And until—unless—that last barrier came down, until Kellen really trusted his own instincts, there would always be a barrier between Kellen and his magic.
IT had been a good day. Kellen had actually enjoyed the work; he had found of late that he really got a great deal of pleasure out of physical labor, especially as his muscles had strengthened to the job.
Maybe I should have been a stone-breaker or a bricklayer after all, he thought, wondering what Lycaelon would say if he'd seen his son sweating like a common mortal. It had been fascinating to see the reclusive little brownies up close as well, and the oak-dryads were more dignified and less inclined to tease than their sisters of the apple orchard.
'I think I'll fill up the big cauldron and heat some water,' Idalia said as they walked back to the cabin that afternoon. 'I think we could both use a hot bath—or at least a good scrub.'
Kellen grinned, and reached out to flick a scrap of drying river clay off her cheek. 'Sounds good to me. But I'll carry the water and get the fire started if you'll make some of those dried berry scones to go with the rest of the leftover stew.'
'Deal,' Idalia answered promptly. Kellen had learned to do a number of new things well since he'd come to live with her, but cooking wasn't one of them. 'Just let me wash this clay off my hands first, or you'll be eating it along with the scones.' She turned toward the cabin.
But the sound of hoofbeats back down the trail alerted Kellen that their plans were about to be changed.
'Wait. Someone's coming.' Kellen slid his heavy pack from his shoulders and turned back the way they'd come.
Idalia frowned—evidently she hadn't heard anything—but as she was about to question Kellen further, there was an enormous crashing noise from the underbrush, and a big chestnut-colored Centaur burst into the clearing.
'Idalia!' he roared. 'You've got to heal me! Now!'
Kellen and Idalia both stared in astonishment, for this was possibly the most unlikely creature to come seeking Idalia's help of any in the Wild Lands. It was Cormo, the Centaur bully who had attacked Kellen at the berry patch when he had first arrived in the Wildwood, but it was difficult to recognize him now. Cormo's face and chest were badly swollen with a mass of beestings, and the Centaur was covered in half-dried black mud besides. It looked as if he'd tried to doctor himself—and failed—before coming to Idalia for help.
'Heal me—now!' the Centaur repeated in a menacing growl, taking a limping step toward her.
'That's no way to ask for help,' Kellen replied angrily, and leaned down to reach for the pruning hook beside him on the ground, but Idalia put a restraining hand on his arm and took a step forward.
'Hello, Cormo,' she said coolly. 'What is it that you want?'
'Are you deaf, woman?' the Centaur bellowed, this time so loudly that it made Kellen wince, though Idalia gave no indication that she'd even noticed. 'I'm hurt! You have to heal me with your Wildmagery!'
'Do I?' Idalia actually managed to sound amused; Kellen was impressed. 'And do you expect me to do it for free?'
'You have to,' Cormo growled, taking another step toward her. 'If you're afraid of the cost, make the brat share it—I don't care! But I know your kind—you heal anyone who comes to you for help—and you don't want word to get around that you refused to help me, now, do you?' He took another step toward her, and now Cormo was standing so close to Idalia that he could reach out and shake her like a rag doll if he chose to.
Idalia simply smiled, refusing to give in to the veiled threat or even take a step backward. Kellen was amazed. And impressed. He'd have gone for a weapon by now; he wouldn't trust that bully any further than he could throw him!
'I have some herbal salves, and I'll gladly doctor you with them free of charge, Cormo. But if you want me to use my Wildmagery to heal you, you must agree to accept half the price, and I will take the other half.'
Cormo shook his head and changed tactics. He tried to smile conciliatingly, difficult as it was with his face so swollen it resembled a ripe gourd. He pawed the ground, and his voice took on a pleading, whining tone.
'Aw, come on, Idalia, be a friend! It's just a little healing, and it really hurts—a lot! You can't honestly expect me to pay half the price on top of all this pain, can you? I could go blind if you don't heal me right now!' By now the whining was annoying enough that it put Kellen's teeth on edge. 'You wouldn't want that to happen to your old buddy Cormo, would you?' he wheedled.
'Half the price, or no magic,' Idalia said implacably.
'Damn you!' Cormo snarled, lifting one heavy hoof. 'Something bad could happen to that precious brother of yours when he's out in the woods alone, you know!'
