Chapter 6

Bedside Manner

Balsilide

Kiev Irvig was supposed to be many things. He was supposed to be the next bearer of the Heart of Balsilide. He was supposed to help maintain peace in order on Balsilide. He was supposed to help the Guardians figure out whether or not a prophecy involving them destroying all live in the universe was true or not. He was supposed to be all these things, but he ended up being none of them, because Kiev Irvig was dead.

Will stared at the pillar marking Kiev's gravesite with raw hatred. It was taking all of her will power to resist smashing the stone and the site into oblivion, something she didn't imagine the people of Balsilide would take kindly to.

"One simple mission. Just one simple mission, that's all I ask." Will said, continuing her glare.

"Welcome to life as a Guardian." Hay Lin said sympathetically.

"I know, I know, but really? One simple mission and this stupid Kiev guy goes and dies on us! Oh, I could just kill him for dying!"

"Yes, how dare he." Taranee said, rolling her eyes. "Now, if you're through with the temper-tantrum, let's focus on what we can do."

Balsilidian gravestones were not like those on Earth, where only name was often recorded. Each marker in Balsilide was inscribed with a eulogy, giving information on the person's life, and eventual death. Taranee had noticed this and was now beginning to read.

"Say's here that Kiev was born with a rare heart disorder, and that he died of a heart attack at the age of 24." Taranee said, the irony not escaping her.

"Does it say when he died?" Cornelia asked.

"Yeah, and if I know my Balsilidian calendar, it was about 4 years ago by our reckoning." Taranee said, doing a quick mental calculation.

"And based on what Yan Lin said, Endarno had his vision about 8 years ago." Will said.

"Which means that he died after the Heart found him." Irma finished.

"Which means he still has it somewhere!" Hay Lin added excitedly.

"Sorry Hay Lin, but I don't think so," Taranee replied.

"Why not?"

"Well, think about it." Taranee said. "If, let's say, Will, you were to die…"

"Hey!"

"Sorry Will, just using you as an example. If you were to die, Will, the Heart wouldn't just sit on your desk, it would find a replacement. They way it disappeared after Ezerial died in Endarno's house. After Kiev died, it would have moved on."

"But, Yan Lin said that it was headed towards Kiev." Irma said. "If it had moved on, wouldn't she have known? Wouldn't we be looking for that guy instead?"

"Yes." Taranee replied. "Which means that odds are, the Heart never got to Kiev. Something must have stopped it."

"Um, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that much, much, much worse?" Cornelia asked.

"Yep." Will replied. "But there's nothing we can do about it here. Come on, let's get out of here."

As the girls left, focused on what they had to do, they did not notice that one of the nearby trees was casting two shadows. As the girls left, the shadow began to move with them, watching the girls with growing interest.

It was with much less enthusiasm that the girls walked through the streets of Balsilide for the second time that afternoon. They had truly thought that finding the Heart of Balsilide would give them many of the answers they wanted. But now, with even more questions burning in their brains, they wanted nothing to do with Balsilide, especially when the man they were going to see was traditionally the cause of all their questions.

Himerish had been Oracle when the girls first became Guardians, and they had accidentally been responsible for his removal from power. Now, with Endarno gone, Kandrakar wanted Himerish back, and it was up to the Guardians to go get him. None of them were too eager to do this, and all the girls walked slowly, but Will noticed it was affecting one girl more then the others.

"Are you all right Hay Lin? You seem out of it." Will asked her friend.

"Hmmm? Oh, sorry Will. Guess my head's just somewhere else today." Hay Lin replied, studying her feet as she walked.

"Something wrong? Anything we can help with?" Taranee asked.

"No, it's just… Eric." Hay Lin replied.

"Pffft! Boys! Who needs 'em? I'm the only one who's never had one and look! Happy as can be!" Irma said.

"Irma, be quiet!" Will said. "Are you two having problems Hay Lin?"

"No, no, nothing like that." Hay Lin replied quickly. "In fact, things are great. But I just… I'm thinking him about telling him."

"About what?"

"About the Guardians."

This made everyone stop and turn. Worried glances were exchanged between the girls, not making Hay Lin feel all that more confident.

"Hay Lin, take it from me, that's a big step." Taranee said, speaking from experience. "Are you sure you're ready?"

"To be honest, I have no idea." Hay Lin replied. "I mean, we're doing great but, this? I mean, who knows?"

"Trust me, I know how you feel." Taranee said.

Only months earlier, Taranee had told her then boyfriend Nigel about the Guardians, only for him to break-up with her because of it. This fact had not escaped Hay Lin.

"Why do you want to tell him?" Will asked.

"I'm gonna have to sometime, right? I can't wait too long. Besides, things would be way easier if he knew about us, right?"

"Not always." Will muttered under her breath, so no one could hear.

"I'm sure it will be fine, Hay Lin." Irma said, putting her arm around her friend.

"Hate to rain on the parade, but it's not necessarily going to be fine." Cornelia said. "Besides Irma, do you think you're really the one to be giving advice on boys?"

Hay Lin felt Irma's arm wither away after Cornelia's comment. She turned to see Irma's expression, expecting anger, but found only sadness.

"Cornelia!" Will hissed, glaring at her friend.

Even Cornelia knew she had crossed a line, and quickly apologized.

"I'm sorry Irma, I didn't mean…"

Irma's face quickly perked back up and a smile returned to its usual position.

"Oh, you're going to have to say more then that to keep my spirits down, Corny." Irma said.

