Chapter 2
A loud buzzing woke Aradella. It wasn’t daylight yet, but she knew she was in a bed inside the house. She was also fully dressed,
sweaty, and quite uncomfortable. Who brought me inside? she wondered. Since I didn’t wake up, was I carried? Who could do that? Tanek? Bear Boy? She knew in her heart that it was Mekos and that thought made her smile deeply.
Suddenly, a voice said, “Mekos has been up for hours, and he should not be alone. He always gets into trouble!”
Aradella was used to people being in her room, but when she looked around, she saw no one. But then, a light appeared and
it was surrounding a tiny woman with silvery wings. The pretty little creature was wearing a yellow dress that seemed to glow.
She had to be a Never. Jobi had told Aradella of them, but she’d not seen one. He’d said that no one knew the full extent
of what a Never could do, but they could make themselves understood if they wanted to be. It appeared that this one wanted
Aradella to understand her.
“I am Arit and I’m bonded to Tanek.” She spoke as though she was annoyed that she had to do this. “Mekos is waiting for you.”
Aradella could only stare at her. “You are extraordinarily beautiful,” she whispered.
Arit’s expression changed, and her tone became more gentle. “Thank you. Now, you must get up. Tanek’s son is—” She looked
toward the open doorway. Aradella wondered who had left it open, but then, the climate was divine so it was good to let the
air in. Before Aradella could say anything, Arit vanished, and in the next second, Mekos was at the door. He was leaning against
the jamb in that slack, easy way that only men could do.
“Do you mean to sleep all day?”
Aradella’s padding had slipped and one of the ties was loose. She thought maybe if she stood up, the lower pad would fall
to the floor. She put on her most autocratic attitude. “I must bathe and change my clothes.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m a girl,” she snapped. “Did you forget that?” She started toward the bathroom.
“I did.” He yawned. “I suppose I should look for someone who isn’t weak and afraid. Perhaps Bear Boy can help me explore the
garden I found.”
That word make her halt. “A what?”
He looked uninterested. “Nothing. It’s just a tall stone wall with some plants inside. I’m sure they’re ordinary ones. Although,
some of the birds were chirping quite loudly. There seems to be something, uh, special about the garden. I have no idea what
it is.” He stood up straighter. “I’ll go by myself to see it, then I’ll come back and tell you all about it.” He gave her
a look up and down. “You probably couldn’t get over the wall anyway.”
Aradella gave him a look meant to singe his hair. “Try me.”
He gave a false look of surprise. “But you need to . . .” He waved his hand up and down, meaning to reclothe herself.
“Stay! Wait,” she ordered, then ran to the privacy of the bathroom. She took no bath, didn’t change her clothes; just a toilet run, then a quick tightening to her padding. She ran out, but he was already about ten steps down the path. She hurried after him.
He gave a smile of welcome. “I think it may be a secret garden that probably belongs to—” He cut off as they heard a giggle
coming from the other side of a tall hedge. It was Kaley. It was followed by a crash of what sounded to be branches hitting
the ground, then something heavy fell. An entire tree? “I think they’re up.” Mekos looked at Aradella with wide eyes.
She couldn’t help laughing at his double entendre.
With sparkling eyes, he began running down the path, Aradella close behind him.
They skirted the village, then hid behind a shed as they waited for two women to pass.
“It’s nearly the Day of the Moon,” they heard a woman say.
When they were gone, Mekos said, “Is that a holiday?”
“I have no idea. We should ask the Reaver.”
He gave a laugh, then led them down a narrow trail. Twice, they went over fences.
“How did you find this place?” she asked.
“A flock of green birds, a kind I’ve never seen before, woke me and wanted me to follow them.”
“I bet your father could have asked them where they were going. I believe there’s a special language he knows.”
Mekos stopped and looked at her, then he leaned forward, his lips close to her ear. He said something in an incomprehensible
language that was liquid cream, soft as a cloud, and oh so very enticing.
Aradella felt her knees weaken. She felt like saying, I am yours.
Mekos stepped back, his expression smug. “That language?”
Aradella was not going to show him how she was affected. “I assume it is, but with Tanek’s deep voice it would be much more—”
Mekos made a groan mixed with laughter. “I cannot win! Come on, we’re almost there.”
When he turned away, Aradella wiped the sweat off her brow. “Where did you sleep? How did I get in my bed?”
“Eagles carried you. It took six of them,” he said.
“Tanek could have—”
He turned and gave her a look to stop it.
