Lorgin encouraged Deana to eat.
“I don’t think so. It looks like it’s been hanging around here awhile.” She took a sip of the drink, surprised to find it delightfully refreshing.
Lorgin eyed the food, then shoved it away. “Perhaps you are right. I think I will stick to the keeran.” Yaniff and Rejar concurred.
So they drank keeran.
Deana was starting to feel much better. She didn’t even feel tired anymore. Yaniff was securing a boat for the remainder of their journey to the healer’s house, and Rejar had gone off somewhere with a set of giggling twins.
Deana took a large swallow of the brew, remembering how Rejar had a possessive palm firmly planted on each shapely bottom while he smoothly led the breathless women away. She turned to Lorgin.
“Your brother has the morals of an alley cat.” Her eyes widened as she realized her unintentional pun. She started giggling, then surprised herself by hiccuping.
Lorgin looked down at her, amused. “Adeeann, you have not had keeran before. I should have remembered that.”
She looked at him and giggled some more.
“I think you have had enough for now, zira.” He tried to take the horn away from her. She was not about to give it up.
As they were wrestling with the horn, Deana felt something snake around her upper thigh. Looking down, she noted it was a tentacle belonging to the purple guy standing next to her. He looked at her and grinned, revealing several sharply pointed teeth.
The intergalactic geek was trying to hit on her! It was too much! She broke into uncontrollable laughter.
Lorgin had finally wrested the keeran from her, now noticing that a Seckla had her in an embrace. He spoke to the alien in his own language, “Remove your touch from my woman at once.”
The Seckla answered, “I have no reason to.” He snickered at Deana’s laughter. “The woman obviously enjoys my touch.”
Lorgin, having given what he considered adequate warning, whipped out his light saber. “I will give you a reason.” He neatly sliced through the tentacle, severing it from the Seckla in an instant.
The barroom became very quiet, eagerly awaiting the Seckla’s reaction. He gazed carefully at Lorgin for a long tension-fraught moment, sizing up the opponent. Then he abruptly bowed to the blond man, quickly leaving the cavern. The noise level resumed as if nothing had happened.
Deana, in her fuzzy state, was not sure what had occurred until she looked down to see the severed limb slide off her leg. She stared at Lorgin horrified.
“You—you cut his arm off!” She started swaying toward him.
Lorgin was clearly irritated. “Do not be so upset, Adeeann; it is not as if he will not grow another.”
Her surprised look was cut off as she passed out in his arms.
She came to in the boat to the sight of the cavern ceiling rapidly whizzing by.
It took her a few moments to realize that they were the ones moving, not the ceiling. She had a horrendous headache. Sitting up, she clutched her forehead, groaning. Yaniff crouched down beside her, sticking a cup of brew under her nose. The strange substance hissed and bubbled.
“Drink this, child. It will clear your head.”
She warily took the cup from him, grimacing at the thick, smelly liquid. “Definitely not hair of the dog. What’s in it—eye of newt?”
Yaniff smiled slightly. “Toe of dog is the accepted remedy.”
Deana wasn’t altogether sure he was joking. Her head hurt too much to worry about it. Holding her nose, she downed the concoction.
As her head began to clear, she noted Lorgin and Rejar at opposite ends of the boat, steering through the fastmoving water by the use of long poles. The underground river carried them swiftly along, causing the men to make quick sudden adjustments with the poles to prevent the currents from careening the boat into the rock structures they passed. The cave walls sped by at dizzying speeds as they were hurled forward by the powerful currents. It was a task that required utmost concentration, so Deana thought it prudent not to talk to either of the brothers.
After what seemed like hours, she quietly asked Yaniff when they would reach their destination. Unbelievably, the old man was snoring! How he could sleep through this whirling maelstrom was beyond her. Even that weird bird thing on his shoulder seemed to be snoozing.
Yaniff opened one eye. “His name is Bojo and when you have lived as long as I have, child, you develop the virtue of being able to sleep through anything.”
