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Amara smiled tightly. “I knew it would be handy to have a healer along.”
We pushed on, the sky unnaturally dark for the hour, and the rain blocking visibility for more than a few feet. It felt as if we were alone in our small cocoon, the rest of the world a raging storm of wet and cold and noise.
Given the visibility issues, we were nearly at the gates of Eldrida before the walls loomed out of the storm in front of us.
“We’re here,” I gasped, rubbing warmth and life into my cold fingers. “We made it.”
“Now the real work begins,” Amara said, immediately dousing my momentary joy.
Silently, we continued through the open gate, exchanging looks as we noticed the absence of the normal gate guards. We hadn’t made it far into the city when I realized why.
Out on the open plains, the winds had been terrifying and fierce, and at first I had been relieved by the shelter of the city walls. But once we moved past their immediate vicinity, the wind picked up its tempo again, even scarier than before. The streets only served as wind tunnels, channeling and strengthening the trapped wind.
Everyone must have sought shelter inside because the cobblestones were deserted. Amara seemed to know where she was going, though, directing Acorn with confidence.
“The harbor,” she said when I gave her a questioning look. “That’s where the elements mages will be, trying to keep the ocean from flooding the city and bringing in any ships close enough to reach land.”
I shivered, picturing the terror of being out on the open sea in winds and rain like this. If ships did make it to harbor, they might be in need of a healer. It was the most logical place for us to be.
Before we made it there, however, we turned a corner and came to a stop, our passage barred by absolute chaos. Large buildings lined what appeared to be the city’s central square, standing firm against the weather. But the square itself was a litter of broken wood, scattered wares, and terrified animals. And between the cracks of thunder, I caught screams. My eyes found the evidence of trapped people who must have attempted to shelter beneath the market stalls when the rain started.
Amara’s face paled as she looked from left to right, struggling to know where to settle her gaze. We couldn’t drive through the square, but how could we turn our backs on this disaster to take a different route?
While we lingered on the street, shocked and uncertain, the creaking of wood sounded, and an enormous wooden gate swung open. It appeared to be the entrance to a small stables—whether of an inn or private property, I wasn’t sure—located just down from the square.
“In here!” a voice yelled. “You’ll have to leave the cart, but there’s room for you and your horse.”
Startled, I peered inside to see a mass of huddled, frightened faces gazing back.
A grizzled, elderly man stumbled out, passing through the rain briefly before entering the bubble that surrounded us and starting to unhitch Acorn. Amara slid down and hurried to join him, me at her heels.
“I thought I heard hoof beats just before that last thunder,” the man said. “Couldn’t think who would be out riding in this, though. But mighty handy that is.” He pointed upward at the invisible barrier holding back the rain. “You’ll be a mage, then, which explains it. But mage or not, you’ll want somewhere safe for this lady.” He patted Acorn’s neck.
“Have you seen what’s happened in the square?” Amara asked in a stern tone.
The man nodded, his expression serious. “That’s where all them came from.” He gestured over his shoulder with his thumb. “It came on so quick there wasn’t much warning, so I opened the doors for anyone fleeing this way. Best not to be out traveling in this.”
Amara nodded, her expression softening. Meeting my eyes, she gestured at the cart, and I hurried back to it. Scooping up Ember, I pointed at my shoulder, waiting for Phoenix to give a flying hop into position there. When I had realized he preferred that spot to my arm, I had added leather padding to the shoulder of several of my dresses, and we had become practiced at the movement.
Looking at the remaining bags, I scooped up two of the most precious—all I had room to carry in my remaining arm. Amara appeared at my side and took several more before we followed the elderly stable master and Acorn into the dark building.
The man led Acorn toward the only empty stall, the crowd squeezing together to allow enough room for them to pass. Amara watched them go, but as soon as she was satisfied that Acorn had a place to go, she turned back to the crowd.
“I don’t suppose there are any mages among you?”
A sea of shaking heads confirmed her guess. “What about those with medium or high strength?”
This time, a number of hands were hesitantly raised.
“Any healers?” Amara asked, but all of the hands went down.
“The healers stayed in the square,” the woman nearest to us volunteered. “There were a lot of injured.”
“You’re right,” Amara said coldly. “There are many in need. Are you telling me only the healers went to help? I didn’t expect to be ashamed of my own affinity.”
Silence spread through the group, people shifting uncomfortably and exchanging glances.
“What would you have us do?” the woman asked, half defiantly, half curiously.
