The Eye of Elicion: The Kinowenn Chronicles Vol 1 (31 page)

Gavin walked around trying to find broken bones or other ailments that were not magically involved. There was a turtle whose shell was so hot, steam was coming off it, and every minute or so, it would hiccup and bubbles would come out of its mouth. Gavin left that one alone.

Lucy started with an otter. Its front paw was smashed. Not broken, smashed. Lucy was not an expert at healing, but she figured now was as good a time as any to give it a try. She was pretty sure she couldn’t make it worse, and Justin could fix it if she couldn’t. She held the otter in her lap and gently took the tiny paw in her hand. The otter looked up at her with its large, wet, brown eyes as if he was begging her to help him. She concentrated on the paw and slowly started to rebuild the bone structure. She aligned the bones, made sure they weren’t pinching any nerves, and knitted them together as best she could. Then she formed and strengthened the muscles around the bones. Lucy concentrated on alleviating the swelling and any pain associated with it.

When she finished with that she sighed and stretched a little. Then, she studied the otter to make sure that everything else looked right. He seemed to have a small infection, which she was also able to cure. Lucy patted him on the head and decided he was done other than Justin’s final check. He hadn’t said so, but Lucy was sure that Justin would check over every animal one last time before they considered themselves done, even the ones he had cured himself.

Maya was still working on the sheep, and Gavin was still giving the turtle a wide berth, so Lucy decided to see if there was anything she could do for it. Lucy concentrated as hard as she could but could not seem to be able to find what was wrong or causing either issue. She was able to bring down the temperature of the shell enough so that the turtle was touchable, but she couldn’t make it any better. Justin finished with the chambrio who was now happily munching on some straw. He came over to help the turtle, and Lucy moved on to another creature. Lucy had no idea how long they worked on the animals in their group. It was rewarding, and even though it was part of a competition, something real was involved this time, and none of them wanted to miss anything for the sake of the creatures. Even once Maya, Gavin, and Lucy had done all they could do, and Justin was the only one working, Maya was still holding the sheep’s head in her lap, and the chambrio was curled up next to Lucy.

Justin alerted Nerek when they finished so he could double-check their healing work. They were not the first group finished this time, but the other couple of groups that had finished first had missed a couple of minor things. Since they were done, they were free to leave so they went to the Dining Hall to eat. It had been a long day, but tomorrow promised to be longer.

“What do you think they will have us do tomorrow?” asked Gavin.

“I couldn’t begin to guess. I never thought they would poison everyone at breakfast,” responded Justin.

“Good point,” said Maya, “Although, it was also kind of funny. Did you see the looks on some people’s faces when Eric made that announcement?”

“I wonder how hard other groups are finding some of the challenges,” commented Lucy. “So far, I don’t think they are that bad, but I’ve been training with you guys. Don’t let it go to your heads, but you are the best.”

“Thank you, thank you. I accept your vote of confidence in our abilities for the group and feel the need to add that we think you’re not half bad yourself,” said Gavin with a mock bow.

“I know a couple of groups are thinking about dropping out. They feel the challenges are past their abilities, and they would rather watch and enjoy the challenges than be exhausted and feel inadequate,” said Maya.

They continued chatting until they noticed each other yawning enough to call it a night and get some sleep. Justin walked Lucy to her door.

“I’m so used to you walking me to my room, I wonder if I could find my own way there if you weren’t here,” Lucy joked.

“I trust your abilities to navigate hallways,” said Justin with a smile.

“I appreciate your confidence.”

“I aim to please.”

“Well, if you aim to please, would you mind telling me more about the purpose of our little group?”

“I’d love nothing more than to tell you all about it.”

“But you aren’t going to.”

“Sorry,” said Justin with an apologetic smile running his fingers through his hair.

“It was worth a try,” shrugged Lucy. “I’ll give you a few more times to explain. Then I’ll start sinking to things like extortion and bribery.”

“What would you bribe me with, I wonder,” Justin gave Lucy an interested look.

