Sleep was elusive that night. Kiao kept hearing the wind and waking up to a breeze or nothing at all that simulated the raging storm earlier the previous day. She hoped she could sleep in a little long that morning, however that idea was crushed when she was woken up by a heated discussion. Kiao cracked the sliding window on the side of the cart and was greeted by the dark folds of the tarp. However, she could hear Soletus and Briar as they stood on the other side of it.

“You don’t think we can handle this,” she snapped.

“I do,” he returned shortly. “However, it had nothing to do with the huntresses being female. You of all people should know I don’t care. What I do care about is training. If you don’t know how to steel yourself properly for something like this, you’ll feel this for months. If you don’t know how to support those who suffer from seeing devastation like this, you can make it worse.”

“I slept fine. The girls slept fine. We don’t feel haunted by what we saw.”

Soletus then told her pointedly, “Then let me talk to them.”

“I’m in charge of the huntresses.”

“But you aren’t their spokesperson. All members of the band have a voice, Briar,” he said.

“There is no band here. We aren’t wardens. We aren’t Brotherhood,” she said mockingly.

Kiao could hear the rustling of crunch of dirt

“Bri–” Soletus stared to say and then a gruntle sound of frustration exited his throat.

Kiao slide the window closed and found something clean to wear. A pair of wide legged woman’s trousers and a long red tunic that reached her knees. When she stepped out of the back of the cart, she found Soletus sitting on the ground alone. He held his staff upright in hand with his forehead leaning against it.

“I see Briar is living up to her namesake,” she said.

He nodded.

She settled beside him. “Are you okay?”

“I really wish Papa was here,” he said with a sigh. “I feel stupid for wanting him like a boy. But I would give up six months of my commission to have him in charge and not me.”

“I think you’re doing well,” she said, gripping his shoulder. “Come on, I’ve injured to see.”

Soletus peered up at her, unmoving. “Your ability to stay objective is to be envied.”

Kiao settled down. “You’re having a moment, aren’t you?”

“You could say,” he said with a chuckle. “This reminds me far too much of the gorge. They started digging the grave for everyone early this morning. And just that sound of a shovel scraping rock and soil. I just went back there.”

Kiao rubbed his shoulder blades. “It’s okay. Just stick with me today.”

He lifted his head and gave it a good shake, as if to wake himself up. “It would be wonderful if I had the emotion of a stone like what people expect from neth elves. Then no one will question my logic. I would be objective and blunt. Saying things like, I don’t want Xylia here because she’s a risk. Better to give her task that she can do than simmering alone in a corner, being embarrassed.”

“And you explained that to Briar.”

“Her ability to listen didn’t improve from a night of sleep. I talked to Xylia before she left and didn’t wake Briar. She was upset that I did so. However, why should I have brought her into our conversation? She didn’t want to talk to everyone yesterday. I talked to Laurel, Helene, and Eione after we come to camp. Briar didn’t recognize that morale was low. She needs to worry about that, then prove how strong they are. But what do I know? I’m a soft-hearted monk who isn’t living up to his male status for doing something like caring.”

“Your empathy is to be envied,” she told him. “Objective helps with focus and gets work done. However, looking as someone and being able to tell they are hurting and need rest is how work gets continued. Briar hasn’t learned how important that truly is. But I understand her view. They do easy work compared to a field warden. Briar wants to take this opportunity to prove themselves just as capable. It’s a tough situation. If they hold their own, that means more respect.”

“But not at the cost of what huntresses she has. Thought she might see it as culling the weak, but this will just push those willing away.”

“I’ll talk sense into her. She’ll complain to me, eventually.”

He then got to his feet and offered his hand. “Lady Meadowlark, have I ever told you that you are truly the best support?”

“No. But I’m glad you think so,” she said, taking his hand.

The two of them went to the chapel, and she first checked her most critical of patients. The elf with the broken back was awake when she found them again. He was weak and awake and Kiao examined him internally with her abilities. She went over every injury he had on his spin. He moaned as she checked.

“I’m probably never going to walk again. I’ll live the life of an invalid,” he said mournfully.

Kiao pulled out of him and then pulled up his blanket by his feet.

“I want you to wiggle your toes.”

He did, albeit stiffly.

She then took a thin metal pick from her satchel and started poking at his foot soles.

“Do you feel this?”

He nodded.

She went to his toes. “How about this?” she said, wondering if he could look even more pitiful.

He nodded. “It kind of tickles.”

She smiled at him. “I have good news. You aren’t going to live the life of an invalid.”

“Uh,” he said, sounding confused.

“I spent a very long time healing you,” explained Kiao. “You still need bedrest, but you could shuffle out of here with some help to someplace more familiar and private.”

