The Unforeseen One

by Lexy Wolfe

  “It is not hers alone,” the goddess stated in hushed tones. “If her tribe wishes her to remain among them as much as she desires to, the task is for all of you. You must help restore the balance lost when Zhekali was taken from Us and find someone to hold her place until she chooses to return.” She waved her hand, a portal opening to the area the pair often secluded themselves for mediation and private training. “Go. Trust your instincts. Fear not your choices and take your risks. Question Us. It is your duty as Guardians.”

  “Yes, Timeless One.” He gathered the frail woman in his arms, the drizzen both getting up and following their riders through the portal. He looked over his shoulder as it closed.

  “Skyfire!” Jaison called as he and Ash ran up the trail, their alarm deepening when they saw Storm. The man stayed back as the mage took his lifemate. He knelt on the ground, cradling her close and caressing her cheek, calling her name in desperation. Jaison asked in a low voice, “What happened?”

  “She confronted the ancient trinity,” he replied, his awe unrestrained. Ash looked up with as much surprise as Jaison. “They want Zhekali back, but she doesn’t want to leave us. She tried…she tried to destroy her own soul so-so…”

  “But death by one’s own hand is considered the most dishonorable act,” Jaison began.

  Skyfire exhaled, shoulders sagging.“She feared They would one day threaten us. Be rid of us, she would have no reason to remain mortal in Their minds. Her curse realized. So she chose dishonor…to protect us. They would never threaten the tribe to force her to accede to Their demands. Well, more the Unchanging One’s demand. It was Her plan.” He shook his head, straightening. “We are tasked with finding another to hold Zhekali’s place.”

  “I see.” Ash got to his feet, looking at her sickly pale, blood-stained face and held her tighter. “Then as a tribe, we will answer this challenge to protect one of our own.”

  Lyra ran into the na’Zhekali dormitory, red-faced and out of breath from running nearly the entire way from the settlement at the base of Fortress. “What happened? What’s wrong?” She looked at the tribe seated around the fire pit, all with grim, pensive expressions. After scanning the group, she noted who was missing, her panic rippling through the tribal bond. “Storm?! Where is she?”

  Skyfire intercepted her, holding her tight against him as he hushed her. “She is alive but very weak right now. She’ll be fine. Believe me.”

  She buried her face against his chest, clinging to him. “We were on our way back when I felt the most horrible things. I had no idea what was happening and I wanted to help but I couldn’t return any sooner.” She uttered a small whimper. “I am so sorry I wasn’t here for you and Storm—”

  “Lyra, my heart, you do not need to apologize.” He caressed a tendril of hair behind her ear. “You could not have stopped what happened. I could not, either. You know how she can be when she is determined.” He took her by the hand, leading her to the couch where he had been seated.

  Her eyes widened, then narrowed into a scowl, when she saw Kendle. “What is he doing here?”

  The Roylat smirked, grimacing when an injudicious movement pulled at his injuries. “A pleasure to see you again, too, Dusvet Guardian.”

  The slight archer calmed when Skyfire put his hand on her shoulder, murmuring in her ear the events that had taken place while she was gone. Her eyes darkened as she listened, panic replaced with a calmer but deeper worry. “Oh.”

  Bella and Almek arrived, neither quite as winded as Lyra had been, but no less worried. The two were invited to join the rest of the tribe. Jaison whispered to Bella, Tyrsan to Almek, while Ash paced, his expression a dark scowl of pensive worry. “The more I consider returning to Forenta, the more resistance I feel at the idea.” He stared at his bedroom. “Aelia had been fixated on going home to complete the task her father gave her, but I think even she knows it is not where we need to be.”

  Terrence looked up from his musing. “I believe there is somewhere else we need to go. I am not sure…to where yet. I have been trying to determine where, but it is difficult for me to focus for some reason.”

  Almek interrupted before the frustration boiled over. “Yes, you all feel desperate to complete this task to protect Storm. But, understand that the ancient trinity have been without Zhekali for over two thousand years. Their urgency is based off Their perspective, not a mortal’s short life. There is time to plan and consider the path you must take and how you will face the future ahead of you.”

