The healer's keep by Victoria Hanley

Author:Victoria Hanley [Hanley, Victoria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fantasy
ISBN: 055349435X
Publisher: New York : Dell Laurel-Leaf
Published: 2005-06-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

A s Ellowen Mayn opened the seals on the main gate of the Keep, he greeted the day with the same ritual hed performed thousands of times before, thanking God for the glory of the morning.

The familiar words didn't bring him joy. When he looked at the fountain and beautifully placed rocks and plants of the welcoming garden, he felt only sadness. He struggled with Ellowen Renaiya's death, made worse by the disappearance of the last Tezzarine. For days, grief had affected his perception until even the sunrise seemed lack- ing, as if some of the light had gone out of the world. The Ellowehs funeral had been very difBcult. Healers normally lived to an advanced age. Impossible to explain how Renaiya had died. She’d been found in her bed without a trace of sickness or injury anywhere on her.

Mayn felt tired through and through, and a new stiffness made his joints ache. Soon the day's work would begin, but the harmonies seemed disarrayed. It wasn't for Mayn to monitor how things were going at the Keep—that lot fell to the Council trio. With Ellowen Renaiya gone, another Mystive had been sent for. In the meantime, no one wanted to wrestle with Hester. The Chief Draden had all the earmarks of the rest of the Draden tribe: unbending with

regulations, full of self-importance^ But that was the way of the Keep—Dradens attended to all the details of worldly life, leaving the healers free to work their art. Mayn, for one, had never missed tangling with the world. He much pre- ferred his duties as the Keeps most knowledgeable Sangiv.

He started for the infirmary. He would tell the Draden who served there that he wouldn't be able to teach today. His mind wasn't clear enough. It was high time he spent a day in contemplation. He needed to get some peace and comprehension again.

As he headed along the walkway threading the gardens, a student approached from the opposite direction. Bern.

“Health, Ellowen Mayn.” Bern radiated abundant gen. “May I walk with you, sir?”

“Certainly. I was about to inform Draden Dale that I won't be supervising in the surgery today.”

“Not ill, I hope?” Bern fell into step beside Mayn.

Mayn fought a gray fogginess that seemed to penetrate his head. “Sorry, Bern. Yes, I have allowed my gen to become depleted. Would you deliver my message to Draden Dale?”

“Of course, Ellowen. But first, let me see you to your cottage.”

“Thank you. Considerate of you." Mayn leaned on Bern's supporting arm. Wretched timing to fall sick now, but at least he knew how to rejuvenate. He'd be well again before the end of the day. All he needed was a little rest.

After seeing Ellowen Mayn to his door, Bern headed toward the Boundary House. All the EUowens were in decline—the leak in the Boundary muddled their minds, while dream

visits from the Ebes drained their gen. Cams Dark Invisi- bility was apparently completely effective—Bern had not seen a single EUowen go near the Boundary House since she had put the Dark Invisibility in place.

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