by Dianne Keep
Bree needed some Nikki time, especially after she had fallen asleep during the ride back to the palace. “I think I’ll go for a ride.” She wanted to go past the hills and see the mountains.
“I’m sure that will be fine.”
They walked through the doors leading to the tower. Two Seyhs stood at the entry to the stairs. Bree’s alhor bounced down the hallway toward them.
“Osling sent us,” called the orange Seyh. She stood next to a boy with a green alhor. He couldn’t be older than thirteen.
Ehre waved to them. “No need. Superior Delia, you and Thomas may return to the Seyh annex.”
Delia nodded and took Thomas’ hand. “Thank you, Superior Ehre.” They walked briskly down the hall. An ache of loneliness slipped out from Bree’s defenses.
Searing pain slithered out from the amber gem on Bree’s chest. The charm sizzled to life. “What’s it reacting to?” She held up the charm for Ehre’s inspection.
“You.” Ehre sighed and shoved her hands into the pockets of her jacket. “You are setting it off.”
“I was just watching them,” said Bree, pointing to toward the departing Seyhs. “I was thinking they must be mother and son.” A bitter laugh crept up her throat. “What do you mean? It doesn’t want me to be me?”
“It wants you to be Bree.”
“There’s no one else in here,” said Bree.
Ehre moved and stood nose-to-nose with Bree. “Then tell me how you healed all those people. I couldn’t have done that.” Ehre’s purple alhor was pressed against Bree’s gold light. “Have you not noticed anything you’ve done in the last two days? You couldn’t even cast a simple silencer spell, and now you’re activating relics, and—” Ehre’s eyes widened. Her body went rigid. She took a step back. “You said you heard a voice. Tell me.”
Bree’s chest tightened. Her tongue swelled. She blinked. “I….”
Don’t tell her. Say you were mistaken.
But she could help us. Bree trusted Ehre.
She won’t.
“There is only me. The charm is just messing with my head.”
Ehre’s gaze pierced Bree one second more, then she relaxed. “If you say.” The corners of her lips twitched. She linked her arm through Bree’s, pulling her up the stairway. “Come on. Gallie’s waiting in your room.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
“How much longer am I going to have this blasted nightmare?” Bree asked the ceiling.
Khrisk had burnt next to her all night, and instead of fear or pain, a sturdy cloud of despair settled over her. She accepted her fate during the dream, whatever that meant, but watching Khrisk suffer killed her inside.
Are you there? Did the voice stay for the nightmares?
No answer.
Where do you go when you’re not in my head? She missed the girl. Not that she really wanted to have another person in her head, but the girl was someone she could talk to, and she knew things Bree didn’t.
The curtains to her balcony twisted as the cool morning air snuck into her room. She shivered as the breeze touched her soaked sheets. There wasn’t a cup of red gunk on her nightstand. Swallowing, Bree realized her throat wasn’t as raw as it had been the last two days.
“You better get up,” Tosha called from the dressing room. “Unless you want to spend your free morning in bed.”
Bree’s achy muscles thought the idea sounded good, except for the soaked sheets and nightgown. But she should get up. There might never be another morning free of plans.
After washing, she dressed for breakfast and sat at the vanity. Purple circles lined her weary eyes. She rubbed cream on her skin and shoved more sweet mint leaves in her mouth, which did nothing to quell the taste of ash.
When she’d done all she could with the cosmetics, she ran her fingers over the transparent blue fabric of her new dress. Its ruffles lay flat on top of one another, and it had a braided silver belt to define her waist. She eyed her riding clothes hanging in the wardrobe. I’ll change right after breakfast.
Tosha came in and finished pinning Bree’s hair with the silver petals Bayan had enclosed in a box along with a pair of shoes and earrings. “You’re sad this morning.” Her maid tugged a strand of hair.
“Not really. Just tired.”
“Me too. At least you’re down to mumbling instead of screaming.” Tosha took a pin from her mouth and stuck it at the end of the fishbone braid. “There. Done.”