  “Time?” Ash scowled. “You cannot expect us to risk harm to Storm by not working as quickly as we can to solve—?”

  “You are no longer short-lived mortals,” Almek interrupted, firm but kind. “You bear the Timeless One’s blessings. While the ancient trinity’s desperation resonates with your own, you must remember that the perception of time for Them is much different from our own. Not to say you should not feel urgency, but you should take the time to plan, to observe, to strengthen yourselves.”

  He offered a faint smile. “Besides, you cannot leave until Storm has recovered her strength. Enough so she can function at the very soonest, regardless. You must learn patience.”

  Ash heaved a reluctant sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose for a moment. “You are right. I’d spent my entire life having to push to get things solved as quickly as possible. Tasks that I could take my time with were terribly rare.”

  “You were alone to attend to many crises,” Almek acknowledged. “You did well, but remember. You are no longer alone.” He waved his hand toward the others in the room. “You have people to stand at your side instead of hiding behind you.” His smile turned sad. “A fact you and your lifemate both need to embrace.”

  Ash chuckled, weary. “You do not ask simple things, do you?”

  “We should decide who will be going when you do,” Ophilia interrupted in a quiet voice, her eyes on her clasped hands in her lap.

  Terrence could not help but be concerned. He put his arm around her, frowning when she pulled away. “What is wrong? You want to leave the tribe because of…?”

  She made an exasperated sound, looking at the ceiling. “Gods! No, I don’t want to leave. But…Storm always says that you have to know yourself, your strengths and weaknesses and everything.” She pushed herself to her feet, hugging herself as she paced a small circle. “What I want most is to go home. I want to see my mother. I want her to see I am alive and well, but…”

  Ash touched her shoulder to stop her. “But you are not ready to leave.”

  Ophilia looked up with tears in her eyes. “I had only just gotten past the basics in my training thanks to all of you coming here. And suddenly I’m a Dusvet Guardian?” She gestured toward Lyra and Skyfire. “One who can piss off the most tolerant people.”

  She put her hands on her head, pacing again. “I’m not my mother. Oh, by the gods, I’m so not my mother. Everyone loves her. She knows what to say and how to say it at exactly the right times. If I go out there, I’ll turn everyone against the Timeless One and the Guardians and I can’t. I just can’t do that to everyone. I don’t want to make the na’Zhekali look bad. Storm would be furious with me and—”

  “Ophilia,” Ash said loud enough to distract her from her lamenting. “It is okay. We understand.” He touched her chin to make her meet his eyes. “All we ask is you work toward bettering yourself. Also, I am given to understand that now that you are no longer an Adept, there is nothing that prevents you from writing to your mother again.”

  Her anguish turned to amazement. She looked at her former mentor Jaison with questioning hope. The man smiled and nodded. “He is right. You are free to do whatever you wish. Sorry I forgot to say anything. We’ve all been distracted and I’m not used to knowing people who have relations beyond Fortress.”

  “It will be some time before our mistress allows me to wander again,” Almek added. “I would be pleased to enjoy the company of another Dusvet again after so long. Even if I am the elder and no longer a junior am
ong our numbers.” The corner of his eyes crinkled in amusement. “I am not as exciting as young Jaison there, but I hope you would accept me to mentor you.”

  Ophilia smiled and threw her arms around his neck. “Oh, I would love it, Almek! I promise I will do my best to learn all the things—”

  He chuckled, patting her back. “I know you will, my dear. Though I think the first order of business for you is to write to your mother.”

  The young woman’s eyes widened. “Oh, gracious. I’d been writing a letter every sevenday, just as I had promised her. I never sent them. It seems such a waste.”

  “Don’t worry. My arrowhawk can carry your messages back to Forenta,” Mureln pointed out. “And probably get them there within a sevenday. She would enjoy having a task that tests her endurance. They do not care for lazing about.”