Deana looked sheepish. “You can read my mind. I thought you might have that ability.”
Yaniff stretched, causing several old bones to creak. “Does it bother you?”
“I thought it might, but it doesn’t. I think it’s because you’re so nonthreatening.”
Lorgin snorted from the bow of the boat, having overheard their conversation. “No one in fifty quadrants with a micron of sanity would believe Yaniff nonthreatening.”
{Half the universe quakes in fear at the very mention of his name.} This from the back of the boat.
Yaniff patted her hand in a comforting gesture. “If the child wishes to view me as a kindly oldfather, I have no objection.”
Lorgin shook his head as he pushed the pole against a passing boulder. “Yaniff, you are beginning to worry me.”
Yaniff grinned wickedly before sending out a small bolt of lightning, hitting Lorgin squarely on the backside. Lorgin jumped, turning a fulminating glare on the old man.
Yaniff calmly replied, “I would not want to be the cause of too much worrying for you, Lorgin ta’al Krue.”
Rejar’s rich, sultry laughter rang out across the water.
“The passage is coming up, Lorgin. It is a small tributary branch to the right. Do not overshoot the entrance lest our journey become much more difficult.” Yaniff leaned on his staff, peering ahead in the cavern.
Lorgin nodded. “I will not miss it, Yaniff.”
Suddenly the tributary was upon them. Deana thought they would surely overshoot it as the raging river carried them forward.
“There.” Yaniff pointed, but Lorgin was already turning the boat, using the pole to gain leverage. His arm muscles bulging, he displayed an incredible amount of strength as he battled the pull of the water, successfully bringing them away from the main current of the river and into this small, relatively calm waterway.
They traveled up the little canal for a ways, both Lorgin and Rejar now using the poles to push the boat forward in the calm water. Soon they approached a small mooring area, where a few other boats were secured.
Deana scanned the plaza of the small outpost, noting a few traders, travelers, and locals milling about. Though rural, this outpost did not seem as lawless as the others they had passed through. She mentioned this to Yaniff as the men secured the boat.
“You are right. We can all rest a little easier here.” His eyes landed on Lorgin. “Since this pod has the only healer in the Reaches, it is generally acknowledged as a safe zone, respected by citizen and outlaw alike. Anyone may come here for treatment without fear of being victimized.” Yaniff stroked his chin. “Surprisingly, it is the criminal element which ensures this.”
“Probably because they so often need treatment.” Lorgin had come up beside them, adding his wry thoughts to the subject. He took Deana’s hand in his own, leading her down the main esplanade. “There are exceptions to this unwritten attitude. I still want you to stay near me at all times.”
“I hear and I obey, mastah!” Deana began walking like a zombie.
Lorgin raised an eyebrow. “I like these words you speak, but what are you doing?”
“I am a mindless zombie, who only lives for the sound of your command,” Deana responded in a low monotone voice, suitable for the walking dead.
Lorgin had no idea what a zombie was, but he knew when he was being mocked. He scratched his chin as if deep in thought. “I am very surprised.”
Deana continued her act. “Surprised at what, mastah?”
“That you have realized your reason for existence so quickly.” He firmly led her down the street, inwardly laughing at the outraged look on her face.
After taking several side tunnels at Yaniff’s direction, they finally came to the abode of the healer. They were ushered into the residence by a servant who asked them to wait for the healer to come.
Deana immediately noticed a difference in this domicile from the others she had seen on this world. For one thing, there actually was furniture here. Although rustic in design, at least it wasn’t made of rock. Deana spotted a chair in the corner that had a real cushion. She didn’t waste any time gratefully sinking down into the soft, padded seat.
“Ahhh! This is more like it.”
Yaniff agreed as he joined her on a matching chair. “Laeva decided that if she was going to leave the culture of the larger pods, she was at least going to be surrounded by some comfort. Most of her patients gift her with items such as these fine furnishings. A rarity in these parts, to be sure.”
