Time to Heal Read online

  Skahr had been waiting silently for her decision and now he nodded gravely.

  “Thank you for your trust. May I?” He held out his arms for the baby and it was Mother Griffith’s turn to look at him doubtfully.

  “Do you know how to hold a baby?” she asked bluntly, frowning at him. “You must support their head, you know—their wee little necks aren’t strong enough to do it themselves.”

  “I have held many a babe,” Skahr assured her. “I swear I will be careful.”

  Reluctantly, the older woman handed Jamie over.

  Emmeline’s heart was in her mouth as she watched the transfer. Jamie was so tiny and weak—he looked smaller than a loaf of bread in the big Kindred’s muscular arms. But Skahr handled the baby with surprising gentleness and delicacy.

  And then something strange happened—Jamie looked up into the big Kindred’s face and abruptly stopped crying.

  Emmeline held her breath, waiting to see if he would start again. But surprisingly, he did not.

  “How did you do that?” she asked Skahr, as he cradled the baby to his broad chest. “How did you make him stop crying? He cries with everyone but me—he always has!”

  “Babes know I mean them no harm,” Skahr rumbled. “Don’t you, little one?” he murmured, smiling down at Jamie.

  To Emmeline’s further surprise, the baby gave him a faint, toothless grin and cooed weakly.

  “I do believe he’s taken with you,” Mother Griffith remarked, smiling at Skahr. “But what can you do for him?”

  “Only this.” Cradling Jamie easily in the crook of one muscular arm, the big Kindred reached to a small pouch at his waist and withdrew a pinch of something. This he sprinkled over Jamie’s baby-fine white-blond hair while murmuring words in a language Emmeline didn’t understand.

  At first there was no change but then, very gradually, Jamie’s lips began to lose their bluish color. His cheeks pinked up as well and though he still did not look as healthy and rosy as he had before Emmeline had left him at Hastings Hall, he looked much better than he had a moment ago.

  Looking up at the big Kindred, he cooed loudly and waved his fists in the air.

  A broad smile broke over Skahr’s face and he murmured, “Thank you, Goddess,” before handing Jamie carefully back to Emmeline.

  “It’s a miracle,” she breathed, looking down at her son. “How can I ever thank you, Skahr?”

  His smile faded a little.

  “Do not thank me yet. I am afraid the magic I was able to perform is only a temporary measure.”

  Emmeline’s heart leapt up in her throat again.

  “What…what do you mean? Will he get sick again?”

  The big Kindred nodded.

  “Eventually the effects of the magic will fade. But not for many days,” he added, as though hoping to make her feel better. “Still, when the magic does fade, it would be wise to have a more permanent healing on hand.”

  “Like what?” Emmeline demanded. “Do you have something in your country—your world—which could heal Jamie completely?”

  He nodded thoughtfully.

  “I believe that we do. There is a plant called ‘Mother’s Milk’ which is said to heal almost any illness in children. Unfortunately, only a few of the Wise know where it grows and how to prepare it.”

  “Can you get me some?” Emmeline asked eagerly. “I will pay any price—just let me know and I’ll get the money somehow!”

  He gave her a level look.

  “Emmeline—you know my price. You know what I need of you.”

  His words brought back the strange prophecy he had told her and she understood.

  “You want me to come with you to heal your crystal,” she said and he nodded.

  “You are the only one who can. Until then, the Clans will always be at war and there can never be peace between us.”

  “But…Jamie.” Emmeline cuddled her baby protectively close. “Can I bring him with me?”

  He frowned. “I do not think it would be wise when his health is already compromised. The journey from one world to another is taxing and takes much strength to endure. I do not believe it would be good for Jamie in his weakened state.”

  “But…but I just got him back. I can’t leave him again!” Emmeline protested, hearing the tremble in her own voice.

  “Oh, yes you can, dearie,” Mother Griffith said comfortingly.

  Carefully, she took the baby from Emmeline’s arms and cradled him to her bosom. He looked rather inclined to cry again but then she made a silly face at him, sticking out her tongue and crossing her eyes, and he gave a soft giggle instead.

  “Oh, so now you like me.” Mother Griffith smiled in satisfaction and looked up at Emmeline. “I can watch him well enough for you while you’re gone, dearie. I’ll have Mrs. Duncan in to feed him regularly. She just had another baby herself and it’s the first time in ages she hasn’t had twins so she’s got twice as much milk as she needs.”

  Emmeline knew Mrs. Duncan—a rosy, good-tempered washerwoman who had a brood of red-haired children. She always seemed to have a baby to one of her massive bosoms and she liked to sing while she worked.

  “Are you sure you don’t mind?” she asked Mother Griffith uncertainly. “I mean, I don’t even know how long I shall be gone.”

  “I do not think it will take more than a day or two,” Skahr remarked. “You have only to come back to my world with me and heal the Peace Crystal—then we can ask the Old One where to find the Mother’s Milk and you can bring it back to your baby. Now that we know my magic works in this world, it should heal him completely.”

  “You take as much time as you need,” Mother Griffith said firmly. “This little fellow and I will get on just fine.” She smiled at Jamie who cooed at her again.

  “Well…” Emmeline sighed and stroked a finger gently over her son’s white-blond hair. “I hate to go but if I can get medicine for him that will cure him completely…”

  “You should go and do it,” Mother Griffith finished for her. She lowered her voice. “I didn’t like to say it, dearie, but he was looking most awfully ill before your gentleman friend there used his Kindred magic on him. And if he says it will fade in a couple of days, well—you need to be ready with a permanent cure.”

  Emmeline understood what the other woman was saying—though she hadn’t voiced it in so many words, Mother Griffith had feared for Jamie’s life when she first saw him. It was imperative that she find something—be it medicine or magic—that could purge his tiny system of the poison soon. If not…

  He might not survive, Emmeline thought and a cold horror came over her. As difficult as it was to part with her baby for a second time, she now knew that she had no choice.

  “All right,” she said looking at Skahr. “But if we’re going to go, let’s go now. I want to get back here as soon as possible.”

  He nodded. “As you wish.” Rising from the horsehair couch—which gave a creak of relief as he lifted his muscular bulk off it—he reached again for his crystal shard.

  “What are you doing?” Mother Griffith asked, frowning as he held it tight in one hand and murmured something in a strange language.

  Skahr didn’t answer but he didn’t have to. A golden spark had floated from the tip of the crystal and was now tracing glowing lines in the air in front of him.

  “Oh…” Emmeline breathed as the lines formed a kind of door in midair. Then, suddenly, she saw something through the strange, magical doorway. There was a kind of cave—but a large and airy one, well-lit with torches and candlelight. She saw a vast, oval table and in the center of it hung an immense crystal, taller than she was, which pulsed a sickly yellowish-green.

  That must be the Peace Crystal—the one Skahr wants me to heal, she thought. And indeed, it needed healing—there was a long crack running vertically up the length of the crystal which threatened to break the huge thing in two.

  Standing beside the crystal was an old, old man with snow-white hair and a beard that spread o