Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce

all the natural cures first.”
    The king patted the queen’s hand. “Remember what Duke Baird said. We can trust Myles and Alan. We must trust them.”
    Lianne went to the sleeping Jonathan, taking his hand. Her eyes were bright with tears. “He’s all we have, Alan. I can’t—I am unable to bear any more children.” She smiled bravely at the king. “If my lord trusts you, then so do I.”
    â€œMother?” Jonathan’s voice was no more than a whisper. “Father?”
    Alanna hid in the dressing room. It was not long before Roald called her back. “He is asleep. Will you call us if—” The king could not say it. Impulsively Alanna reached out and patted his arm.
    â€œWe’ll let you know right away if anything changes, sire,” she promised.
    Myles stepped quietly into the room, bowing to his king and queen. “He’ll be all right,” the knight told Lianne. “He has all our prayers.”
    â€œExcept for those of the one who sent this fever,” replied the queen.
    The king and Myles exchanged a look. The queen was right. Who was Jonathan’s enemy?
    Gently the king took his lady’s arm. “Come, my dear,” he said softly. “We must leave.”
    Coram and Timon came back as Jonathan’s parents left. Alanna rolled up her sleeves. “Let’s get this fire built up again,” she said grimly.
    It was a long night. Jonathan’s coughing finally stopped. Alanna listened to his chest, smiling when she could hear him breathing easily. But the fever continued, drying Jon’s lips till they cracked and bled. He fought Alanna and Myles, dreaming, living through ugly nightmares. His voice was worn down to nothing, and it shook Alanna to see him scream without making a sound.
    Myles grabbed her shoulders. “Alan, this can’t continue! Your Gift! Use it!”
    â€œI’ve been using it!” she cried. “And I haven’t the training—”
    â€œGo inside yourself, then! Can’t you see he’s dying?”
    Alanna looked at the fire. It roared hungrily in the hearth, waiting for her. She rubbed her eyes. Already she was tired from the little spells and charms she had used during the day.
    She picked up the last packet of herbs. It contained vervain. She had known all along it would come tothis. She opened it dully, staring at the brittle leaves inside.
    â€œCoram. Timon.” Her voice sounded dead. “You’d better leave.”
    Coram stepped forward. “Lad—” he began worriedly. He looked at her face and sighed. “Let’s go, Timon,” he said. “We don’t want to be here when they start foolin’ with serious magic.” They left, and Myles bolted the door.
    Alanna threw the vervain onto the fire. She had no business trying magic like this. She was no sorcerer, and sorcerers far older and stronger than she had failed to master the forces she now sought to call upon.
    A moan from the bed reminded her of why she was there. Kneeling before the flames, she whispered the words Maude told her would call the Greater Powers—the gods. Slowly, very slowly, because she was tired, the flames turned violet. She reached both hands into the purple fire.
    Her essence, the stuff that made her Alanna, streamed out through her palms. She was dissolving into the fire; she was the fire. Then she uttered the spell Maude told her to use only when nothing else was left.
    â€œDark Goddess, Great Mother, show me the way. Open the gates to me. Guide me, Mother of mountains and mares—”
    The fire roared up with a sound like a thunderclap. Alanna’s body jerked, but she couldn’t move away from the hearth. The fire filled her eyes. She saw countless gates and doors opening in front of her. Suddenly—there it was: the city, the city carved in black, glossy stone, the one she had seen in Maude’s fireplace. The sun beat down on