Aradella smiled sweetly, then closed her mouth.
Minutes later, Mekos pushed tall branches aside to show a stone wall. “It goes down quite a way. I didn’t go all the way around
but I think it’s attached to Valona’s big house and it encloses a garden. See the leaves?” He pointed upward to some large,
spiked leaves hanging over the stone. “Know what plant that is?”
“I’m not sure,” she said, but she had an idea, and it wasn’t good. “How do we get inside?”
“We must return to get my father—if Kaley can spare him, that is—then he’ll take you over by soaring.”
She gave him a look to cut it out.
“Unless you think I can take you over. No! That’s not possible.”
Aradella stepped close to him and put her arms up for him to take her.
He gave a chuckle, embraced her, then they soared up and over the wall. He took his time landing. “You smell good,” he said.
“Like earth and water and rather strongly of fox.”
She rested her head on his shoulder. “It’s the smelly company I’ve been keeping.”
Smiling, he floated down with her and they broke apart.
Aradella began walking and looking at the plants. When she realized what they were, her face became solemn. This is what Jobi foresaw, she thought. He knew that someday I’d see this and I’d need to know what these plants are.
She became more alarmed with every step she took.
It was a garden of poisonous plants. Every tree, bush, and flower could kill.
There was one plant that she looked for.
She’d seen pictures and drawings of it, had read about it, but had certainly never seen one.
At the back, against the stone wall, she saw three little plants inside a short barbed fence.
For a moment, she just stared, knowing that even touching the leaves could cause death.
She should get away from them! But then, some instinct told her she might need some of the noxious poison of these plants.
Cautiously, she stepped inside. Hale had sewn a deep pocket inside Aradella’s voluminous skirt.
With her hand covered, she gathered a dozen leaves and concealed them in the pocket.
She left the enclosure, then looked for Mekos, but she didn’t see him.
A large bird was sitting on the tall wall. “I wish Jobi had sent me some bird books,” she muttered. The bird started rapidly
moving back and forth, then it gave a squawk that sounded like an alarm—a warning.
Aradella grabbed her big skirt and ran toward the bird. Standing just below it was Mekos—and he was about to bite into a big
green fruit. She didn’t take time to yell a warning. She just went into a running jump and hit Mekos with all the force she
had.
The hit was unexpected and he staggered back. “What the fark are you doing?” he demanded.
She struck out with her fist and knocked the fruit out of his hand. The bird on the wall flew down and put itself between
the fruit on the ground and Mekos. “That is a sea mango. It’s the suicide plant. It’s deadly.” She stepped back, trying to calm her shaking body. “That bird was warning you. Why didn’t you listen to it? If I hadn’t understood it, you might be dead now.”
Mekos was watching her intently, then he pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry. It was stupid of me. I should have listened
but I was hungry.” He was stroking her hair. “It’s all right,” he whispered. “I’m safe. You saved me.”
They stood together for minutes and she was gradually able to get herself under control. Hale had taught her how to slow her
breath to quiet her heartbeat.
Mekos held her at arm’s length and looked into her eyes. “Are you all right now?”
She nodded.
“Will you tell me about this garden?”
Again, she nodded, then looked at the bird, still guarding the poisonous piece of fruit. “He saved you.”
Mekos stepped away and held out his arm. The bird landed on his forearm. “Thank you, my friend,” he said. “I am indebted to
you.”
The bird did a little bow then flew away.
“Do all birds come to you?”
“If I ask them to, yes.” His eyes sparkled. “They go to my father without asking.”
Aradella’s eyes showed her laughter. “But then, Tanek is—”
Mekos groaned. “You’ve recovered too much! Show me this place.”
Turning, Aradella looked around her. Her voice was solemn, serious. “This is a garden of death.” He followed her as she pointed
out the plants. “Sea mango, gympie-gympie, wolfsbane, snakeroot, belladonna, oleander, hemlock, foxglove. They’re all poisonous
plants. Every one of them.”
Abruptly, Mekos jerked his head upward and looked toward the far side of the garden. The hair over his ears twitched. “Someone
comes,” he whispered.
Aradella stepped toward the near wall, meaning to get out of there, but Mekos didn’t move. “This is who I’ve been smelling,”
he said softly. “Following and watching us.”
He looked at her, silently asking if she wanted to leave or to stay with him. There was no doubt that he was going to investigate
what he was hearing.
She gave a firm nod. She was staying with him. When she took a step and a twig broke, he put his arm around her waist and