Stretching her legs out, Deana leaned back in the seat, her mind wandering. Closing her eyes, she pictured a large pepperoni pizza. Her stomach growled. “How’s the food here?”
“The food here is fine, thank you very much.” Deana jumped at the sound of the authoritative feminine voice. “To what do I owe this visit, Yaniff? I am sure it is not just my sweet presence you have come to see.” The gruff voice snickered.
Deana was surprised at the appearance of the healer. She was a large woman, tall, and in her later years. Like Miki, her ears were pointed, but unlike Miki’s, they were not delicate. In fact nothing about this woman could be called delicate. Her eyes were brilliantly alive with humor. Deana decided she liked her at once.
Deana discreetly glanced at Yaniff, interested in his apparent embarrassment at Laeva’s words. The old mystic was making a great to-do about straightening the folds of his robe. Deana guessed that he was fond of the old gal.
Lorgin spoke, saving Yaniff from having to answer her.
“Laeva, I am sure that your presence alone is enough for any man to brave the Reaches. However, we do have need of your services.”
Laeva turned from Yaniff to gaze upon Lorgin. “Well, what do we have here besides an honest man?” She in-spected Lorgin, shifting her gaze to Rejar. Her face took on a thoughtful expression when she noted his eyes. “A wizard and his Familiar. How quaint.”
Rejar moved away from the wall he was leaning against. {I am not his Familiar.}
Laeva looked at Yaniff, then back to Rejar. “You are his, all right.”
Lorgin spoke up. “What do you mean? My brother and I—”
“Your brother?” Laeva smiled at Lorgin. “Yes, the two of you…Yaniff follows his—”
“Enough!” Yaniff stood, facing Laeva. “You have always had this keen ability to irritate me beyond belief, healer.”
Laeva didn’t seem at all shocked by Yaniff’s rudeness. Quite the opposite; she seemed to be enjoying it.
“Hit a nerve, have I? Good.” Ignoring Yaniff, she turned back to Lorgin. “Who are you, my dear man?”
Lorgin introduced himself, Rejar, and Adeeann to her, all the while wondering at Yaniff’s strange behavior.
“What is this service I can do for you? Excuse me for saying so, but you all look healthy to me.” She eyed Lorgin cheekily. “More than healthy.”
“We need you to perform a translator insertion on Adeeann.”
Deana’s head snapped up. “Whoa! I never agreed to this. What do you mean an insertion? An insertion where?”
“In your mind, of course. Do not be concerned, zira; it is a minor procedure.”
“Minor to you maybe.” She put her hands on her hips. “No one, I repeat, no one is going to mess with my mind. I don’t want some alien device in my brain.”
Lorgin was somehow not surprised at her reaction. She was, after all, his gharta. “Come, there is no need for worry. It will be over very quickly.”
“I told you no. Besides, I don’t need a translation device. I won’t be here that long, and we’ve managed okay up till now.”
Lorgin ignored her comment about not being here long, concentrating on her other remark. “You need the device. We will be leaving this world soon. You will need to know what is being said around you.”
Deana had an awful feeling he wasn’t going to relent on this one. She decided to be firm. “You can tell me what’s being said. The answer is no and that is final.”
Lorgin sighed. Then began advancing on her.
Chapter Seven
Deana started backing up, then crazily decided to hold her ground.
“Lorgin, I mean it! I will not have this…thing put in my head.” She crossed her arms over her chest to show she was serious. “That is the last I will say on the subject.”
“Promise?” Lorgin continued to advance on her.
Deana began backing away from him again. She started looking for an avenue of escape, missing Lorgin’s nod to Rejar. Which probably was the reason she turned right around and ran straight into him.
“Rejar, let me go!”
“He will not let you go because he knows you are being foolish.” Lorgin was in front of her now. She tried to kick out at him, but missed. He managed to grab her leg, though. Then the other one. “Where shall we bring her, Laeva?”
Laeva raised an eyebrow. “Through these doors here.”