Bree had to admire the design. Her hair resembled scales, and her dress looked like rippling water. Her gold alhor glittered and she thought of sunbeams glinting on waves. “Is there a lake in Rysa where people go sailing?”
“There are rivers but no large lakes.” Tosha tidied the vanity and wardrobe. “Do you think you’ve been a sailor?”
“I think I’ve been on boats,” Bree said on her way to the balcony. “Makes sense if I traveled with the army, right? There must have been a large lake in Anthea.”
The guards posted on the wall walks pointed their laser beams at her, and she waved. More beams focused on her chest. “Really? What do you think I’m going to do?” Had they not heard she had healed something like a thousand of their countrymen yesterday?
Her inner cage rumbled. I won’t feel you. Her heart was in such agony. Act grateful. They’re giving you the morning off.
Bree whistled to a group of dew birds fluttering about the terrace below. None of the birds answered. Longing throbbed in her stomach. This is your home. You’re happy to serve Rysa. You want to get back to active duty. This is your life.
Something inside her stirred. It lay farther back than her suppressed feelings, concealed by a wall not of her own making. Could the Anthean brainwash be resurfacing?
Enough of this. She had the morning free and she was wasting it. All the birds zipped up and away, gliding on the wind.
Bree walked backward into her room, waiting at the door to see when the guards would lower their weapons. Her chest still glowed with tiny green dots. “Ehre said I could go riding today. Do you want to come with me after breakfast?”
From the dressing room, Tosha mumbled something about hating horses.
“Yes or no?” Bree closed the balcony doors, and the lights blinked out. She smoothed her dress and walked to her bedroom door. For the first time since coming to the palace, she opened the thick, heavy door, only to get an eyeful of Shane’s back. “Tosha?”
Shane turned, looked her over, and tried to stifle a smile.
Bree tilted her head to make eye contact with him. “I assume no one is escorting me to the dining hall?”
“I received the message from Ehre. You have the morning to do as you please.” Shane kept his eyes on something behind her.
Straightening her shoulders, she counted to ten, but Shane hadn’t moved. “I can’t leave if you stand there.”
“Your maid isn’t accompanying you?”
“I guess not.” She made to walk forward and almost ran into his chest. “Does she have to come?”
“Ehre specified that she would prefer it if your maid attended you.”
It took all of Bree’s patience not to scream. “Tosha, you are required to attend me.”
Tosha appeared in the doorway of the dressing room. Her servant’s cap was askew, and her blond hair was straying from the tight bun. “I have to organize your room.”
The bed was made, the floor dusted, and everything was in its place. “It’s fine.” Crossing her arms, she tapped her fingers against her elbows. “Ehre said you had to escort me, and I’m hungry. The sooner I’m done with breakfast, the sooner I can come back, change, and go.”
Tosha came to her side. “I thought you had a bit of freedom from escorts this morning?”
“Apparently not as much as I had hoped.”
Shane held up his hand. “No need to go down to breakfast. Zeir Bayan is busy. You’ll receive a breakfast tray.”
“Why did no one tell me?” Bree took Tosha’s hand and pulled her back to the dressing roo
m. “Let’s get ready for riding.”
Tosha shook her head. “Oh, no, my dearie dear. I do not ride. Ever. For no one. No.”
“What?”
“I said it clearly.” Tosha had Bree undressed in a flash and was shoving a tunic over her head. “I do not ride.”
“But I need an escort.”
“Take that blond captain. He looks friendly.”
“Shane? Are you serious? I—” No escorts probably didn’t mean no quad. “He’ll be coming with me anyway. You’re always stuck in this room or wherever it is you go. Come outside with me.”
“I go places that don’t include horses. People were meant to walk on their own two feet. I like my feet. I like using them. No horses.”
“Fine.” Maybe Ehre could go with her.
With the breakfast tray, came a note from Ehre saying she was busy all morning. “Tosha, you have to come with me.”
“I said no. Finish your breakfast.”