  “Really? How much can she carry?” She ran toward her and Terrence’s room.

  Mureln chuckled as he followed her. “As much as you Forenten like to write? I think the mountain dragons would be challenged.”

  Ash watched the two with a faint smile of amusement before turning his attention to the rest of the tribe. “I will write to Ellis and Nolyn to explain our delay returning to Ithesra.” He looked at the star-shaped scar in his palm. “Though I suspect my brother already knows. However, I know if there is nothing certain, Miss Kelafy and half of Forenta will be waiting on tenterhooks for our return until rumors have us eaten by rabid rock squirrels.”

  Skyfire gave Ash an odd look. “I have seen your rock squirrels. They are no bigger than the chitan.” The winged, lizard-like rodent hissed, batting his wings until Izkynder pet him into calmness again. “Your people have strange ideas about what is likely to kill someone.”

  “You will get no arguments from me,” he replied in dry tones as the others laughed. “Taylin, Storm will be all right? There will not be any lasting damage?”

  “If the Timeless One had not healed her, it would have been different. My skills would only have been able to mend the physical wound. She had mortally damaged her soul. Given the echos I sense, it will take weeks for her to recover her physical strength. But her spirit needs to heal as well, and that I am not sure how long it will take.” She crossed her arms. “I don’t know if it is Desanti hardiness or unadulterated stubbornness that keeps her alive.”

  “Both,” most of the others in the room chorused, drawing quiet, relieved laughter.

  Taylin looked toward the bedroom. “I advise we keep constant watch over her until she awakens. She will need to get liquids in her as soon as possible to replenish what was lost.” Her eyes turned to Skyfire and Jaison. “And no training with her until I say so. I don’t care how prideful she gets when she can get out of bed.”

  “Understood,” the men replied in unison.

  Ash looked to the others. “I suggest we all start making plans for departing Fortress. Not just supplies and our belongings. Those remaining here we have been aiding will need guidance on what to do once we depart. Better a smoother transition than an abrupt one. As smooth as we can make it.” They nodded, disbursing.

  “I’ll go watch over Storm,” Lyra began.

  “No.” Ash’s voice was not harsh, but his tone brooked no argument. “I will sit with her while I work on the letters to go back to Forenta. You two.” He looked between the troubled lovers. “You need to talk. Aelia was right. The matter between you is for you to resolve.” Skyfire dropped his eyes in acquiescence.

  Lyra’s expression was devastated. “But I am supposed to—”

  “You want to help? Give her a reason to stop worrying about the both of you.” Ash crossed his arms. “She loves you both dearly. Even before you were tlisan to her. But she respects you both far too much to interfere in your relationship. The difficulties between you have been a distraction to her.”

  The young woman looked stricken. “This was our fault?” The mage said nothing, only putting his hands on his hips and arching an eyebrow. She bowed her head, hands clasped in front of her. “It was not our fault, but we did not help.”

  “That’s better.” He tilted her chin up. “Believe it or not, Lyra, both Storm and I want to take care of you and make you happy, too. The only reason Storm allowed you to attend to her as a servant was because it pleased you. But she never saw you as a servant.” He lowered his hand. “Over time, neither did I. Putting everyone and everything before your own wants and needs? You do not need to any longer. You are allowed to see to your own now and then.”

  He turned, pausing before entering the bedroom. “Go. Talk. Don’t come back until you’ve sorted things out.”

  The pair walked through the forest near the na’Zhekali dormitory in silence, avoiding looking at each other. After nearly an hour, Skyfire broke the silence. “Did you find enough crysalin for your arrows?”

  Lyra nodded, her eyes fixed on the path ahead. “I have never seen any place like it. There are mines in the mountains in Forenta where sunstone and moonstone are recovered, as well as gems sometimes.” She took a small sliver from her pocket. “This was just laying out on the ground like someone scattered it everywhere.” She looked up at him, then away, cheeks coloring. “I want to study it more…someday.”

