everyone was simply too afraid to disillusion the powerful man. The Jebai
heir was almost certain Rezkin would say nothing, at least for now, while he
pursued Frisha. Tieran, however, had the clout to be heard, even by the count.
If Tieran made the accusations, Malcius’s father could not afford to dismiss
the claims.
On the fourth day, Malcius, Palis, Tieran, Brandt and
Reaylin were on the quarterdeck practicing for the tournament when there was a
sudden shout followed by a loud ripping and whizzing sound that abruptly
stopped with a thunk . The young men and woman were looking all around
for the source of the noise when another unexpectedly loud snap sounded. This
one was accompanied by multiple shouts of, “Clear the way!” and “Look out
below!”
The companions looked up to see a massive beam dropping
toward them, tearing through the rigging. They ducked and scrambled to get out
of the way, but the beam was dropping too fast. A loud drumming sounded and
then a shadow sailed over their heads. Rezkin launched himself off the poop
deck, past the mizzenmast and into the air. He grasped a dangling line, his
momentum propelling him forward. Colliding with the falling beam, he
effectively shoved it out of the way using his body weight and cracked a few
ribs in the process. Rezkin released the rope, and he and the beam both tumbled
the last dozen and a half feet to the deck. Rezkin’s landing was more graceful
than it should have been for a man who just used his body to divert a falling
timber of several hundred pounds, not to mention the collision with the ship
after falling such a distance.
Reaylin cried out and ran up to the young man who had
probably just saved her life for the second time. “Oh, Rez! Your hands!” she
shouted.
Rezkin held out his hands that were bloodied and skinned
from the rope. They burned furiously, but he ignored the pain, in addition to
that caused by his cracked ribs. Reaylin was shaking with the shock of almost
being crushed by the falling beam. Her emotions were in turmoil, and she felt
something bubbling up from within her core. She swayed, suddenly afraid she was
going to be sick. As soon as she grabbed Rezkin’s wrist, the feeling seemed to
flow out of her, and she sighed with relief.
Rezkin’s brows rose, and he looked at Reaylin in surprise.
“Reaylin, you are a healer !” he remarked in wonder.
“What?” Reaylin’s eyes grew wide as she looked at the knitting
flesh on Rezkin’s hands. The young woman could not see it, but the aching in
his ribs had stopped, as well, when the bones sealed back together. “No, I’m
not!” she blurted.
Rezkin nodded and said, “Yes, you are. You just healed me
without even meaning to do so. Is this the first time this happened?”
Reaylin shook her head emphatically, “No, I’m not! You’re
mistaken. It’s all a mistake!”
The equally shaken lords walked over and examined Rezkin’s
hands from a distance. The blood from the prior injuries was still present, but
the flesh was unblemished. They all looked at Reaylin in shock. Malcius waved
at Rezkin and said, “There lies your proof, Mistress Reaylin. You are a natural healer .”
“No! I. Am. Not!” Reaylin shouted. “I am a warrior! I won’t
listen to this!” she screamed with tears in her eyes. She stomped her foot and
ran away to her quarters.
The lords all looked at each other flabbergasted. “Why would
she not want to be a healer?” asked Tieran. “She will no longer be considered a
commoner. She will join the Mage class and receive due respect, not to mention
she is guaranteed wealth.”
Even Rezkin was surprised and confused by Reaylin’s
reaction. It truly made no sense. He knew that becoming a warrior was important
to Reaylin, but he would not have guessed she would spurn such a rare talent as
innate healing ability. The fact that she had healed him without intending to
meant that her talent was probably fairly strong. The mage powers often first
awoke in a
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