A soft warmth touched Ayden's cheek as he began to wake. At first, he thought he was back at Freya's in his bed; he imagined the warm summer breeze whispering through his window and caressing his face. But as he regained consciousness, he remembered what had happened. He lay perfectly still, thinking he was still skewered on the broken limb. But as his eyes focused, he found that he was resting on a soft cushion of heather.
"You may move your head, lad. Your neck is not broken. And now that you are awake I will heal your wounds, if you will permit it." The voice was deep, gentle, and soothing. Ayden turned his head toward it and almost yelled in amazement. Beside him stood none other than the prince of unicorns.
It wasn't just the fact that Palmaero was speaking, but also his magnificence that struck Ayden with complete awe. Palmaero's head was near enough for his breath to caress Ayden's cheek.
Ayden had never seen such clear eyes. And, as beautiful as the kelpie had been before it had tried to kill him, it didn't hold a candle to the magnificence of the unicorn stallion. When Ayden remained speechless, Palmaero asked again, "Will you permit me to heal your wounds?"
Ayden blinked as if coming out of a trance and answered, "Oh, yeah. Please." The unicorn lowered his head until the tip of his ebony horn touched Ayden's shoulder. The horn was so polished that Ayden could see his image reflected in it; his face was covered with small cuts and bruises and his hair was ruffled and tangled with leaves and twigs. I've seen better days!
"Be still, Lad. Let me to my work," the unicorn said as if he'd read Ayden's thoughts. As Palmaero's horn touched Ayden's flesh, pain shot through his shoulder, causing him to yell. Then, as the pain subsided, a mild burning sensation washed through him from his head down through his toes. He could feel his flesh tightening around his wounds as they healed, and bones crackled as they rejoined where they had been broken. It was a very peculiar, uncomfortable feeling.
Finally, the unicorn raised his head and stepped back. "I am sorry for the pain, but it was necessary for the healing."
Ayden raised the opposite arm and felt with trembling fingers where the large open wound had been in his shoulder. A small lump of flesh was the only sign that anything had been amiss. "I have not healed it completely. A scar remains to help you remember."
"Forgive me, but remember what?" Ayden asked cautiously. He'd just as soon forget the terrifying ride he'd just survived.
The unicorn looked into Ayden's eyes intently. He suddenly felt very small. "More than once, you have acted rashly and have caused great trials for you and your friends. Do you still not understand what it is you should have learned from this?"
Ayden thought for a long while. Something pushed his mind back to all the times he'd made mistakes; he'd been told not to bring Isabella into Shae Vale, but had done it anyway, causing her to become cursed; Skeezicks by the river--Volos had been trying to yell instructions to him, but he'd been so involved with his own ideas that he hadn't listened; Da'ewyn had warned him not to stay at the village after they'd found the stone, but he'd wanted comfort and had done what he wanted, and had faced a hag as a result; Volos had tried to warn him about the valley and about the kelpie, but he'd been in such a hurry to reach their destination that he'd ignored the advice offered. All of his trials had been caused by his own reckless mistakes.
He knew now what his lesson was, and he felt ashamed and irritated with himself. "I've been a jack a-" he began to say, then suddenly felt his face flush at Palmaero's stern gaze. "Uh, I mean, I haven't been listening very well. My friends have been trying to help, even before today. But I was too busy doing things my own way. I've caused a lot of trouble."
It was at that moment that Ayden learned something else--unicorns could smile. "At last you understand. Now rise and drink."
Very slowly, Ayden lifted himself from the ground and dipped his fingers into the water. His muscles ached and the few scars left from the cuts on his body pulled against his skin. "How did you get me off of the limb?" he asked after he'd taken several deep drinks.
"I have many helpers," Palmaero said and gazed to the trees beside them. Ayden turned just in time as several small girls with wavy hair and flowery dresses giggled before they ducked behind the tree trunks. But his attention was averted as his eyes rested on what had to be Palmaero's bride, Aclippa. Her coat was as white as Palmaero's was black and was nearly blinding in the sunlight. Her horn was more beautiful than the purest pearl, and her mane flowed over her shoulder like a royal cloak. As she swished her tail, it sparkled against the sun as if imbedded with crystals. She was breathtaking. Ayden was shocked when she bowed her graceful head to him in greeting.
Ayden bowed low in return, feeling as if he was unworthy to be in the presence of the two most beautiful and noble creatures in the world. But he experienced an even greater shock when Palmaero asked, "Are you ready to face the kelpie?"
Ayden just stared at him.
"If you do not face him now, he will haunt you for the remainder of your days. A kelpie never rests until it fulfills its purpose."
"You mean I have to kill him? I thought you'd already done that."
"No, Lad. I have only trapped him. I will release him, if you are ready. I suggest you make haste. Your friends will need your assistance very soon."
Ayden gave up trying to make sense of anything at this point. He drew his sword, gulped, and nodded to Palmaero. The stallion pranced to the edge of the lake and touched the water with his horn. Immediately and violently, the kelpie shot up with a surge of water, his eyes and nostrils flaming. Way to tick off a demon horse, Ayden!
"Ready, Lad!" Palmaero shouted. Ayden kept his eyes on the kelpie. It stood there, shaking with rage as steam rose from its heated body.
It charged. Ayden leapt out of the way without getting a shot at the thing. He did a summersault and jumped back to his feet. The kelpie had spun around with supernatural swiftness and was rearing over him. Ayden swung his sword around in defense. Sparks dazzled the air as the blade lanced off flinted hooves.
The kelpie struck the ground and snaked its neck forward. Ayden screamed as sharp teeth sank into his thigh. The pain ignited rage. His scream turned into an angry growl as he swung his blade, slicing the kelpie's neck. The demon horse screamed and reared, towering over Ayden. Bad move, demon! He thrust his sword upward into the kelpie's black heart and then dove out of the way.
Turning back, he watched with morbid fascination as the kelpie screamed and strained its bleeding neck, attempting to reach the blade imbedded in its chest. It gave out one last enraged screech and then exploded. Ayden's sword flung through the air and stuck into the ground a foot in front of him, its handle and blade sizzling.
Ayden sat in shock as stomach churned unpleasantly. He was vaguely aware of Palmaero touching his thigh with his horn. The unicorn's voice finally brought him to his senses. "Well done, Ayden Greenwillow," he said, speaking Ayden's name for the first time. But, Greenwillow? They watched for a moment as bits of the kelpie sizzled and vanished into the ground.
Then came Ayden's next surprise. "Now, get onto my back, Lad. Your friends are in need of your assistance, and time is of the essence."
Ayden looked at him incredulously. "But, you're the prince of the unicorns. You would allow me on your back?"
"I am what you say, but that does not make me any greater than any other creature in this world. Please, we must go."
"First, I need to thank you and Aclippa and your helpers. What can I ever do to repay you?" Ayden questioned.
"Remember what you have learned--be slow to act and swift to listen. That is all the thanks that we require at this time. Now, let us be going."
Ayden retrieved his sword and walked shakily to the unicorn. Palmaero knelt down so that Ayden could easily mount. Tentatively, he grabbed Palmaero's mane; it felt like pure silk as it caressed his fingers. He pressed his legs against the unicorn's warm sides and readied himself for another fa
st ride. He didn't have to hold on too tightly, however, as Palmaero's stride, though just as fast as the kelpie's had been, was as smooth and fluid as if he were riding on air. Joy like he'd never felt in his life leapt into Ayden's heart as Palmaero raced through the forest toward the path where Ayden belonged.
Chapter Twenty Six
Cat's Tongue