  “One day, you will,” he assured. “You can do anything you want. No one but the gods themselves have any say over what you do, and even then, it is your choice whether you do or not.”

  She sighed, shoulders slumping. “But I don’t know what I want to do. I was always told what to do. Grandpa was teaching me the woodsman arts when Papa decided that I would do better as a servant.” She hugged herself. “He said I had to pick a good, highborn family or the family would be weakened.”

  “A good one? They have those?” Skyfire asked in droll tones, drawing a weak laugh out of her.

  “Some are better than others. The Avarians were some of the most sought after to serve. But at the time, there was only Master Ellis of the original bloodline left until the goddess revealed Ash was an Avarian.” She paused to smile wanly. “Who would have guessed he was Avarian himself reborn?”

  “I doubt any would have considered the possibility. Probably better that no one outside the tribe knows.” They came to a stop at an open ledge that looked toward the horizon. “Did you like learning from your grandfather?”

  She nodded vigorously, her eyes sparkling with the memories of those days. “Oh, yes! I loved it. The forest was always so peaceful. I felt a part of everything when we were out there. I learned about different plants and the animals. Even how to survive with just a knife!” Her smile faded. “But Father is head of the family, so his word is law. Grandpa tried to convince him to let me be a woodsman, but…”

  Skyfire closed his eyes, the muscles on his face taut. “He only saw your usefulness in your breeding potential.” He sensed her look at him in guilty horror. “Ophilia…explained the social expectations of servants in Forenta.” She hugged herself, turning away. “She also said it was your choice to let Ash take your contract to be Storm’s and my assistant.” His voice hardened. “Do you think my people are such animals that I would take you without your consent? Or risk you suffering your people’s wrath having relations with me?”

  “No! No, no, no! I wanted to be your servant because I was fascinated by you. All the stories I heard about Desanti made them sound ugly and terrible but you and Storm…you weren’t. You were beautiful and strong and I wanted to learn more about you. You were so different from anything I had ever known.” She turned away in shame. “And you didn’t…look at me like…a lot of highborn would. Neither did Ash. Emil did, but he does that to all women, just playing around usually.”

  “Then why did you offer yourself to me?” he asked, watching her, his eyes bright gold. She didn’t answer. “Tell me!”

  “Because if I had to be bed by a master, I wanted it to be you!” She turned to face him, tears streaking her cheeks. “At first, after all of you had left, I imagined how it would anger my father if a Desanti were my m
aster. And then I could tell him it was his fault. He might have disowned me and I would have been free of him telling me what to do. Maybe…maybe even become a woodsman like Grandpa wanted after you and Storm went home to Desantiva.”

  She closed her eyes when he gently rubbed his thumb across her cheek in a tender caress. “But then I heard you were unwell because of the weather and I realized you really needed me like Ash had wanted. And when I saw you again…you looked like you were happy to see me.”

  “I was happy to see you, Lyra. I was comfortable in your company. You treated Storm and I like everyone else. Not like unwelcome outsiders. And you did not look at me as if I was a monster.”

  She opened her eyes. “You are not a monster!” She hugged herself. “The monsters are most of the highborn. I felt safe with you and I thought…I would please you. I couldn’t comprehend anyone caring about what I wanted. I kept trying to give you what I thought you should want.”

  Skyfire sighed. “Lyra. It is not that I did not want you then. Or now. I do.” He smiled crookedly when she looked up. “Very much so. But it is complicated because of what we are.”

  “I don’t care if you are Desanti!” She threw her arms around him, hugging fiercely tight. “You are strong and sweet and wonderful and I love you!”

  He felt as though his heart jumped at her words, embracing her in return. But he could not help but laugh. “No, Lyra. That is not the complication.” He tilted her chin up. “Remember when Storm told Mureln and Taylin about Izkynder? It is a survival trait among our people to be able to see when a woman can conceive and when she has.”

  For a moment, she appeared confused. Then understanding dawned. “You could tell if I could get pregnant if we…oh.” She turned bright red, hiding her face against his chest. “Oh, goddess, I never thought of that.”