Dark Slayer Page 0,137

presence of the organism.

She drew in her breath and slowly lifted her palm, using her body like a divining rod. She slowly turned and found that she'd picked up the existence of the life-form in every direction, as if the soil was saturated with it.

"It is everywhere," she said, letting her breath out, a little shocked at the widespread dispersion. "I have to figure out what it is."

"Can we take a sample?"

"We have an entire basin full," Ivory reminded. "We sleep in it every day."

Razvan frowned and ran the soil through his fingers again. "I think we should take a new sample, to make certain it was not contaminated in any way by us."

"I always ask permission before I take anything from this cave," Ivory warned. "If the answer is no, we go with what we already have. The earth has been more than good to us and we cannot allow greed to creep into our hearts, not even for a good cause."

"The earth is a mother, Ivory, she saved us. She will want to save the children of her people," Razvan reasoned.

Ivory smiled. She loved the way Razvan had such faith. Where had it come from? He had been tortured by his own grandfather. His people had believed the worst of him, yet he still had faith in the goodness of the world.

Razvan caught her looking at him with that look on her face she reserved only for him. Tender. Loving. Proud. She probably didn't even know she had that particular look, but it made him soft inside whenever that expression crossed her face, no matter how fleeting. It was enough for him that she knew him and understood why he did the things he did. No one else had to know, only Ivory.

Ivory lifted her hands and closed her eyes, using a melodic voice to plead their case. She was startled when Razvan joined in, harmonizing in his deeper male voice.

Mother, oh Mother, we come to you for aid. Hear our children, hold them close, never let them fade. Mother, oh Mother, our children are dying Catch our tears, we plead with you, stop our crying. Listen to our plea, see what is in our hearts. Hold us together, don't let us fall apart. We ask for the life in the soil to bring strength to our young Heal their wounds, protect our special ones.

Around them the ground shimmered and the gems sparkled bright. Above their heads columns of stalactites hummed, vibrating with the tune of their harmony.

Ivory bowed her head in gratitude and Razvan slid his hand almost lovingly through the soil before they lifted their voices in thanks.

Mother, oh Mother, you are great indeed Your gift is so precious, we're humbled by thee.

Razvan scooped up handfuls of the precious material and, forming a silken pouch, poured it into the bag. "How much will you need?"

"Enough to conduct several experiments just in case it is not an easy answer." She couldn't keep the excitement from her voice. Usually there were no easy answers, but this time, they might have just gotten plain lucky. If there was a life-form that kept the mutated microbes at bay, or better yet, actually destroyed them, she should be able to find it fairly quickly. It wasn't as if she had a lot of combinations to choose from.

Razvan's fingers settled around her wrist and he pulled her to him. "You are a miracle to me, Ivory, whether you think so or not. This place"-he swept one arm in a circular motion, taking in the giant cave-"this may save my daughter. She has been through so much, and as always, you seem to be the key to my happiness. If I can ease her suffering and that of her lifemate, I will feel as if I at least partially redeemed myself."

"Xavier possessed you, Razvan," she reminded gently. "I shared your memories and saw what he did. The fault was not yours."

He shrugged and tucked stray tendrils of hair, which had pulled loose from her braid, behind her ear. "I should have been more careful in my wording of things. I grew up with a mage. I know that words carry power, yet I continued to make mistakes that cost those I loved dearly."

"You were fourteen years old the first time he took you, and you gave up your life so your sister would be safe. You were a child, Razvan," she said.

His smile was gentle. "You are so fierce in your defense of