Recovery

I remained in a depressed state for the months after I sent Amir away. I filled all my time picking herbs, making new medicines, working in my new garden, and guarding the forest.

One day two months after Amir had left, I told Ormond's father, Orothro, that I wanted to leave the Village and Forest of Lights for a time and travel to the city. I wanted to go to the Library and see if I could find out any more about the Rider. Orothro approved my request and I set out with a small pack. Before I left, Alec gave me a jar with some leaves in it. " What is it?" I asked curiously.

" It is a plant that will stop your transformat- ion for as long as you need it. We gave it to you when you were sick. You'll still get some pain and the hair, but not the skin or the wings. If you want you can take one leaf with a sprig of thyme and keep one asset." he smiled and leaned in close. " I like your Faerie hair." I felt his lips touch my ear, but I stepped away.

"I will take that to heart, but I have to go. I will see you in one week." I touched my forehead, bowed and retreated down a path.

I had no idea how to get to the City. I didn't even know if there was still a library after the Downfall. I also didn't know how I was going to get information on the Rider if I couldn't read.

Fifty years had passed since the Downfall. Six young people, two from each race, were sent to the Changing Planes to defeat the Lord of the Dead, Kafik. The oldest was twenty-one and the youngest was thirteen. At first they were secretive and kept to themselves, but they soon found that that wouldn't work. They began to confide in each other, told each other everything. They fell in love and learned to trust, no matter how terrifying their past. It took them somewhere between a month and a half to two months to reach their final destination. When they did they found that one of their newer members was the son of Kafik and they thought him evil. But Kafik would have nothing to do with his son. The son had disgraced him by turning himself into a mortal.

The war lasted three days. It was quick and triumphant, but the victors were not the good guys. That brought on the Downfall. The countries fell into ruin. Then Kafik had simply disappeared and the world returned to normal as best that it could, never knowing when Kafik would show himself again.

It took me two days to reach the City. No one was about, but I was glad to find out that there was still a library left in the world. It was two stories tall and made out of the purest white and black marble. It is a wonder that it was still standing. Kafik raided most big cities of their value by taking gold, bronze, silver, and other rare or valuable metals from any place he could find it.

I stepped cautiously up the white steps and pulled open the giant wooden doors. The smell that hit me was better than the one I first smelled when Amir had given me the book. It smelled like dust and paper, but it also smelled sweet, like sugar. There was a big desk in the lobby. A man with dark brown hair and green eyes stood behind it. He wore a simple white robe and wore his hair to his waist. Pure joy radiated from his face as I stepped up to the desk. "How may I help you?"

"Do you have any books on the Abdul?" I asked softly, still in awe of the size of the library. The man stiffened and his gaze turned cold.

" Maybe you should look elsewhere."

"Please, sir!"

" I have the books, but I will not give them to you. They are not for someone of your age to be reading."

"Sir, please! I will do anything! I swear!" I begged.

"Anything? Can you even read?"

"No, I cannot read. Would you read them to me, or help me narrow down my search?" I pleaded gently.

"Anything you say? How about this?" he leaned forward and whispered in my ear. I blushed and nodded. "Well then. Follow this way. What brings you here? Most who don't know how to read will not even step inside a library." The man led me farther into a maze of book shelves. I didn't even know that there were this many books in the world. "What would you like to know?"

"I need to know where I can find them and," I paused racking my brain for another important question. "And their weaknesses."

He exhaled sharply. "Miss, I do not want to pry, but isn't that a little intense? Or severe I mean. I just can't see why you would want this information."

"I just need it, and as soon as possible."

"Well," he sighed and ran a hand over his head. "Do you have a place to stay? I suggest you find one if you don't."

"Um, do you have any suggestions? I'm from the country and I–I really don't know much about this."

"You can stay at my home. I have a spare bedroom and I live just down the street. This might take a while. I think you should go find some food and wait for a few hours. I'll come find you when I'm ready to leave."

I looked at my feet. "Another problem. I don't have any money."