He still just blinked at her as if she told him he could fly.

“Have your tried sitting up yet?”

He struggled and Soletus helped him upright and he just stared at his feet and wiggled them.

“I was expecting the worse,” he muttered. “I just hung there in that tree. I couldn’t pull myself up, couldn’t kick. I thought I was bleeding to death. And here you just come and heal me. Why?”

“That’s what healers do.”

He became confused. “But Mayor Hakwe said you called that storm down on us. I thought I was being punished for stacking peat bricks in this sacred hall.”

“What? No,” she said. “Why would I… Chanters can’t do that.”

“But she come to me last night. Told us all that you punished us.”

Kiao found her attention drifting to her friend. The young monk stood very stiff, his brow pulled together.

“Be at peace,” she said, rising to her feet. “I didn’t rain down death and destruction because of an insult. I don’t care what your mayor says. Rest.”

Kiao marched out of the back of the chapel and made a beeline to where the mayor had been placed. She had moved, and she was on the floor by the hearth. When she made her way to them, she was greeted by the sharp eyes of the woman.

“I’m glad to find you well,” said Kiao, staring down at her.

The woman’s eyes narrowed. “Yes. Find me well. Lies. I know the true nature of you chanters. I know a story. And one that all should hear. Once upon a time, there was a city. A beautiful city nestled at the foot of a mountain. It was a prosperous city and one day a chanter come walking down the road and stopping at an inn. At the inn the chanter was offered food and a drink. The chanter wrinkled their nose at what was offered to them and walked out. The chanter then asked to stay at the home of a working family. The chanter scoffed at them for working to support themselves and not Dias, so they left. Then the chanter went to see the leader of the city. They were making judgments, and the chanter felt their punishments on their cases were wrong. So the chanter then left the city. The chanter stood at the threshold of the city and sung to the mountain. The mount awoke and rained fire and rock on the city until it was destroyed in flame and ash.“

“I’ve never heard of that story before,” returned the priestess.

“Some say that the voice who woke the mountain was your prophetess, Lenneth.”

“Lenneth could do many things, but she couldn’t wake a mountain with song,” said Kiao. If she had to guess, that was many stories that were told when chanters fell due to too many of her own wanting power and authority. However, she thought she heard of all of them.

“But you left my town and then a whirlwind came and destroyed it. Ripping up my home and this town’s center, killing half its residences, and then come back here trying to be our savior.”

The elf that was resting beside her sat up and her held her hand. “Zerah, stop talking nonsense and rest.”

Kiao squared her shoulders. “I assure you, we chanters can do a lot of things, calling down a storm to destroy a town for no reason-”

“You had plenty of reason to destroy my town,” snapped the mayor.

“Because of the peat and pickle barrels,” said Kiao. “Listen, do as he says and settle down. You need rest.”

“Not until you get out of here!”

Kiao stood there and looked out at all the injured among her. “I can’t leave,” she said simply. “There are injured here. I still need to see too.”

Soletus then cut in. “And she won’t leave until she knows everyone can survive or until our order can get here. This town needs supplies and workers to aid in re-building. Once they’ve arrived, we are free to leave.”

The Mayor glared at him. “You’re nothing more than a mouth-piece for the wretch.”

“I’m here to support the priestess,” he replied. “And furthermore, her decision to leave yesterday was based on my suggestion and we barely escaped the storm ourselves. There was no act of wrath from her as a chanter. Bad things happen.”

The mayor narrowed her eyes at him. “What do you know? You’re not even fifty yet and you act as if you know if you lived over half a lifetime!”

“Calm, down. I’ll deal with them,” soothed the elf and stood to his feet. “Can I speak with you two privately?”

Kiao and Soletus followed the man outside of the chapel.

“Hello, I’m Zerah’s husband. I’m sorry that I’ve not spoken to you yet. She didn’t want me to speak with you.”

Kiao frowned. “You should be free to speak to whom you want.”

“Well, Zerah doesn’t have warm feelings about the Dias Brotherhood. She and I made this community so we wouldn’t be so dependent on your order,” he told them softly. “It’s really better if you order doesn’t even bother with bringing in a new priest. We can take care of ourselves.”

“But you need help,” pressed Kiao. “You’ve a great many people dead, you’ve no trade store, no stable, your town wall is damaged, the school house is beyond repair, and your mayor’s house is crumpled on its side.”

“We’ve a blacksmith,” he said. “And our storage house was untouched for the most part. We have all we need.”

“But our order can make recovery a lot quicker. Besides. I want to make sure your injured aren’t going to get infections.”

“Even still, I think it’s best if you leave,” he told her.

