Free Source Of The River by Lana Axe Page B

added.
    “I went there to see if I could help,” Kaiya
declared. “That’s all. There is an evil presence in the cave, and it is far
stronger than me. I don’t know how to get rid of it.”
    “If you do learn of anything that might help,
Kaiya, please come to us first,” Gerry said. “We don’t want any
misunderstandings, and your safety could be in jeopardy. Not everyone in our
town is as open-minded as Anid and myself.”
    Kaiya nodded, trusting in the validity of his
words. She would have to stay away from town indefinitely or risk getting into
a fight with ignorant miners.
    “Do you know any type of healing magic?” Anid
asked. “So far there is no treatment to alleviate the miners’ discomfort. Lives
may be lost.”
    “I’m sorry, I do not know any healing magic,” she
said.
    Medicine was not something that dwarves spent a
lot of time studying. A man was either strong enough to overcome an illness on
his own or he wasn’t. They focused mainly on crude surgeries and folk remedies,
most of which did little to help the sick. The women had a few effective
remedies for their children, but those would prove inadequate against a magical
illness.
    The men rose to leave, and Darvil saw them to the
door. Kaiya and Kassie remained seated, digesting the news about the miners.
    As Darvil returned to the kitchen, he said, “I
wish you’d give up this magic nonsense and settle down. There’s going to be
more trouble if this keeps up.”
    “I can’t change what I am, Papa,” Kaiya replied.
“If I can find a way to help, I will do it. Magic is a part of me, and I would
never give it up.” She rose from her seat and headed to the door. Before she
could depart, Darvil grabbed her arm and hugged her.
    “It’s you I care about,” he said. “With or without
magic, you’re my little girl.”

Chapter 15
     
    D isappearing
beneath the horizon, the sun bid farewell to the Vale. Myla was busy placing
flowers in Lenora’s hair while Albyn, Lenora’s father, lit the blue magical
fire that would illuminate the celebration throughout the evening. A variety of
foods had been prepared, and the peach wine was already begging to flow. Nearly
every adult elf in the Vale was in attendance to celebrate Lenora.
    Lenora wore a shimmery white gown along with white
flowers and ribbons upon her hair. As she stepped out among her kinsmen, they
applauded and cheered. Her eyes danced over the crowd, searching the faces of
those who had come to celebrate her special day. River was among them, dressed
in a striking blue robe. Her eyes lingering on him for a moment, she felt
herself begin to blush, and quickly turned her attention back to her parents.
    Myla kissed her daughter on both cheeks and
presented her with a gift. She hung a delicate silver medallion wrought with
intricate vines around Lenora’s neck before stepping back to admire her. Lenora
ran a hand over the medallion’s surface and pressed it to her heart.
    “Thank you, Mother,” she said, tears forming in
her eyes. This was her grandmother’s medallion, which Myla had received at her
own Coming of Age Ceremony.
    Next, Albyn stepped forward and kissed Lenora on
her forehead. “May the goddess of the forest protect and keep you always.”
    In a crystalline soprano, Lenora lifted her voice
in song. She sang sweetly of the elf maiden who transformed herself into a
seabird and flew across the ocean, never to return. Her song had a hypnotic
effect on River as he sat captivated by her voice. A single star appeared in
the sky as she finished her song.
    The crowd cheered for Lenora, and now the feast
could commence. Though the inhabitants of the Vale did not consume the flesh of
animals, there was still an abundance of savory foods to be found. The Vale’s
bounty of fruit and nuts provided a range of different flavors and options. The
Westerling Elves were not opposed to sweets, as evidenced by the large number
of dessert items.
    Galen paid more attention to the food