"Anyways, I haven't decided anything yet." Hay Lin said, quickly focusing the conversation back on her. "But if I do…"

"We'll support you all the way." Will finished as the girls nodded behind her.

"Thanks girls." Hay Lin said with a smile, and the group began moving once more towards Himerish.

The Guardians found it much easier to locate Himerish then it had been to find Kiev. Almost everyone they asked had heard of or knew the location of the former Oracle, and many spoke of the man in glowing terms. So it was with high hopes that the girls walked up the path towards the house in which they were told to find Himerish. The sign in front of the house read:

THE REFUGE: MEDICINAL CARE FOR THOSE WHO NEED IT.

Will was unsure if this was a good sign or not as they entered the house.

The interior of the building was eerily similar to that of the funeral home they had visited earlier, although with not nearly the same amount of class. Like the funeral home, behind a small wooden desk sat an elderly woman with long, greying hair. She smiled warmly as the girls approached.

"Don't tell me he's dead too!" Irma whispered as the girls entered.

"Well hello there! What can I do for you today?" the woman asked sweetly.

"For looking for a man named Himerish." Will said.

"Hmmm, you wouldn't be the first," the woman said with a smile. "Who should I tell him is asking?"

"Just tell him its Will Vandom and friends."

At the sound of Will's name, the woman's eyes widened and her jaw dropped in surprise.

"The Will Vandom? Oh, I see. I'll fetch him right away." The woman said before scuttling off.

"Wow, Will's a celebrity now. She's 'The Will Vandom'." Irma said.

"And I think it's gone to her head. 'Will Vandom and friends'? Is that what we are now?" Cornelia said with a smile.

"Oh, knock it off."

After a few minutes, the woman returned followed by Himerish, although the girls could barely recognize him. The ex-Oracle was dressed in a casual set of clothes, and he had grown in a long white beard. He greeted the girls warmly, and, much to the girls surprise, gave Will a warm hug.

"Will! Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, Hay Lin! How are you all? It's so good to see you!"

"It is?" Will said, taken aback. "I mean, it's good to see you too! Um, how have you, uh, how have you been? You look… different."

"I feel great!" The Oracle said with a laugh. "Although I can understand how my appearance may be surprising. Long flowing robes aren't exactly the standard outfit for a doctor."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. Wait a minute, what? Doctor?"

"One of the best in the land!" the woman, who up to now had been silent, said.

"Now Marda, you'll swell my head!" Himerish replied, to which Marda giggled and blushed.

"But… You're… I don't even… What?"

"What Will is trying to say," Taranee said, stepping in for her friend. "Is that we're not used to seeing you so relaxed. Especially considering how you left from Kandrakar."

"What did you expect Taranee?" Himerish responded. "That I would simply crawl in a corner and start to cry? That I couldn't handle life outside the fortress?"

"Yes." Irma said quickly. "That's exactly what we thought."

The other four girls glared at Irma, but much to all of their surprise, Himerish laughed.

"Oh, Irma, I missed your quick wit!" Himerish said, wiping a tear from his eye.

"Quick wit? Okay, no we know he's insane. Can't we just knock him out and carry him back to Kanrdarkar? I mean, Yan Lin didn't say he had to be conscious." Cornelia said.

As he heard this, Himerish's face dropped.

"So that is your true motive." He said with a sigh. "I am surprised, although I suppose I should have known. What other reason would there have been for your visit?"

"I'm sorry," Will said, "but Endarno is… was a mistake. But he's gone now. It's a long story."

"But they want you to be Oracle again! You can go back to Kandrakar!" Hay Lin excitedly finished.

If the girls were expecting Himerish to celebrate this news, they were sadly mistaken. Himerish's face was one of sadness, while Marda looked worriedly up at her boss.

"Girls, I'd like you to see something. Come with me." Himerish said, turning towards a nearby door.

The girls, not expecting this response, followed him hesitatingly. He led them down a long hallway lined with doors. Each door had a window, and through all of them the girls could see hospital beds, all filled with sick and wounded.

"Before I was the Oracle, I was a doctor." Himerish said, opening a door and stepping inside. "I came from a wealthy family, and used my medical talents to help those who would not normally be able to afford such care."

As he said this he analyzed the chart of the patient in the bed. The man in the bed was missing an arm, but began to smile as soon as Himerish had entered the room.

"Hello Himerish. Are these the girls you told me about?" the man said.

"Yes they are." Himerish said with a smile. "Girls, I'd like you to meet Leon. He's a worker who runs a small family farm on the outskirts of town. Last month he had an accident with his equipment, and his arm needed to be amputated."

"Normally, the cost of a procedure like that would have ruined me and my family." Leon said. "But thanks to Himerish, my life is saved, and we will still have enough money to plant crops next year! It will be tough, but at least we have hope. And that's all we've ever needed."

"I've long fought for health care, but the red tape of bureaucracy is thick." Himerish said gravely. "When I was given a chance to go to Kandrakar, I thought I'd be able to solve problems like this one. But Kandrakar is too buried under their own weight to help anyone. But here, I'm needed. Here I can make a difference."

"But you don't understand." Taranee said. "Things have changed. Endarno…"

"I'm sure there is yet another problem you girls have to face," Himerish said, raising his hand to stop the girl. "Some other monster or villain. But this time, you're going to have to do it without me."

Will knew there wasn't much she could say to dispute this. Himerish truly looked happy here, and he was right, they were probably going to have to face the future without him at their side. And for some reason, that made Will very, very nervous.