“No they shouldn’t, Elan,” spoke the Remora. The wisewoman stood at the chapel door with her arms crossed in front of her chest. “Imagine if I were the only one here? A lot more people would be dead if not for her ability to perform divine healing.”

“We could find a priestess of Gerth,” he said.

As far as Kiao knew, priestesses of Gerth didn’t exactly heal, well they did. It just required a sacrifice. Usually a creature could be used to perform such things. Not only that, she didn’t think there was a single Triad church in their province, let alone a Priestess. The Brotherhood didn’t exactly welcome them.

“We don’t have a lot to give to a priestess of Gerth to use as a sacrifice, plus we have a priestess of Dias right here.”

“Yes and it didn’t go us any good,” pressed the man. “She didn’t protect us from anything.”

“Protect you,” said Kiao, confused. She was just accused of calling destruction down on them and now she should have protected them from destruction.

Soletus then cleared his throat beside her. She looked at him. His blue eyes held a warning.

Kiao sighed. “Look, your wisewoman needs help. There are dead who need to be laid rest and given last rites. And these are just the things I’ve thought of. You still need shelter for the homeless families because I assume the mayor would like to rebuild.”

Elan held his head down. “Yes, she would. We put so much effort into building the perfect community.”

“Then, we will stay,” said Soletus. “We’ll try to stay out of the Mayor’s line of sight for the rest of the day. But Kiao, can I speak to you a moment?”

Kiao then followed her friend down the path towards what was left of the center of town.

“We need to be prepared to leave in a hurry,” he told her.

“Why?”

Soletus looked around him, then whispered to her. “This town is a lost cause.”

“Sol!”

Held up his palms at her. “Look, it has all the signs. It’s an insular town with a controlling mayor trying to incite mistrust. People here are going to believe or they won’t say anything against her. The fact that they would even talk about finding a priestess of Gerth, speaks volumes where their faith lies.”

“Isn’t the point of a chanter to spread Dias’s voice?”

“Yes but, the mayor has accused you of calling down a storm to strike down their town and then your her husband proclaims you should’ve protected them. Those extremes aren’t good.”

“They’re not in the right frame of mind. Their town was destroyed. It’s easy to find blame in something when you’re upset,” Kiao countered.

Soletus frowned. “I’ve seen this before. There are towns in the province that aren’t Brotherhood friendly. They’ll use us whenever there is trouble. However, we wouldn’t dare sleep there of camp outside of one. The only chance of change in these towns are leadership. The order can’t force them to change an official and the people aren’t going to change official unless forced to by circumstance.”

She shook her head. “But my purpose is to help heal these people, physically and in the mind and soul.”

He then told her gently. “You are a light in the darkness, but only to those who don’t shut their eyes. You can’t force someone who turned their backs and shut their ears to hear you.”

“These people aren’t blind, Sol,” she said. “They’re just upset. Do they make you that uneasy?”

“Yes,” he said earnestly. “That’s the feeling I can’t shake. This place makes me want to constantly watch my back. I still want to leave.

Kiao swallowed. “Can it wait, to when I at least know everyone under my care is fine?”

“Is there a way that I can talk you into talking Briar into leaving with the huntresses when I say?”

Kiao looked at him as if he lost his mind. “What happened to no splitting up? You don’t split the band up.”

“You and I are capable of saving ourselves,” he said grimly. “It’s the huntress I’m worried about. If we are pitch-forked and torched out of here, I don’t want them to kill or be killed. It’s easier for me to answer for something like that. They don’t have Brotherhood protection.”

Kiao pursed her lips at his matter-of-fact tone. Those lake blue eyes of his went from summer to winter. She wanted to tell him he was being overly cautious. That he was wrong about the people before them. They were misguided. Brother Hickory told her that elves would do that when they would become distraught. They would seek answer from every place that wouldn’t give them one. However, a good priest could steer them in the right direction. However, Kiao wasn’t her guardian. Hickory was a teacher and a mender of the mind. She had no such training. If they needed anyone there, they needed him. However, that didn’t make her feel less responsible.

Suddenly, the warmth came back into his face. “I know you want to help them. But healing their wounds in this case will be enough. We should just help the people out here for now. You can see to the injured later.”

Kiao rather step back into the chapel. However, she had done all she could and let the wise-woman work. She decided to aid one of the women she recognized. It was Starla, she was the most pleasant in town. She was bent over and picking what looked like tea cups from a pile of rubble that once was a home. Kiao made her way too her. Soletus shadowed her.

“Can I help,” she asked.

The woman was young, but older than her with carrot hair with sprigs of it going in every direction from the bun she wore, smiled at her.

“Oh Sister,” she exclaimed. “Come here and hold these.”

