Chapter Four

The Dark God's Visit

Ancrai and Tomul were the first to get sick. They were the children of a maid, Lisla, who served Aarana. Soon after showing signs of disease Tomul, Lisla's only son, died. For two weeks everyone waited and eventually Ancrai recovered and people began to ease up.

But then out of the blue, one by one the servants dropped. This time the disease came back stronger. Body temperature didn't rise, it fell, lips would turn blue and bodies turned clammy and stiff as though they were already dead, in their sleep victims would cough up black bile. They would get nosebleeds constantly. The people wouldn't drink unless forced to. But hardly anyone would force them because everyone who was not already sick was too afraid to help. Everyone, except Kithella and Aarana.

Kithella insisted they help their staff in these terrible times. Aarana, although she didn't admit it, was scared silly at the idea. But when she saw the room they had set aside filled with bodies her heart softened and she rushed to the nearest cot. Kithella went over to another. Aarana put her hand on the cheek of the man that lay before her. All of a sudden her hand burned and a golden light glowed between her palm and the man's face. Aarana gave a yelp of surprise and Kithella gave her a stern look.

Aarana had never known she had the Gift, no one at Linshart had it that she knew of. The Gift had only started to be recognized as a force a good. In fact it was most commonly known as the Curse, a form of witchcraft. Most people who had it, hid it and never called on their power. Recently though, a man from Tyra had claimed the Goddess herself had spoken to him and told him that people blessed with the Gift should be cherished and that the Gift could give a great benefit to mankind. He was later executed by his people.

Aarana was sure Kithella would never hurt her but Aarana was afraid to tell her. As she was lost in her thoughts of worry she heard the man whisper something. She bent down closer to hear it.

"Thank you," he said gruffly, and then closed his eyes and never opened them again.

* * * * *

Only one out of twenty patients survived. Aarana was responsible for most of these survivors. But still she looked at her newly discovered gift as a great burden she would carry forever.

Over the weeks that the so-called 'Cold Fever' ran its course of destruction, Kithella had gotten word from Goldenlake, another fief, how the disease had come to Tortall.

"A man, I think they said he was healer, just imagine that, well he had brought the disease from his homeland. A place far in the east I think it was, he seemed to be immune to it though. He was traveling west to get medicine. Anyway, this man soon gave to people in Maren, and the Tusaine, he was killed there by bandits apparently, but the Cold Fever crossed the border. The only places it hasn't reached is Scanra, Northern Tortall and the Yamani Islands. Not even Carthak was safe! And the King! There were rumors that he was trying to get magicians to cast spells to protect the city! You know, people with the 'Gift.'"

Aarana was silent. She knew the she herself had been brought up to think the gift was evil. And that Kithella was just repeating what she had heard as a child. But at the moment she said 'the Gift' with such malice and scorn. Aarana felt a well of anger rising up within her.

* * * * *

Over the next couple days Aarana was very curt with Kithella and left the room abruptly sometimes, giving an excuse like, "Oh, I forgot to tell Lisla something," or, "I really need to be getting back to the patients," Kithella wondered if the girl was coming down with the sickness herself, but that didn't seem to be the reason she was acting so strange.

Other than Kithella and Aarana the only people in the household who had not fallen ill were, Geoffrey, Kithella's driver; Lisla, Derson, Aarana's tutor; and Waren, a stable boy. But soon one of the so far survivors would be gone forever.

* * * * *

"Rana! Rana!" sobbed Lisla.

"What is it Lisla?" Aarana had been making her way to the sick room, "What's wrong?"

"No, no!" Lisla was crying hysterically.

"Lisla! You must tell me what's wrong!" Said Aarana grabbing the woman by her shoulders.

"It's Kithella!" she said sniffing, "She wouldn't get up today, and… and when I touched her she was as cold as ice."

Aarana froze. Then she ran for Kithella's room.

Kithella lay there not moving. Aarana called for more blankets and to give the fire more wood. And then there with everyone, who was recovered enough to stand and help, Aarana summoned the golden light in her palm and worked constantly. She blocked at everything around her and so she did not hear the gasps and did not see her friends shrink back in fear.

Kithella's skin began to grow warmer, but still she did not wake. Late into the night Aarana worked, and then when they were all alone, Kithella's eyes flickered open, and Aarana knew from Kithella's glazed look that she was going to die.

Kithella looked into Aarana's eyes and a tear trickled out. Then, with hear last ounce of life Kithella said, "I'm so sorry. I love you Aarana, you were like a daughter to me."

"I love you too," whispered Aarana, holding Kithella's hand.

"Just tell him… just tell him…"

"Tell who? Tell who what?"

But there was no answer. Aarana cried silently the rest of the night. It was her fault she had not used the gift to her best ability. She cried out in aguish. She had acted so harsh to Kithella in her last days alive.

Eventually, Lisla came in, and wept by Aarana's side, she was the only one who was not afraid of her Gift.

"She was like a sister to me, you know," said Lisla sadly; "She always used to play with me when we were little girls, even though I was a servant." Aarana just nodded, the old woman would never understand her feelings, Kithella had been a mother to her, a mother when she had most needed one. Kithella had now lost two, and it was more than she could bear.