Maliuth: The Reborn by Stormy McKnight Page B

a long
and drawn out speech would have.
    Realizing that the Oracle was slowing down Maliuth held up his hand.
    “Around this corner is the private quarters of The Elder.” The Oracle
whispered. “There are guards at the door. When it is cleared, I will follow you
into the room to administer the antidote to Alea. Hurry.” He gestured for them
to go ahead of him.
    Pulling his blades out he gestured for two of the males to go across the
hall. Once they were in position, he very carefully peeked around the corner.
By his count, there were five guards in various positions around the doorway.
He held up five fingers and gestured with his hand to show the others their
position. Everyone nodded their readiness and Maliuth stepped around the
corner.
    “I believe you have something of mine.” He did not have to bellow the
words, though he wanted to. He just spoke them loud enough to get the guards
attention. They looked at him standing alone in the doorway and started
forward. When they had reached halfway to him, he said, “Now.” His father and
friends came rushing around the corner and the Oracles, realizing they were
outmatched tried to retreat. “Bind them for a decision by the new Elder or
council. No bloodshed if you can help it.” Maliuth yelled out and continued
past the fighting to the doors. They were locked and he was about to yell for
someone to help him break the doors down when the Oracle who had led them here
spoke.
    “I was not sure if the doors would be locked. Let me…” He pulled a ring
of keys from his pocket and worked to unlock the door.
    Maliuth gave him a grateful look and pushed into the room. He took in the
pale form of Alea lying still on the bed. Her hair was in a thick braid over
one shoulder, her tattoo dark and beautiful on the other. The usual peach of
her cheeks and pink of her lips was colorless. She was gone. His knees went
weak and his head was spinning.
    “I could not let you have her.” He had not seen The Elder standing off to
the side. His focus had been on Alea’s body. “If I let you gainsay me, what is
to keep every male from making a fool of me? She was not that special…there
will be other healers.” The Elder was clearly crazy.
    “She was that special.” Maliuth snapped his deadly gaze from Alea then
back to The Elder. “She was perfect in every way and she was my mate.” He was
stalking toward The Elder and did not notice or care when Ori ran to Alea’s
side.
    “She is not dead.” Ori called out. His fingers unstopped the tiny bottle
and he quickly poured the liquid into her mouth.
    “What?” Maliuth’s voice was hoarse.
    “What?” The Elder screeched at the same time and went to run at the bed.
It was then that Maliuth saw the dagger he had held behind his back. With a
swift jab to his arm the blade was dropped. Maliuth took him and threw him
toward where his father and the others were waiting.
    Hurrying to the bed Maliuth clutched at Alea’s hand. It was as Ori had
said. The skin was warm to the touch and he almost started weeping in relief.
    Behind him, there was a sudden commotion and he turned to see The Elder
had dropped to the ground.
    “What happened?” Maliuth’s stunned question went unanswered for a second.
The others were too shocked as they stood over the fallen Elder. Then they
seemed to snap out of it.
    “I did not touch him.” Galan insisted, “Only to keep him in the room, but
not enough to hurt him.”
    “I did not do anything.” His father shrugged his shoulders, “The Elder
was standing there foaming and muttering one second, the next he dropped like a
stone.”
    The other three all shrugged as well. Akkar, Beldron and Garnnon all
denied touching The Elder.
    When another male walked in everyone jumped and trained their weapons on
him.
    “I am Oracle Jerr.” He looked down on the floor. “I suppose now you can
call me The Elder.” His gaze went behind him and he ordered, “Please see that the
proper burial traditions are