Page 66 of Alora: The Maladorn Scroll (Alora 3)

Almost shouting with glee, Vindrake dug deep inside his carry-sack and withdrew a bag of fire-powder.

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Alora ignored the wave of dizziness that hit on her return to Laegenshire. I’m probably keeping my emotions inside again—it always makes me feel a little sick. I need to suck it up and admit I’m afraid of meeting my father. I shouldn’t try to suppress it.

Only two more Stone Clan warriors to transport, and her work would be done. She’d feel better when she was with Kaevin again.

Before she could leave with the two, Laethan strode beside them and hooked his arm with one of theirs.

“I’m not sure this is a good idea, Laethan,” she protested. “Arista already got Doc Sanders to come, and I know the two of you don’t exactly see eye to eye right now. We don’t need a battle inside the healing house.”

“What does that pretender know about battle wounds?”

“Well, Uncle Charles says he was a field doctor—a healer—in the Vietnam war, so I guess he knows plenty.”

His caterpillar eyebrows pushed down, almost obscuring his eyes. “You trust him over me?”

“Laethan, that’s not fair. Anyway, you liked Doc just fine when he sent you that medicine to stop the Rocky Mountain Tick Fever.”

“Humph! That was before we met in person. Before he insulted me.”

“Only because he was worried and frustrated. He’s admitted he was wrong.”

The warrior on Alora’s right cleared her throat. “Eh-hem. Excuse me, Bearer. Should we be going, now?”

“Yes. I’ll transport us the second Laethan agrees not to start a fight with the other healer.”

Both warriors pinned Laethan with disgruntled stares.

“You don’t frighten me,” he declared. “But, I hereby promise I will not initiate a battle with the so-called healer from Montana.”

“Awesome.” Alora couldn’t hide her sarcasm, probably because she was so tired. She transported for the umpteenth time that night, landing on wobbly legs. Laethan held her up, narrowing his eyes.

“When did you last eat, Bearer?”

“I ate dinner—in fact I ate a lot,” she said, neglecting to mention having throw

n up soon afterwards. She wanted to find food, but first she needed to find Kaevin. She’d been apart from him for too long, and she sensed such strong emotions from him—excitement, anxiety, exhilaration, fatigue, and tension, among others.

As the two warriors secured blades from the wagon, she felt a strong surge of terror from Kaevin.

“What’s making you fearful?” Laethan gripped her arm, as if she might crumble to the ground.

She didn’t bother to ask how he knew. “It’s Kaevin. He’s in pain!”

Laethan must have read her panic, for he yelled at her just as she prepared to transport to Kaevin.

“Stop!” He took her hand and set off, dragging her toward the nearby sounds of fighting. “You can’t help him by transporting blindly into the midst of battle.”

Too tired to properly lift her feet, she stumbled on the edge of a stone, but Laethan saved her from falling. Rounding the corner of the wall leading to the town square all she saw was chaos. Groups of fighting warriors filled the area, now illuminated only by the full moon, as the smell of sweat and blood floated in the air. Yet it was the wave of emotions that almost knocked her to the ground.

“Close the door to those feelings, Alora. You never need to sense any emotions outside of your own... with the possible exception of Kaevin.”

“Alora! Up here!”

Looking up to her right Alora spotted Wesley on the roof of the porch.

Linking her arm with Laethan’s, she transported them to the flat wooden roof, holding on to him to keep her balance as they landed.