“I think I’d rather let your imagination play with that option for a few days.”

“That’s a dangerous thing to do, leaving a man alone with his imagination.”

“I know. That’s precisely why I’m doing it. And with those words, I bid you goodnight,” said Lucy.

“Does the walk to your door seem quicker every night?”

“Maybe we walk faster. Maybe, it’s something as simple as being comfortable in each other’s company.”

“Comfortable can be a good way to be.”

“I like it. Good night, Justin.”

“Good night, good work today.”

The next morning was filled with anticipation. Everyone still participating in the challenge was excited to find out what was next, and everyone else was excited to watch. They were relatively secure in the belief that the individuals running the competition would not be so mundane as to poison everyone again and so ate with vigor. Lucy stopped counting the sausages Gavin was eating at eight. This was when he took a brief foray into the egg varieties and enjoyed scrambled, over easy, and hard-boiled before returning to the sausages. Eric, true to form, waited until everyone looked more or less finished before announcing the next segment of the challenge.

“Good morning. This will be the final leg of the challenge other than the dinner where the winners will be announced. It is perhaps a childish idea, but let me assure you, the difficulty level has been raised significantly. You will each be given a compass. Somewhere on the grounds, something has been hidden. The compass will lead you in the general direction. You still have to find the area and figure out what the object is that we hid. There is only one. You will all be searching at the same time. A number of obstacles have been set in your way. You are allowed to bypass them by any means. The other competition will be each other. You are not allowed to kill each other, of course, but convincing a group to walk in circles or anything else you can think up is allowed. Finding the object is not the end either. You must also make it back. If a group finds you with the object and is able to take it from you and make their way back, they win, not you. That said, enjoy. You may collect your compasses on the way out. The challenge begins now.”

The students looked startled for about half a second. Then, there was a mad rush for the door. Everyone was pushing and shoving in an attempt to get an edge on the other groups. Justin, however, did not rush towards the door and his group followed him. He went back to the food left over from breakfast.

“What are you doing?” wondered Maya thoroughly confused. “I might expect this kind of thing from Gavin, but you can’t possibly still be hungry.”

“I’m not. Think about it. This isn’t going to be a child’s game that lasts an hour. This could go on all day, if not into the night. I’d rather use a minute now and plan ahead than have to drop out later tonight because Gavin’s too hungry to go on,” he winked at Gavin as he said the last part.

Justin might have been joking about Gavin, but the idea was a good one and they all began stuffing easy to carry food that was unlikely in go bad for a day into their bags, which, they had all brought to breakfast in case. Lucy grabbed a few hard rolls and rolled them in a napkin. Then, she added apples and oranges. She wasn’t sure if the cheese would still be good by the time they stopped for another meal, but she felt it was worth a try. Justin had a water skin that he filled with water.

“Ok, everyone ready? We should be able to make up the rest as we go along.”

With that they made their way to the door, where the commotion had settled down considerably. Maya grabbed their compass and took a bearing. Gavin was all for running, but Justin argued that it was a waste of strength. Lucy and Maya agreed with Justin. Running around was more likely to wear them out than get them where they wanted to be. Besides, you never know when a group was going to count on other groups running around and set an ambush. So, on they walked.

They quickly neared the woods where Orin sent them through the obstacle course. The bearing did not lead them through the course, but off the beaten down track and into the woods. Maya led, checking the compass often to make sure they didn’t miss a change in direction. Gavin brought up the rear. He would be the hardest to ambush from behind. They did not expect groups to try to something like that, but some groups might be upset about the ease with which their group had been beaten in an earlier contest and might look for an easy payback. Justin and Lucy walked together trying to think up ways to win.

“All the groups were given a compass. It doesn’t tell us how far we have to go, only a direction,” started Justin.

“So, the best way to ensure we get there first is to take out other groups along the way,” finished Lucy. “Part of me feels that’s dishonest, but at the same time, if a group tried to do something to take us out, I’d feel it was fair play. Any good ideas?”