"Oh, dear. Here," he handed me a bunch of silver coins. "That is all you'll get today. Meet me at the steps in two hours then I'll take you home."

I hurried out the doors and down the steps. The cobble stone road was falling apart; the bricks cracked and loosed. It stung my feet but I made no move to stop the pain. I walked at the side of the road until I came to a small pub. I stepped inside. It was different than the time I went to the Gypsy camp. The place was empty and it was bright. There were thick round tables and sturdy benches all over the room. There was a woman working behind the bar. She was cleaning out a stack of clay cups and plates. I went over and watched for a few moments. "Would you like any help?" I asked. The woman looked up. She had fiery red hair and bright blue eyes.

"I suppose, but I can only give you a copper an hour."

"That's all right, but first can I get some food?"

"Sure I'll tell the cook."

I ate a bowl of soup, a piece of bread, and a tomato. There was also warm and spicy cider, much to my joy. "You're not from around here are you?" The lady asked. Her name was Abby.

"No, I'm from the country. I came here to see the Library." I answered biting at the tomato. "I can't read, but I'm just glad to see it. I wasn't even sure that it still stood." Abby looked surprised. "We don't get much word where I live. We are afraid of the dangers."

She nodded and glanced at the floor. There were little droplets of blood falling from my feet. I paled and felt my stomach churning.

"Oh dear. Let me get my son. Jago! Jago! Come quickly!" she yelled into the back. A tall burly man stepped out of the room and walked towards us.

"Yes?"

"See if you can help Rose. She's from the country and cut her feet walking on that old road." He looked at me and his eyes were filled with intense anger. He shook his head. I was feeling weaker every second. I knew now that I wouldn't have any hopes of becoming a healer if I fainted at the sight of blood. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply. "Jago!"

"If you go in my bag there should be a small pouch. Would you mind getting it for me?" I asked in a small voice. I breathed in again and heard Jago gasp. I opened one eye. He had the jar that Alec had given me in his hands. It had a label. And I was pretty much positive that he could read it. I knew one word of there–well two: Faerie and Guardian. Why they would label such "Give it here!" I ordered. He glanced at me before handing it to Abby. She moaned softly. She looked at me and moaned again. I snatched the jar from her hands and was going to put it away, but Jago grabbed it. "Please! I don't mean you any harm. I'm not evil." I gasped. Looking outside I saw that the sun was beginning to set. I had two hours. "Just give it here please. I'll go away. I won't come back. I promise."

Abby came around to me and hugged me tightly. "We aren't afraid of you. We just need to know your story."

"But I can't tell you. I don't know if I can trust you. I know I can trust you, Abby, but I don't think I can trust Jago." I said.

"Tell us." said Jago softly. "You can trust me. I won't tell anyone. I swear." He touched my hand gently. "Come on."

I sighed. "My name is Gaia. I'm almost seventeen. My parents were killed by the Abdul when I was four. I stayed with my uncle, Orothro until I was old enough to move out with my friend Yaffa." I told them everything. I told them about meeting Amir and how he scared me and how we had spent hours talking and laughing together. I told them about the Abdul coming and how the Rider hit me. I told them how I sent Amir away after he took me home. "Then I decided I should learn more about this Rider so I came here."

Silence. Finally Jago spoke. "Why did you send Amir away?"

I closed my eyes. "The Rider took advantage of me." I answered quietly. "If I hadn't fought back it would have been more than just a kiss, but all the same I couldn't face Amir with that knowledge. It scared–scares me."

Jago growled in rage. He loomed over me. "What was his name?"

"I–I don't know. I don't even know what he looked like, but his eyes. They were black and green." I recalled. I closed my eyes against Jago. Before I knew what was happening. He had me in a bear hug. He almost squeezed the breath out of me, but the moment shattered when I let out a ear piercing wail. My two hours were up.

I began to shake and shudder. "Hide me!" I managed to say. Another blast of pain shot through me and I screamed, tears falling from my face. Jago picked me up and carried me up the back staircase and into a dark room.