Kiao made her way over the rubble, wishing she had wore something more than her pair of shoes. When they stepped close enough, she found four tea cups thrust at her.

“There are two more, the saucers, and the tea pot,” she said. “My grandmother gave them too me as a wedding gift.”

“I didn’t know your house was destroyed. Were you in it,” asked Kiao.

“I was. Dias was with me. I was in that space over there,” she said, pointing to a hole between rock and wood that seemed too small to fit her. “The walls fell on me instead of me being carried by the wind. Your monk there plucked me out. Thank you for that.”

Soletus bowed his head. “No need to thank.”

“And your family,” Kiao asked, hoping they weren’t among the dead.

She shrugged. “I suppose they are at their farmstead east of here. Just me and my husband. He’s over there, he’s digging the grave for everyone. Too many to do separate funerals.” She fell silent and went on digging out the tea pot. She then exclaimed happily when they pulled it all out. “Not a single scratch. Probably the only thing I’ll have when we leave.”

“Leave,” asked Kiao as she let Soletus guide her out of the rubble.

“Yes. I don’t think I’ll stay here. This is a wonderful town and I’m grateful that the Hawkes had granted us permission to start a family here, but…” she shrugged her shoulders. “Anyway thanks. I feel as if I’m keeping you from your work.”

“No. I work where I’m needed. Your wisewoman is looking after the injured. I want to see to those like you, uninjured.”

The woman wore a sad smile. “Well, aren’t you a delight. You and your monk. You two are so nice looking together.”

Kiao and Soletus wore twin grimaces and then shook their heads.

“He’s a friend,” stated Kiao at the same times as Soletus, saying: “We aren’t sweethearts.”

“Oh,” she said, sounding surprised. “It just seems like you two are close.”

Soletus edged away from Kiao. She knew he thought of her as a sister, as he did Mien, like a brother. The entire thought of them being a couple was akin to him being with his older sister Fern.

“We’re just good friends. My sweetheart is his best friend,” explained Kiao.

Starla became intrigued. “I’m surprised your order would allow for a single young man to travel with a bunch of ladies without being attached to someone in the group. Temptation and all.”

“Wouldn’t be much of a monk if I couldn’t control myself. Besides, I’m neth,” he told her.

“Ohhh,” she said with her eyes widening. Kiao couldn’t decide if it her awe was surprise or fear. “You’re a unicorn. They say that children of Lenneth are the wisest in the land.”

Kiao snorted. She didn’t know how Soletus managed not to let out a long-suffering sigh.

“Wisdom is something that comes with age and experience and, I don’t know, being smart. Believe me, I’m just a dumb monk. These the rocks under our feet are smarter than me,” he said.

Kiao knew that Soletus told her that to temper expectation of him. Underselling himself to disarm people. It made people underestimate him, which he used to his advantage.

“I see,” said Starla and she focused on Kiao. “I didn’t think priestess could, you know, be with another.”

“We can. I’m not a maiden of Dias. There are just few extra steps we have to take before we can marry. However, I’m free to choose like anyone else.”

Though that wasn’t entirely true, she got to choose. However, she rarely wanted to explain how the bond worked to people outside of the order. They took it the wrong way. She wondered then what Mien was doing. He was probably safe in a class room at that moment in the middle of a lecture.

“Oh. Is he a chanter too?”

“He is.”

“Oh, what’s he like,” she asked, becoming bright-eyed? “He must be more impressive if this monk doesn’t distract you.“

“Impressive in a different way,” chuckled Kiao. “He’s a gentle and sweet. As a chanter, he has one of the most lovely male voices I ever heard. Though, he likes to plays the flute fo me. And you never met a more skilled player. He probably play for you all if he was here. Sadly, he’s currently in Eroden. And rough situation are when I miss him the most. I wish I could speak to him.”

She then asked. “Can he call the wind?”

“What?”

“Like the old days were chanters were said to cause armies to fight each other,” she said softly.

“No, he can’t do anything like that. He burns drass beasts, but importantly, he shields others from harm. And no, Starla, I didn’t call the wind. I’m a healing chanter, that is why I am here.”

Starla then looked around and then told her. “Most of us are grateful for you, the huntresses, and the monk. However, an elder claimed that the town wronged you and you had Dias punish us.”

“No,” exclaimed Kiao. “I want you well and thriving. We are a gift to this world. Do you believe that?”

Starla stared at her and bobbed her head.

“Good, then how about we find a box for you tea set. Then we will help some of the other dig what’s left of their belongings.”

She motioned for Starla to walk and then noticed that something caught Soletus’s attention. There in the distance was an elder elf, silver hair streaming in the wind, watching her.