The Path of Giants by B.T. Narro (year 7 reading list .TXT) 📗

Kataleya returning with her mother.

As I suppressed my anger, I realized that more than that, I was disappointed with Whitley. Although I knew Kataleya’s father was insanely rich and powerful, I had hoped the man who’d raised a girl like her would’ve been, well, similar to her. Instead, I found similarities between him and what I imagined Reuben might be like when he reaches Whitley’s age. But even Reuben had softened a bit since getting to know us. Whitley was getting on in years. I couldn’t imagine him changing.

I wondered why Kataleya hadn’t told me to address her father as lord. She hadn’t prepared me for his attitude, either.

Kataleya’s mother was much younger than her father, and noticeably easier on the eyes. She had the same blonde hair as Kataleya, with a slender nose akin to her daughter’s. I even saw some similarity in the shape of their eyes, though Kataleya’s mother had bright blue irises rather than Kataleya’s grayish green ones.

Her mother smiled as she curtsied. “I’m glad to finally meet you, Jon.”

I bowed. “You as well.”

“My name is Mora.”

“The healer’s about to prove if the rumors are true,” Whitley said, not giving me a chance to reply to Mora.

Wanting to get this over with, I stepped up close to Whitley, but he showed me a disapproving look.

“My wife first. Ladies always first, Jon. They might not teach you that where you come from, but it is nearly the law here.”

I was getting really fed up with him talking down to me, but I approached Mora without putting up an argument.

She didn’t have any visible injuries. I started to walk around her, and she turned with me, holding a polite smile.

“Stay still, if you don’t mind…um.” I suddenly realized I didn’t know how to address her.

“Lady is fine,” Kataleya helped me.

“Lady,” I added. It sounded a little strange to me, but I went with it. I guided my hand around her without touching, propelling my mana out and feeling for signs of damage.

It was her back. There seemed to be something wrong with her lower spine. I couldn’t tell what it was exactly, but I didn’t need to. My mana knew how to heal it. I just had to give it the command.

“I am sure there’s something amiss with your spine.”

“Did somebody tell you?”

“We didn’t,” Kataleya said. “His mana tells him what’s wrong before healing.”

“Not exactly what’s wrong,” I explained. “It’s more that it senses something that can be fixed.”

“Are you saying you can fix my back?”

“Yes, it will only take a moment. My healing will hurt for that moment, however.”

“That is fine.”

I put my hand on her lower back and casted my healing spell. She gasped as my mana worked out the damage in her spine.

By the time I was done, I found Whitley to be glaring at me. I didn’t understand why. Mora stepped away from me, her hands on her back.

“My word!” She twisted, then bent over and back up again. “My goodness!” she said, louder this time. “Could it be that this is just temporary?”

“It’s not, Mother!” Kataleya said happily.

“Are you sure?” Mora looked at me.

“Unless you damage it again, it’s no longer going to cause you any problems.”

She put her hand over her mouth as her eyes glistened. “Oh, thank you, Jon. You don’t know what this means to me.”

Whitley still had a disapproving look on his face. I couldn’t ignore it any longer. “What is it?”

He gave a sigh as if frustrated he had to explain this to me. “You are not to touch a woman of such stature as my wife without explicit permission. I would’ve figured you’d ask!”

I looked at Kataleya. She had to say something, didn’t she?

But she basically gave me an apologetic shrug without moving her shoulders.

“I’m sorry, my lord. I didn’t know.”

“Yes, there seems to be a lot you don’t know. I will forgive you this time so long as it does not happen again!”

I lowered my head. “Would you like me to heal you now, my lord?”

“I would. There is no need for games anymore. You have proven your skill. The problem is my right knee.”

“It’s bothered him for years,” Mora said. “We’ve tried all different types of healing. Nothing has helped very much.”

“I’m sure it won’t be a problem,” I said. “May I put my hand on your knee, my lord?”

“You may.”

I was not surprised to find out that the damage in his knee was not as bad as in Mora’s spine. It was going to be even easier to heal.

However, I casted the spell with more power than necessary, just to induce a bit more pain. I couldn’t help myself.

He groaned and hissed, but all too soon it was over.

He moved his leg about to test his newly healed knee, then squatted up and down. “Very good, Jon. Very good, indeed. Now I don’t think the people of Livea should have to wait a moment longer than necessary. I’m going to gather them right now while you rest and eat. I should have everyone ready by the church in a few hours. I will send someone for you then.”

“Yes, my lord.”

Whitley walked out the door, and I almost let out a breath of relief when he was gone.

I was a little surprised he wasn’t going to eat with us, though. “He’s already had lunch?”

“He has,” Kataleya said. “But more than that, he’s just too excited to tell everyone about you, I’m sure.”

Was she being serious? It wasn’t like Kataleya to make jokes, but her father didn’t seem to be the kind of man to get excited about helping anyone but himself.

“Thank you again, Jon,” Mora said as she left me with Kataleya.

“I’m happy to help, lady.”

“Come, I’ll show you to your room as we wait for your feast.” Kataleya took me up a stairway and down a hall. The mansion was probably the size of the great hall in the castle.

Had I just come from Bhode, I would’ve been amazed by the displays of wealth