The Path of Giants, B.T. Narro [the speed reading book .TXT] 📗

I had spent on it so far had been a waste. Lifting myself seemed much more important, especially after I had seen what the demigod of dvinia had done with the same spell.

I tried casting Identify a few more times on this red diamond, but it was like trying to listen to someone who was speaking too quietly. I couldn’t hope to make out the message.

I wondered what the witch had done to this diamond to allow her to communicate with me through it. I didn’t understand it at all. It was like her voice had been in my head, not within this cursed gemstone.

It wouldn’t be long until morning. My time was better spent sleeping. I set my curiosities to rest and settled my heavy head on my bedroll. I might be able to learn more if the diamond caused another dream like the last. If not, Kataleya might know what to make of all this. I would see her tomorrow.

*****

I did not dream again that night and eventually arrived at Livea. It was a small city governed by Kataleya’s father, Whitley Yorn, and surrounded by a small stone wall. Its purpose seemed to be keeping out predatory animals more than stopping people from entering, but that wasn’t to say there were criminals here. In fact, there was a sense of peace about the city that I felt soon upon entering. I doubted there was any crime here at all, and that probably had something to do with the large number of armed forces at Whitley’s disposal.

Kataleya’s family had worked closely with the king for many years, including aiding his rebellion against the last king, which led to Nykal’s coronation. There was no doubt in my mind that many of the tax collectors going around Lycast reported to Whitley, who would get that coin to the king as safely as possible.

A river ran through the town that I followed as I led my horse. On the northern side stood a mill spinning from the gentle breeze. It stood on a wheat field spanning across the backyard of several homes. On the other side of the river sat a barn and what appeared to be a blacksmith’s stone forge, given the sharp cracks of hammering I could hear coming from within.

There were many homes scattered along the roads, most with their own small field and some animals at pasture that were fenced by stacked rocks. Trees lined the riverbanks as if this had once been a small forest that had mostly been cleared. There was one main road. It twisted east and west on its way north, passing by several fields before traveling uphill and ending at the front of a large estate I assumed to be Yorn Manor.

As a contrast to the capital, there was a fair amount of space between every home here. People were at work, but there didn’t seem to be the hurried competition that I could feel from most everyone in Newhaven.

I soon relaxed. It was a cold day, but the sun was out. I listened to the river on my way toward Kataleya’s house. Livea appeared to be a lovely place to grow up.

The only structure that seemed a bit ominous to me was what I assumed to be a church, given its long windows and its pointed steeple. There was a stone turret built beside it, as if to serve as a lookout, though there didn’t seem to be anyone up there from what I could tell.

I smiled as I thought about seeing Kataleya soon, but a couple of young boys brought me out of my reverie as they stopped me on the road.

“Are you the healer?” one asked excitedly.

“I am,” I said.

They shared a look, each silently telling the other to do something.

One nodded and seemed scared as he glanced up at me. “You can really heal anything?”

“Just about,” I said. I had already sent my mana through their bodies for a quick expedition, feeling that neither of them had an injury or sickness.

Knowing how I was at their age, I had a feeling what this was about.

“Are you asking because you would like to see an example of healing?”

“Yeah!” they said at the same time.

I crouched in front of them. “I will be healing many people later, but I don’t know when exactly. It is up to Whitley Yorn. You can see me healing then.”

They looked at each other once more. Again, the same little boy spoke to me.

“What if…? Um.” He cautiously pulled a hand-sized rock out of his pocket. “If I hit my friend can you heal him?” He laughed.

“No, no, no,” the friend said with his hands up as he backed away. “You said you would hit yourself!”

They seemed to notice something behind me, both of them halting and one hiding the rock behind his back. I turned around to see Kataleya approaching with a look as if catching the boys misbehaving.

Kataleya had on a simple dress, not something I’d seen her wear around the castle during our training. Her blonde hair was loose. There was a hint of a smile on her lips, though she contained it well as she stopped in front of the boys.

“Well…?” she asked, her tone hinting. “Are you going to hit yourself so that Jon can heal you? Because you surely can’t be about to hit your friend, now can you?”

“No, ma’am,” the boy said as he took the rock out from behind his back.

I stood up from my crouch, figuring he didn’t have it in him. “You don’t have to,” I informed him.

“Wait. I want to. Are you sure you can heal any injury I give myself?”

“I’m absolutely sure.”

“Miss Yorn?” he asked Kataleya.

“I have seen him heal injuries far worse than you could ever do to yourself with that rock.”

“Do it!” his friend called out.

The boy stared at the rock for some time. He offered it to his friend. “I will…if you go first.”

The other boy took the rock, looked at