Bree ate her toast and porridge sweetened with neyne. Her cup wasn’t laced with any more herbs meant to make her fall in love with anyone. Or, she didn’t recognize any lacing.
When the last bite was gone, Bree stood and paced. “Tosha, I really need you to come with me.”
“Ask Rishi Fara.”
“I guess I could.” She went to the door. “Captain Shane, I’d like to go to the Rishi’s rooms, please.”
“No Tosha?” He crossed his arms.
“If Rishi Fara can go with me, she’ll be my escort.” Shane hadn’t budged. “Can we go before my morning is over, please?”
“Sure.” Shane and the other quad members joined her on the landing.
They took the back passageways through the palace. Only a few servants passed by them. The guards at Fara’s rooms wouldn’t let them through since they hadn’t received a message from Ehre.
Feli came to the door. “Pardon me, Superior. My mistress is unable to attend to you this morning, but she sends in her place, Khrisk, the Second Zeir.”
Khrisk peeked over Feli’s shoulder. “Very well done, Feli. I feel properly announced.” He scooted around her tiny frame. “Shall we go riding?”
Bree’s stomach flippity-flopped. Spend an entire morning with Khrisk? “Yes, please.”
“Where would you like to go?” Khrisk asked as the quad reformed to surround both of them.
“How long do we have?” She still couldn’t believe she was going riding with Khrisk.
“About three, four hours,” Shane said. “I haven’t received a message from Ehre on the exact time she needs you to return.”
“I’d like to go to the mountains,” Bree said.
“I think that would take longer than we have,” said Khrisk. “How about to a river close by? Has Bayan taken you there yet?”
“I haven’t been to any rivers.” She itched to be closer to the mountains. “How far are the mountains?”
“About a day.” Khrisk nodded at a courtier passing by.
“They look so much closer.”
“Illusion. Besides, you have to be on constant watch for the mutated animals. Most of the contestants won’t go further than the river. I’ll show you. You’ll like it.”
Though her heart had been set on the mountains, the river would be nice. She’d be with Khrisk. “Thanks.”
“My pleasure.” His smile made her dizzy.
As they passed through the main part of the palace, people huddled together and whispered, sneaking glances at her and the Second Zeir.
Bree’s cheeks flushed. They probably thought she’d ensnared Khrisk and Bayan at the same time. “What’s Karra Elissa doing?”
“She’s with her parents at home.”
His voice sounded as if he really didn’t care at all about his Honor, which is exactly what she thought. How could he pretend so well? “That’s nice.”
“It is. I’ll see her tonight at the banquet.” He winked at her. “My last meal before surviving the wilderness alone with Bayan.”
Shane cleared his throat. They were at the main training yard. The stables were across the palace grounds toward the east.
“Are we going the long way to the stables?” asked Bree.
“I have to stop here and check on something. Sorry, I forgot to mention it.” Khrisk walked across the unusually empty yard and spoke with a soldier near the munitions reserve.
Shane pointed to a roped off section. “Let’s go wait over there.”
The practice area was perfect for sparring. Benches lined the square, and right outside the ropes, there were two tables piled with weapons.
“You put on special armor for this area. It has reflective material so the men can practice with laser pistols.” Shane picked up two curved blades about the length of his forearm. “These are nicely balanced. Here.”
Without warning, he threw them at her. Surprisingly, she caught them.
“Uh, maybe you shouldn’t be throwing swords to me?” The blades were well balanced. She swirled them in circles, and the other three guards stepped back, pulling their knives. “I’m not stupid. Like I would really try anything with a bunker full of soldiers right over there.”
They didn’t look convinced.
“Besides, I threw them.” Shane said. “Care to see how well you remember your training?” Oh, she did. This might be better than riding.
“Hold up, you two.” Khrisk jogged across the yard. “I’m the commanding officer. If anyone is going to test this girl, it ought to be me.”
“Of course.” Shane saluted and sat on the bench. The other guards remained standing.