Deana let out a howl of protest as the two men carried her, kicking and squirming, into the next room. Laeva turned to the silent Yaniff. “You never bring me the easy ones, do you, old man?”
Yaniff’s twinkled. “Pfft! A woman like you needs a challenge every now and then.” A particularly loud wail came from the other room. “We best help my young friends else you will need to treat their hearing as well.”
Laeva smirked and led the way into the treatment room.
“Place her on the table there in the center of the room.”
“No!”
“Adeeann, stop this now. You will have Laeva think we are not appreciative of her skills.” Lorgin held her shoulders down to the table. Rejar gripped her ankles.
Deana stopped thrashing to pierce Lorgin with a heated glare. “If that woman so much as touches me, I’ll sue! Do you hear me? I’ll sue all of you! Now let me go.”
{What is she talking about?}
Lorgin shrugged. “I have no idea. I think I am going to need your assistance, Rejar.”
{Very well.}
Deana’s focus shifted to Rejar. “Don’t you dare touch me, you…you…cat in a hat!”
Rejar grinned. Instead of insulting him as she intended, she apparently was entertaining him. He leaned over her, his multicolored eyes dancing with mirth. {You are tired}
Was he trying to hypnotize her? “I am not!”
{You are tired…}
Deana blinked. “I am n—”
{You are tired…}
“Yes…I am tired.” She tried not to close her eyes, but her lids seemed so heavy.
{Sleep now…}
Rejar straightened up. {She will sleep for a short time}
Lorgin smoothed Deana’s hair back from her forehead. “Good. The procedure will not take long.”
{Why was she so opposed to it? It is but a simple method to benefit her.}
“I do not know why she behaved in this manner.” Lorgin sighed. “I only hope her anger is short-lived.”
{Yes.} Rejar grinned. {Anger would make things so much more difficult for you, brother.}
Lorgin gave him a rueful look. “You need not enjoy it so much, Rejar.”
{That is what a brother is for.}
Laeva clapped her hands briskly together. “Everyone leave. I’ll call you when I am finished.”
Yaniff and Rejar gladly departed. Lorgin, however, stayed behind.
“You, too, Lorgin.”
“I will stay here.”
“She will be fine. Now go along.”
“I expect her to be fine. Nonetheless, I will stay he
re.”
Laeva looked at the man before her in exasperation. “You are no different than your wife. Both of you stubborn beyond belief! Truly, it is a good match you have made.”
Lorgin responded with a wry grin.
Once again, Deana opened her eyes to the sight of Lorgin leaning over her, a concerned expression on his handsome face. It briefly occurred to her that he wouldn’t have to wear that expression so much if he didn’t cause so much trouble! He took her hand, the warmth of his skin making her realize how cold she felt. She began shivering.
“I-isn’t there any h-heat in here? I-I’m f-freezing.” She looked around the room, noticing that she had been placed in a bedroom. Hesitantly she felt the surface beneath her, sighing when her hand confronted a real mattress. “Is there another blanket?”
“No. Here; use my cloak.” He stood up, removed his cape, and placed it gently over the blanket covering her. “It is the aftereffects of the sleeping potion you were given. It causes your body temperature to drop.”
She eyed him out of the corner of her eye. “I thought Rejar put me to sleep—for which I will never forgive him.” Her teeth began chattering from the cold.
“He did, initially. Laeva decided to administer a sleeping draught when the procedure took longer than we had anticipated.”
“So, it’s done then?” Her hand reached up to her forehead. Although nothing felt any different, a tear tracked its way down her cheek.
Lorgin sat on the edge of the bed. “What is this? Why does it disturb you so?” He wiped away the tear with his finger. “Children have this done all the time in my world. It is nothing.”
“To you, maybe. Now my mind’s been tampered with. I’m not the same as I was. For all I know, I’m a different person entirely.”
Lorgin’s look was ironic. “Believe me, you are the same person. This I can tell you with complete confidence.”