to shake. The women backed away from the well. A hiss of mist shot up, then a thick geyser of water burst out and sprayed high into the air. After a few moments, the water subsided to the rim of the well, but a sheet of water spilled continuously over the side.