“I think we should start simple and work our way up. Let’s start with some fun wards. There may not be anyone behind us, but why take the chance that they end up in front of us?”

They stopped for a minute so Justin could lay a ward, a deception of sorts. Anyone who passed the rock they stopped at would feel like they were going the wrong way no matter what the compass said. Lucy and Justin continued to bounce ideas back and forth. When the compass signaled a change in direction, Justin set a ward that, when triggered, would make the next group feel so drowsy that they would at least have to rest for while if not take a nap. Gavin thought up the next one. Justin set one that would cause any group crossing that section to become extremely hungry. None of them were sure that the wards would actually accomplish much, but it was a fun way to pass the time as they trampled through the woods. They could hear other groups in the distance, heading in the same direction as them.

“We can hear them, and I think they are much too close,” commented Gavin. “Can we do anything about that?”

“Probably, but we would also have to stop to do that,” said Maya. “I’m not sure it’s worth it at this point. Besides, somewhere along the way, we are bound to run into obstacles. Won’t they weed some groups out?”

“True, it can’t hurt for us to wait a little while longer. I do think we should make it a point to waylay any group moving in the opposite direction as us,” suggested Justin.

“I have an odd question,” spoke up Lucy. “I know we’ve been setting wards. Is it possible to, sort of, throw wards? Can we make them land in front of one of the other groups?”

“I’m not sure about that, but we could send suggestions in their general direction. It won’t be as effective as setting wards. However, a mild suggestion might build with time and pay off in the long run like a stitch in the side or more hunger, anything that might slow them down for a break. I think it’s worth a try. Do you think you can do that while walking?” asked Justin.

“I have no idea, but I’m willing to give it a try,” said Lucy.

“I’ll try the groups on the left; you take the ones on the right. Try to keep them simple.”

Lucy threw the idea of thirst in the general direction of one of the other groups. Along with that she tossed the idea that they were all very hot, hoping that the two suggestions together might at least make them take a water break. Being hot and thirsty, often caused people’s tempers to be short so she tossed the suggestion of a headache for good measure. Lucy told Justin the ones she had done and he laughed.

“Those should work well. They are simple and make sense in the situation. People’s minds are more open to suggestions that make sense. It would be harder to make them think they were a dog.”

“And what did you think up, oh great one?”

“I tried to send my thoughts out and find specific group members to plant ideas in rather than ideas as a whole. Two guys in one group have noticed that their hands itch and are starting to think they have developed poison ivy. I think one of the other people in the group can cure it, but they will probably have to stop. All stops take time away from them and give us time. Another group has a member that is developing a paranoia of being followed. I’ve got another sneezing away. He thinks he is allergic to trees.”

“Justin?” inquired Maya, “I don’t mean to interrupt the fun and games, but what’s to prevent another group from doing this to us?”

“Good point,” said Justin. “Now might be a good time to set up wards against that kind of thing. Thanks for the reminder.”

Justin set up the wards that should keep suggestions of any kind out. While he did that, Lucy resent her previous suggestions out again of thirst, heat, and headaches. They heard noises that implied fighting off to the right, but did not investigate. Whether a group was fighting with itself, another group, or something created as an obstacle did not particularly concern them. They kept moving.

The day was hot. There was not much of a breeze to move the air around, and in the woods it began to have a stifling feeling. They were all glad of Justin’s water bottle, which he was able to refill provided they did not completely empty it. It is one thing to encourage a thing to be more or less. It is another thing to create something out of nothing. There is water all over in a forest, in the leaves, the trees, the moss, and the air. However, taking the water out does deprive that thing of water. Taking the water out of a leaf might give you a sip of water, but it causes the leaf to shrivel and die. This didn’t bother some people, and perhaps other groups were doing that, and most people would do it in a life or death situation. Justin preferred not to harm living things when he could avoid it. At least when it came to nature and animals. He did not seem to have a problem hurting people, such as they had in sparring, but he preferred to heal.