“It’ll be alright. She won’t be able to hurt me.” Khrisk shooed them to another bench on the other side of the roped off area. “Put on the armor and meet me in the middle.” He picked up a breastplate, arm and leg shields, and a back plate. He pressed a blue button in the middle and the armor clicked, filling in the open spots with what looked like black scales.
Bree went to the other table, took off the split skirt and riding coat, and strapped on the plates. The armor molded over her pants and tunic, hugging her close, but it was still more breathable than her corset. She met Khrisk in the middle of the sparring area, double blades in hand.
“Are you sure this is okay?” Bree glanced at the three guards who had their knives at the ready.
“Of course.” Khrisk flipped his own set of double blades in the air and caught them. “Don’t tell me you’re scared?”
“Not a bit.”
“Good. See if you can hit me.”
She hit him in two seconds. “Ow. Sorry.” Her ribs throbbed as if she’d hit herself.
“Yeah.” Khrisk rubbed his side. “Not a kill. Come on, let me see what you can do.”
Ten seconds later, she sliced the back of his knee then slid the blades down his back, around the front, trying to puncture his stomach.
“Ow.” Her body ached exactly where she’d hit Khrisk. “What kind of armor is this?”
Khrisk shook his head. “It must be malfunctioning.” He glanced at Shane with an I-don’t-know expression.
She turned to see what Shane was asking silently, but he had removed any hints from his expression. “Maybe we should go riding if the armor is malfunctioning.” Khrisk looked disappointed. Was he really that curious to see her skills? “Or we could just use our hands without the armor?” Bree asked. “Nothing on the face?”
“Ah, no. I’ve yet to mark you,” Khrisk said. “Give me a chance. Press the red button on your left shoulder. That’ll turn on the reflective shield, so you won’t feel the hits.”
Bree nodded and pressed the button. Her suit hummed to life, bringing with it a sulfur taste to her mouth. Khrisk pressed her with several attacks. She blocked them and managed to put him on the defensive. They parried back and forth. The hum of energy from her suit distracted her, and Khrisk didn’t let up.
“You’re better than I thought you’d be,” Khrisk said between swipes to her midsection.
Bree spun away from a str
ike to her shoulder. “I have no idea how I’m doing any of it.”
He twisted, moving out of the reach of her blade. “Your body remembers. Your mind doesn’t have to think about it.” He tapped his temple. “Better than memory.”
“I guess.” It was pretty amazing to be able to fight without having to think. Maybe that was why Osling had sent her to Anthea, and, erased her memory before bringing her home.
“I’m sure I’d be dead without this armor,” said Khrisk.
“I wouldn’t kill you.”
“Promise?” And he was serious.
“Of course, I promise.”
“I’ll hold you to that one day.”
She kicked out her leg to trip him, but he jumped. “Okay, because one day I’m sure I’ll try to kill you.”
“Never know.” He winked.
A loud hoot stopped Khrisk mid-swing. She, however, wasn’t quick enough to stop her blade before it hit his upper right arm.
“Oh, sorry, sorry.”
“Didn’t feel it with the reflective shield on.” He tapped his arm as if to prove he wasn’t in pain, then trotted over to Bayan, who stood at the entrance of the training yard.
“Perfect.” She hit the red button, ending the annoying hum of creepy-crawly energy. With Bayan here, she wouldn’t be riding out with Khrisk anytime soon.
Bayan waved, and walked over with Khrisk. “Don’t stop. I was enjoying the sight of Khrisk being shredded by my Honor. He ranked first, you know. First, and now he’s being split open. I wish your father was here to see it.”
Khrisk chuckled. “Right, well, I’m glad he isn’t. You should try. After all, she’ll be your wife soon. Bet she can rip you just as easily.”
“I’ll take you up on that bet.” Bayan put on a set of armor plates and pressed the blue button. “Reflectives or no?” His hand hovered over the red button.
“I’d rather not use them.”
“Then don’t hit me as hard as you were hitting him.” Bayan took the double blades out of Khrisk’s hands. “Can’t be too bruised before the Ranking.”
“I’ll try not to. Besides, ours weren’t working very well. We both felt the hits.”
